BEHOLDING HIS GLORY
February 2005	Volume III 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. As we behold His glory more and more we will be able to come to a “true” place of brokenness and a place of contriteness. These are two places most Christians do not want God to bring them to, but this is the place of preparation to be used by God. God must be able to bring us to such places if we will be able to function and operate with Him and flow in His will. They are the places where we are prepared by God, where God can work in our heart and lives through His dealing and judgments. They are places where the cross is before us, our cross is before us and we must choose our self-life or death to our selfishness and self-centered life. Even Jesus Christ was brought to such places by the Father. “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death, Stay here and watch with Me.” (Matthew 26:38), but the disciples had so stomach for this, their stomachs were full of bread and wine from the communion table a few hours earlier. “He went a little farther and fell down on His face, and prayed, saying “Oh My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”” (Matthew 26:39) Here the Father was pressing Jesus. As Bethlehem, which means city of bread, was the birth place of Jesus, as the “true” bread of life, so too Gethsemane, which is an olive garden and means where oil is pressed, was the place the Father choose to press His Son into submission and total obedience even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). What a wonderful picture of love and dedication towards man Jesus displays; being crushed by His Father like an olive so that His oil could be shed abroad to the world.

My friend these are the making places God has for us too. Is the servant greater then the Master? I think not. Many Christians today have a desire to be used by God, but when God begins to prepare them in these wonderful making places they quickly change their tune and look to good works for salvation, but my friend this is not God’s way. We often go this way because it is easier to do something for God then to become something in God. But my friend unless we have been prepared by God in His making places we will not be able to touch hearts with the life of God and influence lives toward God. All we will be able to bring to them is our selfish ways, a slow death to every relationship we enter into, and ultimately total loss and destruction to all who follow us.

Isaiah who had a “true” revelation of God and allowed God to show him his self (see Isaiah 6:5) experienced these making places. “God is with him who has a contrite and humble spirit.” (Isaiah 57:15) The word “contrite” here means to be crushed like a flower that is squeezed between two hands. God is with the one who has been crushed. I hear many Christians pray for God to be with them, well God is with those who have been crushed and have a humble spirit. Maybe that is why God is not with many Christians? We do not want to be humble; humility is a character (Matthew 11:29) of Christ woefully lacking in the church today. Seemingly our focus to get to God is always in an upward direction, going up in our thoughts, desires, and emotions, but this is presumption, because the way up is down. To get to God we must go down into a lowly place and the lower we can go the closer we get to God.

David also knew this great truth. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, these O God you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) As the way up is down so too is the way into the life of God, through death. The word “contrite” here is stronger; being crushed or ground to powder. Not to many Christians want to be “broken” and ground to powder, but these are the “sacrifices” God will not despise. All other sacrifices apparently are despised, and why? Because the sacrifices were not based on the work of God in their lives. For our sacrifices to be acceptable it must be out from God being able to work in our lives and from a loss to our self-life for another person. The Father accepted the Son’s sacrifice because the Son experienced total loss for you and I. It is when we have been crushed and ground to powder we can freely give to others as God desires. Our money, our talents and abilities, and most of all our religious works will not be accepted.

There must be a breaking and crushing in our lives if we are going to be useful to God and be able to move with Him. Jesus all too well experienced this breaking and crushing not only in Gethsemane but on the cross. We too have a cross God has prepared for us. The cross is where our outer man is broken. The cross puts our outer man to death. It quiets our mouth, dead men do not do much talking. The cross destroys everything of the outer man. It destroys our opinions, methods, self-love, and everything. Once the outer man has been crushed and ground to powder our spirit will be able to function and flow with God. More next month on this and other topics.

ARTICLE REVIEW:

The Expressions of Christ

If Jesus was on earth today I wonder by what accepted Church title He would go by? Would He go by: Prophet, Rabbi (teacher), Bishop, maybe General Overseer, Elder, or Superintendent? These titles often take on written expressions that define responsibilities and duty not our character and nature. It seems man likes to make up titles, I guess it makes man feel more in control. Man knows if he can make up something, like a title, there is power and exaltation in that. I always thought it funny how Jesus kept telling everyone He had no power and yet did everything and today we tell everyone we have the power and do little to nothing. I guess this is so because man likes to be exalted. Man likes making up titles, because the titles come with power, control, and you can manipulate others as you add to your reputation. This was not the case with Jesus, the Bible says, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Philippians 2:7) Jesus never had a “reputation” that most Christians today would want to identify with. The Disciples said they did, but when Jesus was taken they quickly separated themselves from Jesus, His words, and His reputation. The word “servant” here is translated slave, but who would want to have the title of a slave? We want to be a ruler and reign over people and things, who would want to be a slave? Jesus would.

