Waiting on God the LORD’S Visits
February 2022 • Volume XX 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:
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Greetings again my Brethren. More this month on the diverse attitudes towards the Lord’s visit. Last month we talked about how unexpected the Lord can come to us, in our sin and not in our sin. You know I think the Lord comes to us more in our sin than not in our sin. Yes, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but that verse talks about BEFORE Christ has come to live with us. After we are saved we are new creations created because Christ now dwells within us and yes we can miss the mark or sin. Yes we can know to do right, but do wrong or sin. But that is not to be our daily way of living. Forgiveness for sins after Christ comes into us should not be a common occurrence. I like that so much I will say it again. Forgiveness for sins after Christ comes into us should not be a common occurrence. If we have a problem with continually sinning in an area in our life we need to back up and revaluate what our salvation is based on. It is church doctrine and traditions of men usually done by saying the sinner’s prayer (which is not in the Bible) or is it based on a true heart-felt acknowledgement of what sin has wrought in our lives, how sin destroys every relationship we enter and how sin destroys everything we touch. I really believe for people who are dealing with sins of the flesh, moral failures, addictions, and the like MUST come to a place in their lives where they truly HATE what causes them to do or become. It is much more than God going, ZOOM, ZAP, POP and they are gone. Oh no, sins of the flesh, moral failures, and addictions are often issues of the heart (I know this for sure) and they must be dealt with at the heart level if we do not come to HATE what causes us to sin or what we become then there will be a hook (a desire or a self-want) in us that causes this continual sin to ever live in us. Our true hatred of these sins is the beginning point of God being able (until then we desire the sin) to break the power of these sins in our lives. Okay so for this month we will take a look at how the diverse attitudes when Lord comes unrecognized. All throughout the Bible when Jesus walked on the earth, healed the sick, opened the blinded eyes, His message in action and deed was He was the Son of God. Jesus even said, “when you see Me you have seen the Father.” The people (including the disciples, all 82) never recognized Jesus the entire time He was on the earth not a clue. In John 20, there is a wonderful example of what I am talking about. During one of the most glorious events in history “the resurrection” Jesus is unrecognized. We read, “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.” (John 20:11-14) Now I know Jesus was put to death and even though Jesus told them He would be raised from the dead, either they did not understand what Jesus said or they just did not believe Him. At any rate, Jesus did as He said and they (Mary here) missed Him. Now let me stop here. It sounds like I am really beating up on poor Mary and the other folks in the Bible, but not so. I can understand why she did not know Jesus. After all, her eyes were probably puffy and tearful (verse one “weeping”) and coming back from the dead? Who can do this? Was He the Son of God or not? Who was this man named Jesus? Oh no, I can understand why Mary did not recognize Jesus. After all they did not have the word of God (the Bible) to read like we do. The disciples and the other folks in the Bible did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them as we do. We have these two critical tools to teach us who Jesus is today and yet I would bet you $100 if Jesus was in our midst we too would probably miss Him. I wonder why that would be? Well, Jesus is not seen with our eyes alone you can ask Mary about that. Mary knew Him, she washed His feet with her tears. Mary knew Jesus (and loved Jesus) maybe greater than the other disciples. I think that is why Mary above all of the disciples (all 82) was at the tomb to tend to Jesus. My friend, Jesus is not seen as much as He is felt in a soft touch, a gentle smile, or a stirring in our heart. And our answer to the question “who was that man Jesus” is what God will use to judge us by. You see who Jesus is to us individually and how a denomination handles Jesus is the basis of truth in our lives. Is Jesus the Son of God or is He another prophet. Can Jesus do all of the things He said He can do in the Bible or is He a liar? Are our sins forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross or not? Our answer to who Jesus is, is the difference between heaven and hell. Yes, we seen the pictures of Jesus hanging on a cross and we write pictures of it in our mind, but if these images never get to our heart, if they never move us to tears and see the great loss He experienced for us individually, then we too do not know who Jesus is. He has come to our little portion of this world and we have received Him not. He has come and we did not recognize Him.
