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BEHOLDING HIS GLORY |
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December 2003 |
Volume II Number 04 |
”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.
As we begin to behold His glory we will also begin to be led by the Spirit of
God and doing so we will leave the old things of our earthly nature with all
its affections. We will walk into ever greater light and see things as they
truly are. All things are becoming new
to us because we are discovering all of the treasures of the wisdom and
knowledge of God. In
God we never find things, we always discover the things of God. They are hidden in Christ Jesus and we must
spend time in Him and in His fields turning over the dirt and rocks to know Him
and His ways. We must come to this
personal knowing of God and His Spirit (and not our flesh) so He can lead us to
the end and purpose He has created us for.
In the movie Chariots of Fire, Eric Little said, “God has created
me to run and to run fast.” He knew his
purpose because he knew God, thus he could do what God wanted him to do to the
best of his God given ability. Sadly
most Christians do not know God well enough to know what He wants them to do. One of the greatest hungers of Christians
today is to want to know what God wants them to do. They have it wrong. They need only to desire to know God, He then
will tell them what He wants them to do.
While I was in
ARTICLE REVIEW:
I was making some contact cards on my computer.
The prior two weeks I shopped around to see what I would have to pay for 500
cards. I was given prices ranging from
$35 to $175. Some of these cards were
really nice. The custom cards had a
fancy picture with well defined quality lettering. Now, I must be honest I really liked the
custom cards. Doesn’t it feel good to be
honest? Funny how that works. But when I was in Germany I made my contact
cards with my computer and they worked well.
Why did I think I needed to get fancy now? The only change was my relocation to the
States. Paul shares these words with us
and the church at Corinth, “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,
but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more
abundantly to you-ward.” (2 Corinthians
1:12) We are to rejoice in
this. It is no doubt we are in the
world, but we are not to be of the world.
Being of the world has nothing to do with our daily living, God has
designed this for us, but has everything to do with our thinking process and
the choices we make. The word “conversation” here has nothing to do with
speaking or talking with each other. The
word “conversation” here means, a manner of life style. Paul is saying our “testimony” (not what we say about
ourselves, because our real testimony is what people see us do) is to be simple
and genuine from the heart; “For as a
man thinks in his heart so is he . . .”
(Proverbs 23:7) not from “fleshly wisdom” (worldly thinking)
but by God’s grace we have our “conversation” (manner of lifestyle) in
the world. Our manner of lifestyle is to
be built on God’s grace and I would add on His divine spiritual principles
contained in the Bible. If God will ever
be able to use us, He must be able to bring us to a place of “simplicity.” To a place where we are willing to suffer
loss to earthly things and a life of ease.
He cannot use us if we have all of the earth’s trappings holding us and
us holding tightly to them. The harder
we hold the things of the earth the tighter they hold us. God must be able to teach us to open our
hands and let go of the world and its ways.
So too is this truth for the things of God. The tighter we hold on to God and His things
the tighter God holds on to us.
But sadly this is not case in the Church today. To our shame we have brought worldly thinking and ways into the church. Sadly we come to church to be entertained not to be brought to a place in God to where we will allow God to work in our lives to such a degree He will be able to live through us. Oh no, we spend 2/3 of the service with announcements, dancing around the church as the choir master leads us in our favorite praise and worship songs, so that our flesh can feel good. Well, God does not want our flesh to feel good. He wants to kill it. He knows when our flesh dies, we will really be able to live. And the life we live will not be ours, but will be the life of God. Paul shares these words, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet “not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Today it seems we live our life for ourselves, rarely thinking of others. And, when someone lays their life down like Mother Theresa of Calcutta we make them a Saint. Her life is to be the norm not the exception. We are not to be selfish with our life, we are to give our life away so that we may obtain God’s life.
Pastors, preachers, and
teachers have become celebrities with their names up in lights and during their
TV talk shows an annoying scroll of advertisement rolls across the screen
informing us where they will be next.
Most of the “big” pastors and preachers wear expensive six button suits
or a Nauru collar coat with their own special design on it, and most if not all
have a clear lycite or four column pulpit.
We must stop all of this copying each other and start copying Jesus
Christ. They demand large sums of money to come and share something that was
given to them for free. A wonderful pastor friend in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
who has a church of 10,000+ members, was told by a very well known TV pastor
and evangelist his church was, “below the work of God in his life.” As an American minister I hung my head in
shame and apologized. Our popular singers are promoted, marketed, and enjoy a
movie star persona. The only time they think about walking the aisle is to
receive their Dove Award. We must get back to the “simplicity” of the
Gospel message and method of delivery.
It is no wonder people in the world have no desire to come to God. There is no need, we look and act just like
them in dress and ways. Our rock and
roll Christian music sounds and our singers looks and sounds just like
theirs. Where is the separation from the
world? Where is the Godly example?