The truth is Jesus came and lived His life as a slave, what a wonderful title. There is something special about knowing the truth where we know it inwardly and not outwardly. Truth is always something of the inter man, not the outer man. And, we always know truth by the spirit, not by what someone tells us. You know we always know the truth when we hear it. It hits us in the pit of our stomach and we draw up to resist it if we disagree with it. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) Jesus never said, someone will tell you the truth and then the truth will make you free, no He didn’t. We are to know the truth. The only way we can know the truth is when we allow God to communicate it to our spirit so we can personally experience it in a knowing way. And, the only way we can know the truth and be made free is to allow God to work in our lives. The more we allow God to work in our hearts and lives the more we will know truth and be made free. It is the “knowing” that does the “making.” Sadly today many Christians are not free of areas of sin and coming short in their lives, because they do not know the truth to their situation. As God deals in our lives and is able to work in us to a degree where we will be able to know Him, we will come into the glorious light of knowing the truth in areas and situations that bind us. Brethren, true freedom in God comes out of us walking in the restriction and limitations of obedience to God.

In the Gospels we read about many titles or expressions for Jesus like the Lamb of God, the Son of Man, the Son of God, and more, but in reality they are not titles or expressions, but they are a philosophy, no even more they are ways for us to live our lives. Let us look at two to see the importance of us living our lives as Jesus did.

The first is the Son of Man. Jesus came and operated as the Son of Man, He did not come as the Son of God. The expression the Son of Man is mentioned 80 times in the New Testament. In the Book of Ezekiel God refers to Ezekiel as the Son of Man 92 times. When Jesus comes to earth He picks up on this, takes it, and refers to Himself as the Son of Man. In Matthew we read, “And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) Who would like to be the Son of Man having no place to lay your head? We want big houses with swimming pools, after all we are Christians and it is our inheritance from God to have big houses and new cars. We today would rather live as Sons of God and be the Child of the King having all power and authority, but all of this is extremely strange if we look at it through the life of Jesus. He came with nothing absolutely nothing. Jesus did not even have a change of clothing. He had absolutely nothing, yet He possessed everything, absolutely everything. The elders of the people, the chief priests, and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying. “Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.” (Luke 22:67-70) Jesus told them He was the “Son of man.” Jesus never said He was the Son of God, (even though He was) why? Because He came to earth to live and die as the “Son of man.” Please notice, it is the “Son of man” who will “sit on the right hand of the power of God” not “the Son of God.” If we want to be seated with God in power we too must desire to be the “Son of man.”

The next expression is the Lamb of God. Now if you want to know Jesus as the Lamb of God you will never be able to know Him as the Messiah. All of these expressions mean something different, they project Jesus’ example, His life, as a type of life style. In John we read, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Every good Jew knew what the Lamb of God was, they knew this from Jewish law, and they also knew he was the one who was going to die for the sins of the people, the one to be sacrificed. Who would want to the Lamb of God? No one wanted to be the Lamb of God, they were looking for the Christ, the one who would establish His throne on earth and kick out the mean Romans. Who today wants to be sacrificed? Oh no, we do not want to lay our life down for our brother we want to live and be served. We want God to establish us without paying much of a price. We want to be delivered from pain and sorrow, well this is not the life of the Lamb of God. We want to go and do for God. Funny, God wants us, like His dear Son, to become something not do something. Jesus said, “those who lose their life for my sake shall find it.” Losing is first finding is second. We do not want to lose from a child we are taught we must always win it is our nature, well not so in God. It is strange how we always seem to get this backward. This too is why John never knew Jesus as the Christ, and only knew Him as the Lamb of God. John would not stop baptizing. After Jesus started His ministry John was still baptizing people, he did not stop and follow Christ. As a matter of fact the disciples of John the Baptist still today baptize people in the Jordan River. John would not stop his ministry so God had to put him in a place where there was no water, in prison, “Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, ³And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 2:2-3) John never saw Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah his revelation of Jesus was only the Lamb of God, totally true but incomplete. With all of John’s great works and words, “I must decrease and He must increase” his revelation of Jesus Christ was flawed, it was half correct.

