BEHOLDING HIS GLORY
January 2003	Volume I Number 05

”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. Here is more on Beholding His Glory. Peter shares these words with us, ”And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”(1 Peter 4:18) The answer to Peter’s question is they will appear at a specific place and time out from the direction they are moving. Amazingly too the direction we move will determine where and when we will end up. Either we are moving toward God and His will for our life or we are moving away from God and His will for our life. There is no neutral movement in God. This is why in Revelation 3:15-16 the Angel said, it was better that you were either hot or cold, but if you are lukewarm (neutral), neither hot or cold, He would spue you out of His mouth. This is a very important point to remember. We end up according to the direction we are headed. We all will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. On that day no one will be surprised that they have ended up there. For those who have not excepted Jesus Christ as their saviour these will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment. No one will be surprised to why they have ended up there. They will know why, because they know they have walked in an ungodly direction. When we behold His glory His glory will enable us to move to greater glory, we will be changed from one glory to the next glory. Our direction will be toward God’s glory, and the more we move toward God’s glory the more we have a desire in us to move toward even more of His glory. The more our direction is away from God and His glory, the less of a desire we will have to move in a direction toward God. Our direction will determine our outcome. The more we satisfy a hunger the more we desire to have that hunger satisfied. Not God’s will or even His plan, but our desire and direction we choose to move determines where we shall end up. God’s intention for us is to move in a direction that is consistent with His plan and purpose for our life, but whether we move in this directions depends on us and our desires. As a Believer our works will be judged; righteous judgment, not right or wrong, but whether they be holy or unholy clean or unclean. God tells us what is right and wrong and we must do what He tells us to do or we have sinned. Remember sin is to know right, but do wrong. The fleshly act is not the sin as much as not doing what God said to do. How can we be holy and do clean things if our direction is not toward God? How can we know what is right or wrong if we are moving in a direction away from God. When we behold His glory it sets our feet in the right direction, let us move toward Him. God bless you all, and more next month.

ARTICLE REVIEW:

The Psalmist shares these words, ”But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” (Psalms 73:28) Now, there are not a lot of Believers that have a desire to “draw near to God.” After all the Bible says, “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29) Not too many Believers like to be consumed by God. Nor are there many Believers who put their trust in the Lord God. They put their trust in other things, thus they can never declare God’s works. Unless we draw near to God and put our trust in Him we will be able to only declare the works of our self-strength and our God-given talents and ability. Unless we put our trust in God we will never become, “His workmanship . . . “ (Ephesians 2:10) His real work.

When I was on my way to the airport after two weeks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the Lord brought this thought to my attention. I had a wonderful time with Senior Pastor Esayas Abebe and all of the Brethren of Victory International Christ Ambassadors Church. God has raised up this very charismatic young man to lead his people, by God’s Spirit, to a place of wholeness, safety, and salvation. Please keep Pastor Esayas and his ministry in your thoughts and prayers. He is full of God and God’s vision for his people. But during the two weeks where ever we would go I would see a shepherd, leading from the back of the flock, and some sheep. Now the sheep close to the shepherd did not stay near the shepherd too long because the shepherd had a whip and he knew how to use it quite skillfully. The shepherd would keep the flock moving and even discipline them by striking the sheep closest to him. Not too many of the sheep wanted to be close to the shepherd. They would quickly jump free of the swing of the shepherd’s guidance and get over into the fringe of the flock where danger like a car or bus was waiting for them. Not too many sheep wanted to stay in a safe place under the shepherd’s discipline. So too, not too many Believers desire to stay near to God, nor near His discipline. Like sheep many Believers want to get over into the fringe of God into an area of great liberty and freedom. After all, hasn’t God called us into great liberty and freedom in him? Well, the answer is no! 2 Peter 1:4 tells us, “God has called us to glory and virtue,” not to liberty and freedom. Many are called few are chosen, why? Because many want to be in great freedom and liberty, not under God’s authority. Few choose to come into great restrictions. God has called us into great restriction and limitation in Him, not to great freedom and liberty. Our liberty and freedom comes out of us understanding our limits and restrictions to His word for our life. In God we cannot do whatever we want to do. God has limits and restrictions for us so that we can come to completion and His purpose for our lives. We like these sheep do not desire to endure the whip of discipline to come to the place of purpose and safety for our lives. We must learn our limitations, we must learn to restrict ourselves in so many areas so that we can come to maturity and completion in Him. The beginning of completion and maturity in God begins with the learning to come under God’s discipline, His whip. At the same measure we learn discipline and adjust to what God is bringing into our lives, at that same measure we will grow and come to some level of maturity in Him. In II Samuel 23:8-16 there is a wonderful story of what happens when one stays near the shepherd. Here David and some of his mighty men were fighting against the Philistines. Now I like the Philistines. Like troubles in our lives they are always around. All throughout the Old Testament God’s children always seem to be fighting against Philistines in their lives. The Philistines like problems, troubles, bad situations, and unpleasant personal circumstances in our lives are the things we overcome to become, “over comers.” But here in verse 15, ”And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” In the Greek it says, “David longed, (sighed or whispered) and said, Oh that one would give me a drink of water of the well of Bethlehem.” Three of David’s mighty men heard his whisper and broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well, took it, and brought it to David. David knowing the great sacrifice of his men could not drink it and poured it out unto the Lord. What a wonderful story of dedication and commitment to leadership. Of one’s willful sacrifice of self, one’s willingness to lay their life down for their brother, as Jesus taught us. But to me the real point of this wonderful story is, the mighty men heard David whisper. They were near him. They were so close they could hear him sigh, they could hear his longing as he whispered, “Oh that one would give me a drink of water.” Oh, that we would be so near to God, so close that we could hear Him sigh, so close we could hear Him whisper. “Oh, that one would go and tell a lost and dying world about His Son and the sacrifice His Son made for us. Oh, that a husband would love his family, that a wife would be dedicated to her husband, that children would be obedient to their parents. Oh, that a church would come under the spiritual authority of the pastor and do as he asks. Oh that my children would listen to Me.” Can you hear God whisper? Can you hear Him? God speaks in a small still voice. He is not loud and uses few words. “Oh, that one would go to Ethiopia and share the truth with them.” Can you hear Him sigh, can you hear God whisper, even for a drink of water?