We are ambitious,
flamboyant, and extravagant. We have our own TV programs, talk shows, and
internet sites. What are we doing? What have we done? The message and the
delivery method does not change with time and the world’s technology. It is still one-on-one, face-to-face right to
the heart. Christian TV is not ministry it is entertainment. When I was in Germany I thanked God every day
for not having Christian TV. Because,
now I had more time to spend with Him and read His word. Sadly Christian TV is all about building
kingdoms for men and making money which is a worldly concept. Jesus always taught us to give our money
away. If we are really serious about “teaching
all nations” we would use a radio.
Unlike most Americans most people in the world do not own a TV, they own
a radio. But there is no money to be
made in radio. This profiteering is sold
to the Church as sharing the Gospel, well this is the lie within the truth. The
Gospel is not for sale, Jesus paid a great price for the Gospel. Solomon tells us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a
man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs
14:12) Christian TV robs
local churches of time, talents, and needed resources and always points the
viewer to the person not to God or the local Church. Brethren we must beware, Christian TV is that
way that “seemeth right.” God has
ordained the local church as the place where His Body comes together and
receives of Him, not a TV set.
Jesus never had a change of
clothing. He had no place of His own to
lay His head and we think the bigger the ministry the more God has blessed it
or the more people we have God is more well pleased with our sacrifices. Well, this is wrong worldly thinking. I cannot begin to tell you how many pastors
and preachers I have met that believe having earthly things (church buildings,
cars, fancy suits, and rings) are a sign of God’s blessing on their
ministry. Oh no my friend do not be
deceived by “fleshly wisdom” and wrong thinking. The measure of our ministry, being of God or
not, will be seen AFTER it has been tested by fire. And I promise, you and your ministry will be
tested.
CURRENT EVENTS:
2003 has been a wonderful year for
Family Stahl. God again and again showed
Himself strong in our eyes. Again and again He brought us to places of victory
in our lives. Brethren God must be able
to bring us to an understanding to what He calls victory in our lives. Sadly
many Christians today live their Christian life in great defeat and lack
because they are looking for what man calls victory. The Bible teaches us God’s ways are not our
ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts.
But still many impatiently wait for their anointed spring water or
prayed over handkerchief, after they paid their $77, to come in the mail so
they can claim their second BMW.
Brethren do not be deceived by such lies and foolishness. God’s ways are
not man’s ways. We must begin to allow
God to teach us, to bring us through some difficult and tough places in our
lives so we can learn what God’s victory looks like. We must allow God to bring us to places of
judgments and hard dealings in our lives.
Friend either our knees will bow now or later, the choice is ours. I really believe 2004 will bring perilous
times. But those who know God and His
ways will survive by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Now please hear my words. In 2004, if you are
not grounded on solid teaching and truth from the word of God, friend you will
be shaken at the very foundation of your life. God is going to continue to
separate the herd even more, goats on this hand and sheep on the other. Chaff in this basket and wheat in this
one.
Work continues on book two, “Wandering
in the Wilderness: The European Years,”
of a three book series. God has really
opened up my eyes to many things that have happened over the last seven years
living in Germany and travelling the world.
Karen and the kids are doing great.
God gave me the very best family in world. Yes, 2003 has been a most glorious
year. And yet there beats strong within
me a great expectation to see what God has in store for me and my family in
2004. The new friends, new lands, and
joys that are new every morning great is His faithfulness. From Karen, David, Daniel, Sarah, Constance,
Joshua, and myself we wish you all a most peaceful and simple Christmas season
and may your New Year be filled with you and your family allowing God to bring
you all from victory to victory in 2004 and beyond.
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
December:
Open
January: Istanbul, Turkey with Pastor Mintas
(tentative)
February: Open
March: Hyderabad, India, with Pastor S. J. Peter and
Pastor Wilson and Pastor Julian his son
April: Nairobi, Kenya with Pastor Joseph Mutua
I feel God is speaking to open up ministry to churches, home groups, and to enlarge my newsletter audience within the United States. To meet this end God has purposed for my life, I am available to come and share what God has given me. 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.
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastors Yanko and Niki
for the church and items for the printing service is still needed.
2. In Constanta, Romania Pastor Ritisan at the
Lighthouse Church and Ciprian Bozdog,
Head Master at their Mission Bible School.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel
at St. Andrews Church, their Bible School, Christ for Romania, and a building
program for their summer children and teen camps. $70,000+ is needed to raise a building on
their land.
4. My special friend 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 in Hyderabad and Pastor
Wilson and his son Pastor Julian near Hyderabad , both in India.
7. Financial support for the printing of: “God
Still Performs Miracles Today: A Book of
Person Encouragement” and “Wandering in the Wilderness: The Call to Ministry.”
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
Phone:
Home: (910) 346-1739
Mobile: (910) 273-5712
FAX: (910) 346-1739
Email:
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.
And remember, all donations are tax deductible.