Brethren, our understanding of God and how He works in our lives really makes a big difference to our success and failure in Him. Our understandings will produce our expressions of Him. And, if our understanding of God is flawed then our expressions of Him will also be flawed. How then can we be successful in fulfilling His plan for our lives? Our understanding of God and His ways must be totally correct, not half correct. There is not much room here for error, don’t deceive yourself in thinking you can do what you want to do and be successful. Beware, take heed to your self the flesh is always ready to take advantage of the Spirit. Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:

Do not Let Your Emotions Run Away

With You

The big Friday night High School football game was upon us. Anticipation ran high as we drove off with our friends to see the big game. Joshua’s High School football team was in the North Carolina State play offs. Three nights before Dave told Joshua to watch his knees as he felt the opposing team would try to take him out of the game. On our way to the game we picked up our oldest son David and continued on to the stadium in Greensboro. I was surprised at how many parents made the three-hour trip to support their sons. The first half of the game was great we were winning 13 – 6. Joshua was having another great game most if not all of the rushing yards were gained running behind Joshua. During the first half two of our players, our star running back and center, were shamelessly clipped, fortunately the boys recovered and were able to continue playing. Dave did not have a good feeling about this game and I wondered if we could continue our winning streak in the second half. The mood at the game thus far was happy, light and hopeful for another victory that would propel our team into the State Championship Game. They got the ball first in the second half, we stopped them after three tries, and they punted. Two plays later the mood quickly changed. A player remained down on the field after the pile dispersed. We searched for Joshua in the huddle, but it was Joshua who was laid out on the field. Three players hit Joshua, two from the side at the knees and one from behind. We were stunned, in three years playing High School football Joshua had never been injured. The coach and the trainer ran out on the field. When they got Joshua to his feet it was all he could do to walk, he could barely support himself. My heart sank within my chest as he struggled to walk to the side-lines. Not only my heart sank, but the heart of Joshua’s team and their parents. Joshua missed the entire second half and we lost. Dave’s warning came true. What people lack in skill they will compensate by cheating it happens all the time. However, and strange in a way, God still glorified Joshua. Even though Joshua was weak his weakness revealed the loss of his strength, which was desperately needed for the team to be victorious. God has many ways of glorifying us, and most often they center around a loss to our self. Jesus told the Disciples, “Now My soul is troubled and shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glory Your name,” then a voice came from heaven saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”” (John 12:27-28) Of course Jesus was talking about His death on the cross, but what a strange way for the Father to glorify the Son; through pain, suffering, and even loss of life. Well, my friend so too God has His ways He will glorify us. If this was the Master’s way, is the servant greater then the Master? I felt so bad for Joshua we all knew he was out of the game as he vainly tried to walk off the weakness and pain from his knee injury. I cried, I wanted to put my arms around him and tell him it will be all right, but he was upset too and the best we could get was a pained look from him. We were hurt and frustrated and so was he. The second half ended quickly. I was hoping the team would play harder, but they were discouraged. We lost to an inferior cheating team. The walk to the car was terrible, the other team and fans were happy and cheering, well I was angry. Dave went with Joshua to the locker room. We were to drive to the locker room and pick them up for the ride home. Cooler heads prevailed when our oldest son David drove to pick them up. I was almost enraged I could have run people over with the car. I was so mad. When we got to the locker room, Joshua felt well enough to ride the team bus home and was walking much better. I am ashamed to admit but I fussed and fumed for the three-hour ride back to Jacksonville. I am sure our wonderful friends, John and Linda Stroud, would vow never to ride with that crazy woman again. I am afraid I did not handle this situation very gracefully. We must be very careful with things of the heart and those things that effect our emotions. If we allow our emotions to rule our words and actions we will be like a city with no ability to be watchful and easily sacked, our words and actions then will rule over us to our shame. “Whosoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) By the time we got home I quit being angry. I know that no matter what, a good attitude towards our enemy (in this case the three boys who clipped Joshua) is imperative if we desire anything from God. With a trip to Germany looming before Dave and I within the next three days I knew only God could make it so I could leave without worrying about Joshua. I knew I had to change my attitude for God to restore Joshua back to health. But what kind of parent would I be leaving an injured child to visit another child overseas? But wait a minute I need to change my attitude for God to be able to work in my heart. As Dave always says, at the heart of every issue is an issue of my heart.