More next month as we continue to look at more diverse attitudes towards the Lord’s visit. Do you see Him draw near? Please know God is near to them who are near to Him. Do you feel His presence? Do you see His hand in your life? He is waiting on us to make our first move. Written by David Stahl
Communication with God
God’s heart for us is to be able to have communion (our heart to His heart) with Him, but this communion starts out from our communication with Him. So the order is, no communication no communion. If our desire can focus upon the Lord communication with Him will be open. We have evidence that this moved in Moses early life. There must have been communication from God to Moses when he was young (40 years old) for he was aware then that God wanted him to deliver his brothers from Egyptian bondage (Acts 7:23-29). At the burning bush in Exodus chapter three we see a marvelous method of communication from God to Moses. At Mount Sinai God called Moses to Himself for the purpose of a very lengthy communication. Moses ascended, “And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” (Exodus 24:16) God’s call to us is always to “come up” and stand where He is. This extensive communication lasted 34 days probably without interruption day and night since Moses did not eat nor drink during that time (Deuteronomy 9:9). I also believe Moses did not sleep during this time since it would be hard to sleep with God that close. God called Moses and led him to the Wilderness of Sinai upon two different occasions to communicate with him. Sinai (means God’s glory) is a place where God can communicate with man. He may call us to the mount to communicate or at times God may call us to the wilderness to meet with Him, but His intent is to talk with us. Communication follows the meeting. Suppose we fail to meet with God due to fear or some other personal reason? The communication which God intended does not occur. He stands at the door and knocks. If anyone hears and opens extensive communication can follow. Do we desire Him enough to open the door or go to the wilderness to meet with Him? If so communication is established and a messenger is born. The messenger becomes God’s mouthpiece to those who have not met with Him. Jesus testifies of this, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.” (John 5:19-20) If there is no communication, how can Jesus know what His Father is doing? If he doesn’t know what His Father is doing how can He do His Father’s will? Communication is necessary. We need it. We must have it even if it means living in the wilderness. Communication is necessary for God needs messengers. He communicated through the angels (messengers) to the seven Churches in Revelation — chapters two and three. He did not communicate directly to the Seven Churches. God uses messengers. It is the same today. We do not go to church sit down and wait till God shows up to speak in person to us. No we hear His messenger. He used prophets to speak to the nation of Israel. There will be no messenger if there is no communication. Today God still seeks messengers. But today they are getting as scarce as they were in Isaiah’s day, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) God desperately seeks those with hearing ears because He can put His word into them. His word can possess them and give a desire to meet with God to hear His communications. God spoke to Moses, “And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.” (Exodus 34:2) All things must be laid aside. God wants hearts ready to meet with Him and to receive that which He has for them. Yes the meeting and communication is necessary if people will be able to receive from God. God worked through human instruments and continues to do so. Therefore in order to accomplish the will of God there must be the meeting of the mind of God with the mind of man. Moses is called to the top of Mount Sinai in order to receive specific instructions from God for the children of Israel as well as God’s foundational direction for mankind. God gave Moses the plans for the Tabernacle, Priestly arrangements, and so much more. The importance of this meeting between God and Moses goes further. God provided the wherewithal to prepare Israel for a successful conquest of the Promised Land. The means of preparing their hearts was presented to Moses, which he in turn, presented to the people. But they did not respond correctly. They were rebellious and had no faith in Moses or God. As the right relationship to God develops the desire to walk in the will of God grows. As obedience increases, faith does likewise, and conquest is certain. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
The Traditions of Men
Well another holiday season is over. All the mindless scurrying around, over-spending, over-eating etc. is done –until the next holiday. I take serious issue with a certain religious denomination, over and above other denominations because they DO NOT follow the Word of GOD. For centuries they’ve appeared as light for the masses of people who unfortunately blindly follow their tenets and doctrines. But, as I said they do not follow the word of GOD. Jesus blasted the scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel of Mark. Let’s see what Jesus says in Mark 7:5-16 and in Mark 7: 21-23. “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me everyone of you, and understand:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 7:5-16) And in Mark 7:21-23. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23) Folks, nothing has changed! This is just as true now as it was 2,000 plus years ago! People still teach the doctrines and commandments of men and not the Bible. If people really read the Bible–all of it and not just what appeals to them, they’d see the folly of their denominations. Religion is to line up with the word of GOD, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! The traditions of the modern church age doesn’t do any good for anybody. Most of our religious traditions are lies anyway–why do we endure them? Christmas is a pagan holiday, so why do we throw Jesus in the mix to justify the season when it’s all a lie? Just off the top of my head: (1) Nobody knows when Jesus was born, may have been the spring or fall. We are not commanded to celebrate his birthday. (2) The wise men were not there when He was born, they came later. The Shepherds did however show up and saw Jesus first. (see Luke 2:7-16) (3) Christmas trees are pagan, see Jeremiah 10: 2-4. “Thus saith the LORD, learn not the way of the heathen, be not dismayed at the signs of heaven for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workmen, with the axe. they deck it with silver and with gold: they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not.” We use to listen to a certain evangelist on TV and they had Christmas decorations all over the place. On one of their talk shows they defended their Christmas trees in not so loving ways. Why? Because people with money like Christmas trees and glitzy decorations. Please don’t suggest that perhaps this evangelist was not aware of the above scripture in Jeremiah, they are quite aware of it, but choose to ignore it and will go every which way to keep the dopey trees, so not to offend people who give them money. That’s all it is. As they said, “just follow the money!” Folks, if we compromise in one little area, we’ll compromise in bigger areas. It’s a slippery slope. Paul in his letter to Timothy exhorted the brethren, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God isgood, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:1-5) Are there not religions that forbid clergy to marry? Are there not religions that urge their people to fast or abstain from eating this or that on certain “holidays?” Take heed to what you believe, if it’s not in the Bible why then are you supporting such error (to make a mistake), such err (to willfully lead astray for personal gain), and false doctrine? “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2: 8-9) In this new year let us endeavor to read our Bibles, all of it and not just what we like. Let us stop this humanistic, religious foolishness. As Dave always says ” it’s easier to do something for GOD, than become something in GOD. GOD doesn’t need our religion, but we sure do need GOD. God wants us to become something “in Him” and religious traditions will never ever get us there. Written by Karen Stahl
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
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- In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in SilistraPastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
- Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and Ian at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
- Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
- Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
- Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli,Rwanda.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETING:
22 February 22 at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
February: Local Ministry
March: Local Ministry
April: South Africa and Zimbabwe
Email: charliegolfone@outlook.com
ROCK FELLOWSHIP ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Sunday morning at 9:00 am
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:
Home: (910) 741-0489
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Website:
www.www.beholdinghisglory.com/
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
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