THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Greetings again my friends. Wow an obedient heart. This month we will look at the “Obedient Heart.” Long ago in “Church” services they use to sing a song called “Trust and Obey.” The words went something like this: “Trust and Obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” I cannot remember the last time I heard that song. Well, maybe it is because very few Christians really trust and obey God. Most Christians lean on their own understanding and seldom acknowledge His way. But, that is not what the Bible tells us to do. In Proverbs Solomon tells us to, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Notice this action of trust is not taken in our will or our abilities, but in our heart. And it says with “all” of our heart, My friend we cannot “trust in the LORD” with most of our heart and have other things moving in our heart we trust in. Oh no we must, to be able to be used of God we must trust in Him with our whole heart. Next month we will talk about the wholehearted heart and get a great understanding of the complete and sold out heart to God. But trusting here totally in God is no difference. We must be sold out to God with our trust in Him no matter what happens in our lives, no matter what we see others do, no matter what we see the world and even our family do. We must not be moved away from trust. So, the spiritual order in God is faith – trust – rest. We are saved by grace through faith. Did you know God even gives us the faith to be saved? In Romans 12:3 Paul tells us, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) And what is “the measure of faith” used for? Why, to be saved by grace. We trust in the completed work of Christ on the Cross, we believe in the Gospel message: the death, the burial, and the resurrection and we then are joined with Christ as one spirit. Next comes trust. Trust keeps us saved. We trust in God to keep us from the flesh, the world, and the wicked one. We trust in God to provide all that we need to do that and which He wants us to do. After we are saved we move from faith “things unseen” (Hebrews11:1) to things seen. But the movement continues into rest. Rest is the place God desires to bring us all too. Not an eternal rest, well maybe some day, but even then in the sweet by and by we will not be resting. God has plans for us in the next ages to come. I kind of like that knowing we will not be just floating around on some cloud and picking brownies from our brownie bush or drinking from our M&M fountain. Oh no, God has plans for us. But a rest in God that passes all understanding and dimensions of time. A completeness, for this level, in God. Faith – Trust – Rest, the road map back to the heart of God for only His children. In 1 Chronicles 29:18-19, Ezra writes, “O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: 19And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.” (1 Chronicles 29:18-19) we see the obedient heart. Of course Ezra, beings a Jew, was talking to the Jewish people (contexts matters), but I am sure we can glean some truth from his words that we can apply to our heart. Ezra tells the people to, “keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:” Well what were they to keep in their thoughts and prepare their heart for? Verse 19 gives us the answer, “and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.” Or in other words, be obedient to do all of the things I have asked you to do. God gave Solomon (verse 19) a “perfect heart” to keep His commandants and statues as He does us. This speaks of obedience at the heart level where true commitment and dedication resides. Most Christians today are “fair weather” Christians, as long as the winds are blowing in their direction and favourable they look to the LORD, but when the destructive winds of life, which will surely come their way God promises it, they cast off restraint and lean on their own undertraining. Seldom are the ways of an obedient man to God where He would fail them. This is all seen in our heart where our dedication to Him is truly seen by God. Remember our walk with God cannot be greater than our commitment and dedication to Him and Him to us. Do not forget the song. “Trust and Obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”
Next month we will continue looking at the perfect heart of the “Prophet of God” who must also have a wholehearted heart. I hope this is you my friend. Are you a Prophet of God? To be a Prophet we must be able to hear His voice. Listen closely and you will hear. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
A Need For Revival
Growing up in West Virginia every year we would go to Camp Meeting at Union Grove Camp Grounds. What a wonderful time we had each night for a week of services. One of the first things I would do each night was to hit the trick tracts rack and get a few of the new tracts. “Holy Joe” is my favorite with “This is Your Life” (the first tract that started it all) a close second. Another track I always enjoyed was “Why No Revival.” If you want to save yourself some time (and not read this article) you can get a copy of “Why No Revival” or the updated 2011 version “Still No Revival.” In the original tract it looks at the many reasons why there is no “revival” in the land. As cartoonish and funny as the tracts are they do express an ever sadder picture of society, culture, and the church. The answer to the problem “Why No Revival was no broken Christians. In the Book of Revelation John writes to the Church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelations 2:4-5) Here we read where the Christians at the Church of Ephesus have left their walk with the LORD and are in need of repentance. They once walked with the LORD, but now their relationship was slim to none they have left what they once knew and the love of God. Now here is the question; will a revival help them and bring them back? This will be the main thought I hope to explore in this article. Now I like the need for repentance because we know repentance is always the first step in coming to the LORD, but how about a revival? I hear America needs a revival. On Christian TV I hear about the great revivals sweeping around the world, but of the countless contacts I presently have I hear nothing of the broadcasted good news of revival. What is most talked about on Christian TV is the great end-time revival coming (sometime), but the Bible I read talks nothing about it. I read on church signs, “Spring, Fall, Summer, or Winter Revival” well one thing for sure if your church is really being revived by the LORD there will not be a need to put a sign outside everyone within 100s miles will know by word of mouth and people will be beating down the doors. Did you know the word “revival” is not found in the Bible, but as such the experience is there and so is the idea. This concept is