As it turned out we were able to leave Joshua and visit Dan, Sarah, and our new and only granddaughter and Dave went forward to Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria to minister. Joshua’s leg healed nicely, God took care of everything as I took care of the things in my heart. As I think back on this experience I harbor no anger or bitterness towards the boys who injured Joshua. I am glad Joshua did not sustain a permanent injury, but I think even if he would have, I see now, I would have had to keep my attitude right before God and man for him to be able to walk again. Jesus told the Disciples, “But I say to you love your enemies, bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (John 5:44) These words are almost impossible to keep when we have our emotions in check, but when our emotions run high it is hard to think clearly and act appropriately. It is always prudent never to act on our emotions, they come and go like the wind and if we loss control they will drive us to shame and folly. It is never easy to love our enemies, but God expects us to. It is God’s intention, He is expecting for us to love our enemies. Maybe too this could be why we really do not love our friends. How can we really love our friends if we cannot be found truthful in loving our enemies? We cannot love one without the other. Jesus forgave those who crucified him, how can we do any less? Joshua’s injury being healed and my happiness was at stake, could I find enough of God in me to control my emotions and forgive? If Jesus can forgive those who cursed Him, hated Him, spitefully used Him, and persecuted Him, how could I not forgive those three boys who injured Joshua. Remember, the best is yet to come. Written by Karen Stahl.

POETRY CORNER:

Poems by a very unique man for his time and strong Christian who I will always cherish in my heart, also was Karen’s Grandfather.

God’s Call

By William Kreiss

May the Angels lift you gently,

When God makes His call.

For you know my dear

God’s call is for us all.

When in your heavenly domain,

Do not forget your friends all,

Intercede for us, I pray,

When God makes His call.

Special Note: The first poem is dedicated to the memory and Godly spirit of my special friend and warrior Bill Woody. Semper Fi my Brother.

An Empty Pew

By William Kreiss

Here I am, An Empty Pew,

I am always waiting for you.

You came but once,

A week I know.

For a short time,

And then you go.

You know how lonesome,

One can get.

Especially here, how you forget,

You believe that God,

In His holy right.

Is here to serve you,

Day and night.

If your belief in God is true,

Why leave me, An Empty Pew?

DEAR FRIENDS:

Back in December Karen and I drove up to Bethlehem, PA for Karen’s parents, Andrew and Barbara Kreiss, 50th Wedding Anniversary. What a wonderful time we all had with Karen’s parents, brothers, sister, and their families, but even more wonderful was beholding the miracle of the 50 years of dedication Mr. Kreiss gave to Mrs. Kreiss, and in return Mrs. Kreiss towards Mr Kreiss. And out of this dedication and commitment came Karen my wife; out of a devoted love came another devoted love, seed after seed. Love grew in Poppy and Grandma’s lives and brought forth today even a greater love for each other and a love that now inspires me and Karen to love each other the more.

Coming back we were talking and Karen said, how good it was I listened to God and was obedient in taking her up to the anniversary celebration. I told her God did not tell me to take you to the anniversary celebration, it was just the right thing in God to do. So too in our lives the longer we go in God the less He will have to tell us what to do. As we train our children, so too God will train us His children, again and again He will have to tell us what to do, but there must come a time in our lives when we put away childish things and become a man, we grow up. There must come a time in our lives when we can operate in what God wants without Him telling us how and when to do it. Paul shares, “When I was a child I spoke, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) There was no need for God to speak to me, I knew what He wanted in this situation and I just did it. There was no guessing, I did not need to fast or pray, oh no all I needed to do was move in what God wanted. And God blessed our trip so. Karen and I just came back from Europe, I from a four country ministry swing. Money was close and we were pushed for time, but in God things just work out. If things are not working out for you, step back and make sure you are in God. All along the way God met our need and then some. I made reservations for a mid-size rental car and when we arrived I saw a 2004 Deville Cadillac, I said it would be really nice to be able to take the caddie up to Bethlehem, PA for the anniversary celebration. I gave Aaron my name and he said please wait a minute so we can do the paperwork, well we waited some time, but those who wait upon the Lord shall receive. This is the condition for receiving from God, waiting. We waited then we drove the 2004 Deville Cadillac up to the anniversary celebration for less then what we would have paid for a compact car. Things in God just work out.

Karen “my sweetheart” and the kids send their love. How could we not love Him?

NEEDS NOT WANTS:

1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastors Yanko and Niki and the 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, their Bible School, Christ for Romania, and for the $60,000 needed to complete the training center and summer camp building.

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: “God Still Performs Miracles Today: A Book of Person Encouragement.”

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.

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

February: Local ministry

March: Hyderabad, India with Pastor S. J. Peter and Pastor Wilson

April: Local ministry

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

141 Coke Place

Jacksonville, NC 28546

Phone:

Home: (910) 346-1739

Mobile: (910) 273-5712

FAX: (910) 346-1739

Email:

dstahl@ec.rr.com

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.