THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Greetings again my friends. Last month we starting looking at the Servant of God who must have a heart that brings about a right walk or a righteous relationship with the LORD. We will continue this theme for the next three months and look at three different aspects: 1. A walk before God 2. A walk after God, and 3. A walk with God. So, this month we will look at “A walk before God.” In Genesis 17:1 we read, “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4.As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.( Genesis 17:1-5) What powerful verses! Here God (Almighty) is having a conversation with Abram and He tells Abram to “walk before me, and be thou perfect” Of course this was the beginnings of the Abrahamic Covenant all religious Jews hang their future on. At age 99 God tells Abram to walk before Him and be perfect. What a statement. God told Abram to be “perfect” Stong’s #H8552, without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, and whole. Now it is important to know at this time there was no Jew or Gentile, only a mainstream mass of humanity that came of the flood. Here God took Abram and called him out of this mainstream mass of humanity and separated him unto Himself. “And he (God) said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.” (Genesis 15:7) to establish a covenant with him and the seeds of his lineage. But please notice God expected Abram to be “perfect” before Him. Do we think today God expects anything less for us to be able to walk in the blessing God has for us? I think not. Far too many Christians think they can live any old way and walk with God. Oh no my friend. God expects, it is His intention for Him to be able to give us all of those “precious promises” Peter talks about we must walk upright spotless, undefiled before Him. Now notice what Abram did when God spoke with Him. Did Abram dance and kick up his heels? Abram, “fell on his face: and God talked with him.” Here Abram worshipped the LORD. True worship has nothing, yes, I said nothing to do with singing or dancing, but everything to do with humbling our self on our face before God. Notice after Abram fell on his face, “God talked with him,” I hear far too many Christians say they want to hear from God, well humble yourself under the mighty hand, fall on your face before God and He will speak to you and lift you in due season. My friend there is only one way we can come to this place of perfection before the LORD and that is to live a life of sanctification before God. Our walk before God must be one that is hallmarked by God’s dealing and judgments about us. Far too many Christians want to live a life of anointing and God’s blessing, but fail to realize the blessing of God in our lives happen AFTER we have allowed Him to work in our lives, AFTER we have allowed HIM to strip us of our earthly nature, AFTER we have allowed Him to kill our life so that we can find His life. This my friend is a consistent life of sanctification before a Holy God. Now sanctification is not a happy way of life, oh no, but maybe that is why not too many Christians are happy in their life. If the world’s ways makes us happy then our earthly life is alive and well in us. Sanctification is that process in our life that kills our fleshly desires, dreams, and wants. We cannot have our earthly life and the life of God in us. Oh no, one has to be put to death in us. And we choose which one dies and which one lives. Abram received the blessings of God that He purposed for Him and even received a new name NOT because God called him out of the mainstream masses of humanity, oh no, but because he had a heart to endure the sanctification process in his life. Abram was wise enough to know what he had to do to be able to receive God’s best for his life and all those who would follow in God’s promises. All he knew was he needed to walk perfect before God, in the understanding he possessed and God would take it from there. You know when I as young we use to sing a song called “Abrahams’s Blessings are Mine.” Everyone would get their tambourines out and beat them to death, but one day, as we were singing this song I realized I do not want the blessings of Abraham. Oh no, I want the blessing God has purposed for me, my wife, and our family. But I also realized I will only get those blessings if I walk humbly before God.
Next month we will continue looking at the perfect heart of the “Prophet of God” as we look at the next walk with God “after Him” looking at a walk of obedience. 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 Wind in the House of Islam
I often hear many Christians say, “what is God doing now in the world” I shake my head, and say to myself, “if they only knew what God is doing in the world they would be shocked.” And that my friend is why most Christians do NOT know what God is doing in the world. Most Christians (especially in America) are secure (in their once saved always saved doctrine) and safe in their little church Sunday world (and maybe a mid-week service) three fast ones and a slow one, some announcements, pass the plate (cannot forget to pass the plate), maybe a special number or two, no more than 20 minutes of a sermon (sound familiar?), and then off to a local restaurant for the main course. Sadly this not what God has intended for His people when they come together, but this is what He gets in most churches. But what is God doing around the world? Well I will tell you my friend, there is a wind (the Holy Spirit) blowing around the world that is moving millions and millions of people from country to country, that are destabilizing nations. As a matter of fact this move of God is (in my humble opinion) bigger than the Azusa Street Revival of 1906, bigger than all four (1730-1755, 1790-1840, 1855-1930, and 1960-1980) of the Great Awakenings, and only second to the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. What is going on? The Holy Spirit is blowing people groups from one part of the world to another part of the world. If you want to read a good book to understand this mighty move of God I recommend you get the book, “A Wind in the House of Islam” by David Garrison. There are nine geo–cultural regions or “rooms” as David calls them in the “House of Islam” and the Wind of God’s Spirit is blowing through every one of them. In every corner of the Muslim world Muslims are turning to faith in Jesus Christ. God is speaking to them in dreams and visions and the result is a historic and unprecedented movement of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in the history of the world. And it is happening right under the sleeping nose of most churches. These geo-cultural rooms are found mainly in what many missionaries call the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. The 10/40 Window is often called “The Resistant Belt” and includes the majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. The original 10/40 Window included only countries with at least 50% of their land mass within 10 and 40 degrees north latitude, but the revised 10/40 Window includes several additional countries that are close to 10 or 40 degrees north latitude and have high concentrations of unreached peoples. Approximately 5.04 billion individuals reside in approximately 8,631distinct people groups in the revised 10/40 Window. 