All you seem to hear on Christian TV (TBN and others) and in most big churches in America and around the world is we want to see God move in the earth. I will be honest (and shame on me) I do find myself at times watching Christian TV. Sadly it is like when driving past a train wreck or car accident knowing you should not look but you do. Well believe it or not my friend God is moving greatly throughout the earth, but sadly those on Christian TV and in most big churches in America and around the world are over into the prosperity teachings of the day which prevents them from seeing what God is really doing in this hour. The church is singing and dancing around the political Maypole alters they have built through ungodly political relationships while missing God drawing the real church (the people of God) within the church unto Himself. They have built their denominations along racial and political lines. Talking heads, pundits, and civil rights leaders in America talk about segregation and racism ad nauseaium, but Sunday morning (in America) in most churches is still the most segregated time of the week. What are we teaching in these churches that would cause this? I thought we were one Body of one Spirit? Paul taught, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-5) Is this true? “One body and one Spirit?” and “One Lord, one faith, one baptism?” No my friend who are we trying to fool, I am afraid when we take a spiritual look at the Body of Christ today we are so fractured and divided it would almost be impossible for God to move on the earth. Now I said almost impossible. The main stream denominational churches and ministries (seen on Christian TV) seem to be in competition with each other to see who can hold the biggest special event, seminar, conference, program (something for the people to do so they will think they are working for God instead of becoming the work of God – Ephesians 2:10), or movie with the biggest Christian celebrity (is that not an oxymoron? I thought Jesus was humble and lowly – Matthew 11:29) to corral the most people. They know the money is in the fish. They know if they can catch the fish (the people) they can get their money.
Sadly all of these services and programs are sold under the appearance and marketing of sharing the gospel message. It is beyond me how someone could attach their name to the word “ministry,” what arrogance and pride. My friend, take your family and run from such churches and people. Now do not think I am blowing smoke tickling your ears I have talked to many pastors (I have been a pastor and did it) and religious leaders who have confessed to these selfish ungodly motives. It is not about how many people we can get into our church or how much money we can collect to feed a bank account, oh no God is after quality not quantity. God is after a people with a humble and contrite heart who love Him and are willing to endure His dealings and judgments in their lives to be qualified and approved for His spiritual authority and power. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15) No where in the Bible could God or His precious Son Jesus Christ do much with large groups of people. And this is no different today, ambitious greedy pastors and religious leaders have sold their souls to governments in America and around the world for power, money, and influence. I get many emails thanking me for having the courage to speak out against topics in the Body of Christ that many today and in the past have turned their heads to. I am not trying to cause division or contention within the Body of Christ nor am I cynical, but am speaking the truth in love hoping and praying for a heart change in many churches around the world and in America. How long will we get to presume on God’s grace? How long will God allow the church in America and around the world to play fast and loose with Him? This message of cheap grace and prosperity the church in America is pedaling to the world will come to a sudden and deadly end my friend, I promise you this. Could it be the church in America and around the world is so ensnared in her political relationships, greed, and hard heartedness she has missed God’s moving in the earth today? I know so.
In the Book of Peter we read, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) I wonder what the hand of God looks like? I think God’s hand can take many shapes and sizes. I wonder what the mighty hand of God looked like in the life of Joseph? Who would have thought the “mighty hand of God” (to humble Joseph) would take the shape of his 11 brothers who sold him into slavery? Who would have thought the “mighty hand of God” would take the shape of Potiphar’s chief servant or wife to prove and test his righteousness and integrity? Who would have thought the “mighty hand of God” would take the shape of being exalted to be called Zaphnathpaaneah where only Pharaoh sat in the judgment seat over him. The “mighty hand of God” takes on many shapes and sizes and is projected at God’s good pleasure. What does the “mighty hand of God” in your life look like? Well what is humbling you? Did you know the condition to be raise up or exalted is to first be humbled. And did you know it is our reasonable service, duty, and responsibility for us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. It is not God’s place to force us to humble ourselves, God’s place is to provide the humbling, our place is to willfully submit to His humbling so that “in due time” we shall be exalted. When is due time? How long do we have to be humbled? Well the next verse gives us the answer, “casting all your care on him.” God will humble us until we have learned to cast (throw or exchange) all of our care, not our cares on Him. Cares are things like cars, houses, jobs, our economy, our future and etc. We are not to cast our cares about not having things or our future on Him, but we are to cast all our care upon him. Care is our attitude (an adjective) of caring about things. We need not be worried why? Because, “he careth for you.” God will humble us until we learn to cast our attitude of caring on Him. After we learn this lesson then God can exalt and raise us up.
