”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. Okay let us continue with our series on the Oracles of God as we look at the Diversity of Divine Communication. This month we will start a new section how, maybe when or where the word of God is received. For me and I would think for most Believers the word of God (written or spoken) come to us in times of prayer or even a prayer meeting. Here in Acts 13 we find one of the best examples of the LORD speaking to His folks in a prayer meeting. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3) Now of course we know the work Saul (not Paul yet) and Barnabas had been called to take this glorious Gospel message to the Gentiles. I find it interesting the Holy Spirit did not call Peter or any of the other 11 disciples to minister to the Gentiles. Oh no, God had to get some new folks to do His work. I wonder what Peter and the other 11 disciples were doing then? Well, the Bible is very clear it says they were still ministering to the Jewish people, still doing what Jesus told them to do, stay in Jerusalem till they receive power, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) So they received the power, but the Bible never records the disciples going to Samaria or to the uttermost parts of the world, but Paul did. I really think God’s big plan was for the Jewish people to accept Jesus as the Messiah and go to the nations spreading the good news of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdon of God was the message Jesus had for the people. We see that when “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.” (Luke 4:43-44) Jesus’ message was not repent and be baptized like John the Baptist or Peter’s or even being saved by grace through faith. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” (Matthew 4:23) The King is here! And I am the King! But the Jewish people received Jesus not and killed the King. I also believe as a part of God’s master plan the Jewish nation was to go and evangelize the nations and the disciples were to lead the charge, but as we read in the Scriptures this never happened. We even see hints of this desire of God when Peter said the Jewish people are a royal priesthood, “But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9) or when Paul talks about being an ambassador. Kingdoms have ambassadors, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20) Or in 2 Corinthians Paul writes, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”(2 Corinthians 5:19-21) And as we know this is God’s game plan for Him to evangelize the world during the Great Tribulation in the Book of Revelation using 144,000 Jewish men (see Revelation 14:1-5) John writes, “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 7:4) 12,000 from each tribe 12 or 12,000×12 = 144,000. I know for some this may be way out there, but for those Believers who really study the Bible and have an open spirit to the Holy Spirit the hand writing is on the wall. All throughout the Bible the Holy Spirit takes the opportunity to speak to His God’s people in prayer meetings. Now notice in all of these examples when the Holy Spirit speaks to God’s folks, there is always a separation. Again, Acts 13:2-3, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3) God always separates His people from the herd so that they can do God’s work. This is one of God’s unspoken rewards He gives His leaders, loneliness, solitude, separated unto the LORD to clearly hear from Him and not to look at faces and hear excuses. Separation is one of the prices we pay if we want to be a leader for God. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Growing Up
The longer I go in God the more I see the critical need for spiritual maturity and development in God and why many Christians refuse to grow up. Growing up is painful that is why little babies and children cry so much. Especially today the need for growing up is more pressing because in the days to come (I believe) unstable and immature Christians will be manipulated, deceived, and used (more than what they are now) by forces and powers to further ungodly agendas and polices, even imprisoned, tortured, and killed for sport. Are we any better than the Christians before God in the early
church? I think not. The future for Christians looks bleak in the natural realm because many denominational and the nominal church have failed to minster the truth of the word of God to a lost and dying world and have purposely (for money and influence) kept young Christians weak and sickly spiritually. But God’s desire for us is to grow up in Him. I promise you my friend this will cost you dearly, things (purposely of our selves) that most Christians are not willing to pay. After all why pay the price for development and spiritual growth when I can just sit on the church pew every Sunday and go through the motions after all the pastor told me I was a Christian. I have been baptized and when I die I will go to heaven, well my friend it does not work that way it is God who is the judge not the pastor. There is a price we pay for all we get from God. Even our salvation was not free it cost Jesus His life. Paul tell us, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Romans 5:15) I have often thought of this wondrous free gift of salvation, nothing can stop the giving of this gift from God, but it is us the receivers who can stop the receiving and the point I really like is it must be free (no strings attached) to be a gift. There is nothing we can to do to earn it, no work, or performance on our part will impart this free gift of salvation, but many Christians (term used loosely) are working hard to go to heaven. Well they may not make it. In the early days of being a Christian there were times when I became spiritually stirred and promised the LORD all kinds of things. I felt that I had received specific direction, purpose, and revelation, but the next thing I knew I had fallen apart and all spiritual vision and inspiration disappeared. Then I picked myself up, shook off the dust, returned to the starting line, and began again. Growing up in God begins with many failures, but as we fail we are to learn and not make the same mistake again and again. Babies learn to walk by falling and falling till they can get their balance and before long they are walking. This pattern also takes place in our spiritual experience when we are truly growing up. Life is never easy. We all have our ups and downs. There have been times when I told the LORD, “I will never doubt you again.” Soon I was saying, “LORD, where are you?” It is time for us to grow up and out of these patterns and begin to move upward and onward without variance. It is very important that the foundation upon which we stand is our LORD Jesus Christ and that our life is built on Him and His divine spiritual principles. If not our spiritual experience is resting on sand, that is, if we are trusting our own abilities we will fail when the pressures of life increase, but here we endure till we learn to exchange our abilities for His abilities (the learning process) and come to a point where we do not fail. When difficulties affect us and we begin to lose our spiritual direction we must become quiet and look to the LORD if we can do this we will recognize that beneath our variance is a layer of spiritual strength and hope that had been deposited within us through our
identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection, which was confirmed in the peace that came when He took up His abode within us. Most seasoned Christians have a settled knowing that they have gone too far in their spiritual experience to turn back now and that at any price we have no choice, but to press upward and onward. Once we realize that we have gone beyond the point of no-return we can only say LORD for better or for worse my life is Yours. Oddly the older I get and the more the world churns in turmoil the less I like to fly on airplanes (most common reason why Christians do not travel overseas), but to do that which God wants me to do at times I must board an airplane. As the plane is waiting to rush down the runway I utter these words, “into thy hands oh LORD I commend my body, soul, and spirit.” No matter the outcome I am committed to the plan and will of God for my life even if it is to be on a airplane that falls from the sky at 40,000 feet from some act of terrorism or accident. The LORD is pleased with this because true commitment is never in words alone, but always have actions that support our words. They say words are cheap (how true) actions always means you have some skin in the game. The varied struggles that each of us face are very real. However, it is not the struggle that is important, but rather the way we view and respond to it. We live in a worldly environment where all sorts of things war against us and many times it seems that there is more against us than for us. This gives us ample opportunity to either feel sorry for ourselves and fall into despair or to rise above these things and meet our LORD as an overcomer. Our Country today is embroiled in a struggle over what many people (even Christians I still use this term loosely) call racism well it is not about racism, but about a heart condition that has never been dealt with by God. Many people gather in rallies and peace demonstrations as they act out with violence in the name of justice, hogwash they are selfish, know not God and His ways, and just want their grievances heard. If we have the King of Peace in our heart we need not go to a peace or unity rally. Paul in Romans clearly states, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 18, and 21) Pastors and spiritual leaders (black and white) gather on the battle line to fight and protest things that deal with the heart, but try to solve them with fleshly means. It will not work my friend. All of my life people groups after people group have protested and complained about injustice while dismissing the true heart of the matter, their heart not being controlled by God. It is the Gospel not protesting and rioting that heals hearts, that corrects perceived injustice, grievances, and inequalities. We (Christians) must not allow ourselves to get angry and divided out as the world does if we do all will be lost. My friend God must be able to shut our mouth so He can open our heart. Paul tells us, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” (1
Thessalonians 4:11) Strange, we have to “study” to be quiet. Again, God must be able to shut our mouth. One of the first signs of growing up is being able to shut your mouth and the second is not needing to have your opinion heard. You know there is a desire in the heart of the LORD for those who will stand with Him and His words to us in full redemption that He can accomplish on our behalf and trust in His faithfulness alone. This requires us breaking out of the mold of our past insecurities and an entering into the security of our being seated with Him. Here as we rest in His victory the Holy Spirit who brought Jesus forth from the grave what appeared to be a total defeat will also lift us from our place of discouragement and variance into an overcoming victory in His presence. Since we are created in the likeness of the LORD this desire is also in the One who created us. Thus, the LORD desires that we come to Him alone in trust and appreciation for His redemption in our behalf. These variances in our faith can rob us of our being able to give this satisfaction to our LORD. If we will hold the potential that rests within us before the LORD in simple child-like trust we will be enabled to rise above the limitations (growing up) that we place upon ourselves and enter into all that He has made available for us. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Stop Making Excuses
We heard a great message at a church we visited recently on excuses. GOD “doesn’t cotton to” excuses. GOD wants us to be overcomers and wholly trust and follow Him. He also wants us to be people of our word. Jesus said, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea: nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matthew 5:37), my friend there is nothing in between. He also expects us Believers to do our due diligence by spending time in His word and spending time with Him. Yet how often do we make excuses to NOT do these simple things? “The big game of the season is on” or a diner date, you name it. If you were privy to knowing when the game was on TV you could’ve read your Bible earlier. A common excuse,, “I don’t have time to pray,” but we all know we do always have time for what we really want to do. We make time for what we deem important in our lives don’t we? So, what are excuses? Actually, they’re lies we tell ourselves and others to cover-up (our ineptitude) or deflect (an angry or dissatisfied reaction from others) when we’ve not done what we are supposed to do. In our “victim hood” society we have excuses for everything. These are all just lies enabling us to continue in laziness and self-indulgence. GOD is ever ready to help us, He loves us and wants to see us become as His precious son Jesus. For the Believer the most wretched upbringing, the most horrible childhood, the most awful marriage breakup, the most terrible— you name it— in GOD’s eyes is just an ample opportunity to lean on Him to trust and follow Him as He brings us around to wholeness, and usefulness in him. Paul writes, “So that we may boldly say The
LORD is my helper and I will not fear, what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:6). BUT, that means He will do things His way, NOT the way we think things should be done. An Australian Christian motivational speaker; Nick Vujicic, was born without arms or legs, He does not wallow in self-pity, he does the best he can with what he was given in life. Now is his life easy? No, there were times of darkness in his life, but his parents taught him to see the bright side of things in life. He has a ministry in California is married and they have four children. What a lesson for the rest of us. No victim mentality there. Folks with GOD’S help we can overcome things. “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2). With GOD’S help we can go through things (with a GOOD attitude) GOD doesn’t want to hear I can’t do whatever because whatever. No, No, No, GOD wants to hear “yes Lord.” GOD loves us very much and He wants us to reach our full potential in HIM to fulfill his plans here on earth and beyond. Lastly, as Benjamin Franklin said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” In GOD you’re good for a lot of things, stop making excuses. God Bless, read 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.
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.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
19 December 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:
December: Local ministry
January: Local Ministry
February: 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:
mtnebo@hotmail.com
Website: www.beholdinghisglory.com/
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.
If you know someone you think would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Contributions to this ministry is always appreciated and needed the more time continues. Please feel free to contact us with the above information.