We will be able to hear God whisper when we are near Him. As we look toward the coming year let us purpose in our heart to be near Him. Let us desire to stay close to the shepherd, let us desire to stay under the discipline and guidance He brings our way. Let us make those adjustments needed to bring us to completion and maturity in Him. Let us not move out into the fringe of modern Christianity and it’s self-seeking glory and personal gratifications, but let us stay under the whip, close, so we can hear Him whisper. Written by Pastor David Stahl

CURRENT NEWS:

The year 2003 will bring many changes to me and my family. It is wonderful to know we can rest in God knowing His intentions toward us is for good and not evil, no matter what He brings our way. My travels will increase which will mean less time with my family who I love very much. I am married to the best woman in the world and have four of the best children in the world. One thing we do before we enjoy the Thanksgiving table is to say what we are thankful for. I most am thankful for the work God has done in me and my family to endure leaving their earthly family and the comforts of America to see the will of God is done in our lives. Did you know the word “agape” in the Greek means dedicated? It is really easy to love someone, but it is very difficult to dedicate yourself to someone. My family has “agaped” me and I am very thankful to God for that. 2003 will also bring an addition to the Stahl family. Daniel will marry Sarah Jokinen. They were married on 2 Dec 02, but plan to have a big wedding in April when I will have the pleasure of wedding them before God. Sarah will be a wonderful, Godly addition to the Stahl family. My parents, John and Beverly, living in Jacksonville, NC need your prayers. They both are Godly parents and have put much of God in their children, but like all of us they are facing health concerns from the aging process. Thank you for remembering them in prayer.

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

January: Open

February: New London, CT with Pastor Doug Price (tentatively)

March: Hyderabad, India with S. J. Peter

April: Lagos, Nigeria with Pastor Mike Olifume

May: Nairobi, Kenya with Pastor Joseph Mutua

If God moves on your heart to bless the ministries I visit and share God’s love with I would be honored to make it possible for God and you. The need for items for the printing service and new church building in Bulgaria is still before them. Pastors Yanko and Niki still need your help. And now there is a wonderful young married man John Balole who translates for me when I go to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. John has been called to attend Pinecrest Bible Training Center, thus he stands in need of $500. God has already provided $500. John too needs your help. Also in Djibouti Getahun Jorga is attending Bible school from a distance education program and needs your help. Believers in this part of the world is making a life and death commitment, how about us. 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

American Address

CMR 480 Box 517

APO AE 09128

German Address

Pastor David Stahl

Ulmenweg -5

71706 Markgroningen, Germany

++49-7145-931152 (Voice)

++49-7145-931153 (FAX)

(Church Website)

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