found in an impressive variety of more or less synonymous expressions employed in prayer and promise. Here are some examples: “Will You not revive us again?” (Psalms 85:6), “Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years” (Habakkuk 3:2), “They shall revive as the corn” (Hosea 14:7), “To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones,” (Isaiah 57:15), and “When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). When you get a chance I encourage you to take a prayerful review of these Scriptures. These Scriptures are about a process of a move of God within our heart and not some service we add to our very busy church schedule two or three times a year. It is the LORD working in our lives. In these and other expressions the idea has to do with bringing one to a previous state in relationship with God by some form or measure of divine intervention. Strictly speaking there should be no such need. Whenever we speak of the need of “revival” we indict either ourselves or others (frequently both) as having backslidden at least to some degree. Nevertheless, where such backsliding has actually occurred this indictment constitutes a desirable confession of failure as an initial requisite to restoration. It should be obvious to everyone that the LORD’s plan is not a continuous cycle of sinning and repenting, backsliding and restoration, but a steady growth in the LORD and a constant walk with the LORD on an ever-ascending path. However, since fallen nature with its innate propensity to gravitate away from the LORD is what it is, this ideal is unfortunately not the experience of a multitude of people as amply evidenced by the history of Israel and the Church of today. Israel’s apostasies in a many times repeated cycle of sin, judgment, repentance, and restoration were due to her failure to keep her covenant relationship with the LORD. Therefore a so called “revival” was the only means to arrest Israel’s drift away from the LORD and to restore her to divine favor in whatever possible degree for however temporary a period. But as miracles are not God’s best for man (obedience to His word is) revival too is not God’s best. While Israel was still gravitating toward national disaster (like America) a course which these revivals only temporarily interrupted, but does not ultimately prevent. On more than one occasion these revivals gave Israel periods of peace and prosperity sometimes of considerable length, but the end in time was the same. The failure of these revivals to keep Israel from relapse and provide a permanent cure lay in Israel’s failure to abide by divine Godly principles as a remedy not in the failure of the remedy itself. The story would be entirely different if they had maintained after a move of God the same consecration which brought them into a so called “revival.” The LORD was certainly not pleased with their defection, but He was with their return. The very same principle applies today in the history of the Church; denominations manipulation and Christians not really knowing the LORD in any tangible way. God’s people should never be in need of revival. I like that so much please let me say this again, God’s people should never be in need of revival. There is a far better provision. Now as I said I do not believe in the need for revival, but when such a sense of need finds vocal expression among the people of God it is at least an honest expression of a regrettable fact and a glimmer of hope for a change for the better. Such a sense can only be accounted for by the drawing of the Spirit of the LORD in accordance with the will of God. A conscious need of God and a hunger for God is actually a hunger within us for Himself. When such a drawing and hunger of the Spirit is followed by the correct and a necessary response to the LORD on the part of man He can be revived. God Himself is delighted to respond to man’s response. The Book of Joel tells us of a time when Israel was being drawn back by God and has critical application to us today. The message of Joel is first addressed to the older generation because of their experience and greater observation over a longer period of time. We read, “Has this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” (Joel 1:2). This older generation had seen what the younger generation had not seen. God’s people suffered a national calamity without parallel in the memory of even the oldest inhabitants. The drought was so severe that the daily sacrifices had come to an end for lack of grain, wine and oil. Now the old are asked to reflect on the present state of affairs in contrast to the past so as to impress the younger generation. The older generations seems to remember deeper and feel stronger than the younger. They seem to have a greater appreciation and respect for God. In Ezra, when the second temple was built, the older men could not rejoice as the younger, but cried. “But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:12-13) Here there seems to be a wholesome reflection on the glories of the past that the young did not understand. We see this today where the hymns today are being lost to emotional feel good music that have no root or expression just some vibrant tunes. Next in Joel we see an alarm being sounded. “Blow you the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm” (Joel 2:1). There are times when God’s people need to be aroused to an honest assessment of the factual situation because a church beset by increasing worldliness and decreasing spirituality needs to be aroused into a state of alarm. When the people of God substitute entertainment for worship, rhetoric for prophecy, ritual for Godly expression, luxury for self-denial, social media, and the television set in place of family prayer, the approbation of the world for the reproach of Christ, there is ample ground for great alarm. Joel, in faithfulness to his nation and in obedience to the LORD did not play a lullaby on his trumpet to induce a slumbering unawareness of the realities of his day, but an alarm to arouse the people into a consciousness of their need. Next comes the repentance we discussed, “Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn you even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12). True repentance has three major components involving man’s entire personality namely: intellect, emotion and will. Intellectually man sees his wrong, emotionally man feels his wrong, and man corrects his wrongs. Consequently repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of deeds. Each one of these three factors are present in true repentance and in that sequence whether we are conscious of them or not. The repentant prodigal son reached the turning point in a far country when he came to himself in the realization of his state and the acknowledgment of his situation and heart condition with God. When he felt in his heart the sting of remorse and the shame of his deed then he returned to his father with confession of sin in humility of spirit. Lastly there must be supplication. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly… let them say, Spare Your people” (Joel 2:15-17). Now the prophet sounds the trumpet call for collective prayer by old and young, male and female, priest and people, sinner and saints alike. Even the wails of the suckling’s are a part of this prayer meeting which is characterized by earnestness in supplication, self-denial, genuineness in repentance, weeping in sorrow, persistence in intercession and diligence in seeking God. When was the last time you have seen this happen? There is no thought of prayer beautifully phrased and impressively uttered, no delight in mere rhyme and rhythm, no interest in dignified robes and religious paraphernalia, and no clamor for ornate ritual and imposing architecture. The need is too great, the distress too deep, and the cries too loud for the observance of ecclesiastical proprieties and traditional sanctions. Things lose their meaning and men become shadows when God is all that matters. He will restore what was once enjoyed when those things that displaced Him will be displaced by Him, when we pursue again that which interests Him and discard that in which He has no interest. He will be found anew. When we return to our first love. Who needs a revival? No we need not a revival we need to be revived (our choice) every day of our life, something much better. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
The Heart
I read in Proverbs a long time ago the following scripture, “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (Proverbs 18:2). In my Bible “discover” means express itself and if you delve further into Strongs Concordance it means: to denude (make bare), especially in a disgraceful sense, to exile (as a captive being stripped) to reveal, advertise, bewray (to disclose, divulge or betray), and depart. Well, aint that just true today, as we know the Bible is always right! The Bible says “…there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). So, it was true then and will continue to be true as long as people reject GOD and His ways and prefer to be foolish, unwise, and do what they want to do. Life is NOT about us getting our way and doing what WE want to do. It’s either GOD’S way or our way, and GOD’S way is always right! We don’t always get to “express what is in our heart” and yes, that might be a good thing! There’s been times when I’ve felt absolutely murderous towards someone and wanted to give them something upside their head. Well, what would have happened had I expressed myself? And there were times when I should’ve kept my big mouth shut—–still paying for that one. GOD tests the believer and our heart is then revealed to us to correct, not to express ourselves. For example, sometimes we just don’t know how we will react in different scenarios, but GOD knows. We don’t find out we’re claustrophobic until we get stuffed into a dark closet or have to get into a closed MRI machine or maybe we don’t like driving over bridges or we are afraid of heights or windy roads make us sick. Same thing with our heart. The different situations that GOD allows for our lives and the ones He puts us in shows what’s in there. Usually that’s not a pretty picture. How impatient we are, how some people just seem to get our goat, how we’ll lie to get out of trouble, blame someone else to get the heat off us, how we try to manipulate others to get our way, lie to make ourselves look good —oh yes we’ve got a basket full of goodies in our little hearts—a real easter basket! And yet our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to help us. But fools (stupid or silly people) those who reject GOD only wish to express what’s in their wretched hearts, they don’t know and don’t care what GOD wants for their lives. Just read the news people have cast off restraint. The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Pretty scary stuff, remember GOD is a holy GOD, He expects us (real Believers) to: 1) follow Him 2) be obedient to His wishes. 3) Not worry about what we want to do. Let us endeavor to allow GOD to work in our hearts because make no mistake the Bible is true and we all are going to, “get according to our ways and according to the fruit of our doings.” GOD bless. READ and study your Bible. Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and in Agigea Brother John Vlad as the Director of the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian at Gospel Assembly in Sankaraguptham, India.
4. Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey and Pastor Metin at the Mavi Kilisesi in Dalaman, Turkey.
5. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
6. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
8. Christian and Ina Kopjar Missionaries to the County of Liberia.
9. The many Pastors Paul and Costica at the Skina and other Pastors and Brothers we have meet in Ukraine over that five years.
10. Betuel and Bianaca and others in Erbil, Kurdistan.
11. Pastor Joeseph Kariuki Gatimu at Jesus Victory Temple in Mombasa, Kenya.
12. Pastors Ravindra Shiwnandan and Victor Lupuku and other Pastor and Brothers in Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
23 June 26 at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
(910) 382-9287
BEHOLDING HIS GLORY ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
“Pebbles of Truth”
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 am
FUTURE BHG SCHEDULE:
June: Local Ministry
July: Local Ministry
August: 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 support BHG or other ministries we personally know we would be honored to serve as a go between. Remember, if we want a blessing from God the spiritual principle is we must bless others. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Phone:
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Website:
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
FREE OFFERS
Booklets on Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Leadership, Prayer, Body of Christ, and Righteous Living the Four Anchors of God are now available by contacting us and requesting one. You can see them on our home page. Get one now.
The Author House link below will lead you to our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration.” Just copy it into your web browser and return. Also you can purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God.” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
http://www.authorhouse.com/AuthorCenter/Protected/BookHome.aspx?bookID=61464
Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again. All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price and then we will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.
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