What do you think? Do you think the “mighty hand of God” could look like the melt-down of the financial markets of America or the global collapse of the world banking system? I do. And my friend I believe the worse is yet to come. Now please understand I am writing these words not from a political point of view or agenda I did not vote I know God is the one who selects the leaders for America. But I strongly believe, God has raised up President Obama to serve as a vessel of dishonor to humble America and even the world. How is God moving in the world? He is humbling the church around the world, America, and the nations for the years of open rebellion and disobedience to His word and found them both wanting. Just read the Bible, when God’s humbling comes to a nation saints and sinners alike feel His mighty hand of correction. Obedience to God and His word alone is what saves a nation from God’s humbling. We in America must get back to what God has said in His Holy word if we want to survive. How is God moving in the earth? He is humbling the nations. And what is the church doing? Sadly it has not recognized God’s humbling because times are still good people still have some money so they continue to sing their people further into a spiritual slumber. My friend God always goes after where it hurts the most and now God is hitting the world in her money belt. Take heed my friend conviction, chastisement, and even open rebuke has not worked to bring us back to God. Humbling always comes ahead of judgment and if judgment does not work then reprobation (total darkness) will be the end of the apostate church and the world. Take heed my friend God is not mocked, God always uses some ones enemy to bring reprobation to those who resist God and His ways, just read the Old Testament. Time and time again the kings, judges, priests, and the people of Isreal, “did that which was not right in the sight of he Lord” and God led them into slavery, destruction, and ruin for 100s of years. And times have not changed we serve a God who changes not.
Now please understand I truly wish no harm and wish him well, but still make no mistake, I believe, President Obama and his administration have been raised up by God to humble America (please see “Good Luck Mr. President of 21 January 09 on our blog ) because of her waywardness and open rebellion to God’s Holy word. The Psalmist tells us, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 8For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.” (Psalms 75:6-8) Now I will be honest, I do not like to see America in such a deceived spiritual condition. I really struggle in my heart and spirit when I see the church and America over in such deception and disobedience. I love America it is the best country in the world, I gave 24 years of my life in peace and combat service to her, but at every turn America and yes the church in America has rejected God and His word. God, whether you believe in Him or not, gets to fashion the vessels for His purposes. God gets the final word on the nations. We see this truth in the life of Pharaoh and the Egyptian (and paralleled in President Obama and the American people) people as recorded in the Book of Romans, “For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”(Romans 9:17-21)
America and great men of God (from all walks of life, every color, and tongue) have been fashioned by God to spread the Gospel message around the world; democracy and freedom were just by-products of the Gospel message, but now America has changed her course she has rejected God and His word. The church in America is over in idol worship of men and money, greed and hunger for power and influence instead of hungering for God and His righteousness which has been left by the wayside. The church of America thinks just because our legal system passes laws and the Supreme Courts upholds these laws time and time again they over ride what God has said in His word, well my friend the Supreme Court is not the highest court in America or on the earth. There is a higher judge who rides on the wind, who inhabits eternity, and judges the nations. What we need in America is a leader and people like in the City of Nineveh. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”(Jonah 3:5-10) A leader and a people who can see the “mighty hand of God” stretching forth to humble them while longing to restore them if they repent. On the other side of repentance is restoration and protection for America.
Oddly enough God is moving on the earth like never before, but most Christians have not put on the mind of Christ nor have they had the eyes of their understanding enlightened so they will not be able to see what God is doing. Their mind has been deceived by the gods of this world and their hearts are full of themselves and a man-made system of religion. Oh Lord God Almighty, ruler of heaven and earth, please forgive me, please forgive the church around the world, and please forgive my nation. Forgive us this day so that we can once again be restored to the knowledge of the truth of Your word and not sin against You again. Help us, open our eyes to be able to see the need to be humbled by You so that we may get back on the right track and once again believe Your word and only Your word where there and only there is life forever more. Amen.
By David Stahl