5,918 or 68.6% of these people groups are considered totally unreached and having a population of 3.04 billion. This means approximately 60% of the individuals in the 10/40 Window live in an unreached people group. The 10/40 Window is home to some of the largest unreached people groups in the world such as the Shaikh, Yadava, Turks, Moroccan, Arabs, Pashtun, Jat, and Burmese. These are the people Jesus told the church to go after, but sadly we see these people have not been told about Jesus shoot they have not even been contacted. They are still unreached today. And why? Too hard, too expensive, too dangerous, plainly just too difficult. Maybe God made a mistake with these folks. In the last 50 years only 10% of all of the missionaries in the world have ventured within the 10/40 Window. Again approximately 60% of the individuals in the 10/40 Window live in an unreached people group. So here is the question I have for all of the denominational missionary organizations. “What happened to Jesus’ command to “Go ye” in Matthew 28?” Jesus commanded, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Maybe “all” does not mean “all.” Or maybe they do not believe He will be with them “unto the end of the world.” Now I have been to some of these places on the above map and I am here to tell you when you are there you feel like you are at the end of the world, but that is why it is important to know (before you leave) that God will never leave us or forsake us. Let us be honest and truthful my friend the church has significantly and miserably failed (especially over the last 50 years) to do the great commission work as Jesus has commanded and this (believe it or not) is at the heart of this massive movement of people. Now we could blame the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria that caused the people to exodus but not so. God has always used war, famine, and even governments to do his bidding to further the plans He has for mankind, just read the Old Testament and He has not changed. It is the hand of God in these wars and the wind blowing (the Holy Spirit) that is driving the people into places where the Gospel message can be heard. God in His love and mercy wishes none to be lost no not one. Brother Peter tells, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God desires all to come to repentance and the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so if the church/missionaries will not go where the people are then God (in His love and mercy) will send the people where the missionaries/church are. And, that is what is happening. I have seen it with my own two eyes. The last time we were in Turkey we traveled to the Turkish Syrian (on the border) Town of Aleppo and saw the massive refugee camp. As far as the eye could see was white tents (and all of the things needed for a refugee camp) in the desert. The streams of people head west into Turkey or up from Greece to get passage into the Balkans and follow on into Eastern and then Western Europe. And all along the way destabilizing villages, towns, cities, and countries. Like a swarm of locust’s devouring everything in their path. Here the sad truth plays out; the price paid for our disobedience is usually paid by others. This scenario has been playing out since 2015 with no sight of shutting down, yet the world and most of the churches snooze on. This flood of people will stop when the Holy Spirit stops blowing in the hearts and lives of the people who have never heard of Jesus Christ. But until then people are coming. Knowing the church has missed it in not going what is the church going to do now? What is God doing in the world? Giving the church another chance at the Great Commission. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Humble
We had a friend once who used to wear a ballcap with the word “Humble” on it. Nothing else, just the word “Humble.” I often wondered why he wore the cap but was too chicken to ask him. Obviously if he really WAS “Humble,” he wouldn’t feel the need to advertise his humility, any more than we would advertise that we are kind, loving, or generous, patient, etc. We all like to think we’re so this and that in GOD and then He shows us. Gulp! Maybe I’m not so-fill-in-the-blanks. But now humility, now that’s high up on GOD’S list. GOD will test us and we’ll see how humble, kind patient, loving we truly are. As for our friend, love him to death, but time bore out how humble he truly was. The TRULY “Humble” don’t think that they are. They are a rare breed in our society. Now overseas you’ll find tons more real “humble” people. Humility comes three ways to us humans:
1) GOD humbles us—don’t want that one.
2) Life humbles us, can’t help that one.
3) We keep our heart and head down, knowing how easy it is for us to be lifted up in pride, need to do this one!
The Bible speaks a lot about being humble. James says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:10) So, the condition to be lifted up is not how long we can pray, preach or teach, fast or how much money we give the church, but to “humble” ourselves. Notice the responsibility to “humble” ourselves is not on God’s shoulders, but ours. Again, if God has to “humble” us we are truly in great trouble. Peter tells us, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6) Have you ever wondered what the “mighty hand of God” looks like? Is it some huge hand coming out of heaven and pressing us down to ground? No, I think not. In the life of Jospeh it was his brothers. It was Potiphar. It was the Pharaoh. For Jesus it was the cross. Paul writes of Jesus, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:8-9) Jesus was exalted not because He was God’s Son, oh no, but because He humbled Himself and became obedient. Do you want to be exalted? Well, the way up is down! “Humble” yourself under whatsoever the mighty hand that God brings into your life. So, I ask you, what do you have on your ballcap. Read your Bible and do not forget to pray. 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:
22 September 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:
September: Erbil, Kurdistan and Dalaman, Turkey
October: Local Ministry
November: 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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