Waiting on God – His Characteristics
April 2018 • Volume XVI Number 08
”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:
THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION:
Greetings again my Brethren. This month we will start a new section, a critical section as we look at the proper characteristics of our waiting before the LORD. Anything we do in and for God must be done in God’s proper order. Order matters. The order of words found in a run of words in the Bible matters. The order of names matter. The Holy Spirit did not just throw the Bible together in any order, but ordered properly things in sequence for His meaning and functionality of truth. Now as we look at the characteristics the order I discuss them in is not important, but what is important is are these characteristics operating and functioning in our lives. If not then we are OUT of proper order with what God wants to see in our lives. I first will identify a characteristic then a verse that supports my thoughts and expound. The first of ten characteristics is early. In Proverbs we read, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Proverbs 8:17). Now the use of the word “early” is not describing a time of the day like 2:00 am or even the time in of a person’s life like early is his childhood, but here the word “early” is used without procrastination and before other interests. I will agree it is good to seek the LORD early, as in the morning hours while our mind is empty from the day and all is usually quiet and it is good to seek the LORD as a child. Lamentations encourages us, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:26-27) The word “youth” in verse 27 tells us this is happening early in the life of a man. But in Proverbs we see Solomon is talking about not waiting for something else to happen (while keeping our mouth shut) and/or ahead of other competing interests in situations, events, and circumstances in our lives we wait to see what God says about things. So often we want to do and say things we believe God wants us to say and do, but in reality we are wrong. The wrong is not the saying and the doing, but the not waiting to hear what God has to say about the issue, etc. We want to see people come to Christ right now. We want to pray for people and see them healed right now, well God may not want to see these things happen at this time. God may be working in hearts and lives beyond our understanding and when we jump in like a bull in a china shop we can mess things up. No we need to wait for God’s proper order and when we get His order we are to smartly move out, but until then we wait for Him to speak to us. The second Characteristic is daily. Again in Proverbs, “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” (Proverbs 8:34-35) This type of waiting should be systematic and not spasmodic. Here Solomon is telling us we must not be double minded or tossed like children on every wind of doctrine, but be solid in our resolve and steadfast in our desire to hear from God. So many Christians are wishy washy, hot one day for God then the next day cold, up and down like a roller coaster, willing to run towards the sound of the guns one day, but another day we hide under our beds. God cannot use such folks. We must be able to see the big picture of what God is doing in any given situation and how we fit in. This will only happen when we can systematically (step by step) see the part we play in what God is doing and the only way to get your part is to wait on Him. The next characteristics is also taken from Proverbs 8:34-35 and is watchfully. Here we are alert to His response, but with strain and stress. So many Christians are not very watchful they have no spiritual wherewithal, they do not know the difference between ungodly and godly, between righteous and unrighteous, between spiritual and unspiritual. And why? They lack the sense of righteous judgment. They are not watchful or have the ability in God to look at a situation or issue and see what God is doing in it. Our zeal and lack of situational awareness will only lead to us stepping on our toes and God’s. Jesus gives us this example in Luke, “The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:46) Here the servant (seemingly a Christian) was not watching and his lord suddenly came (not sure what he was doing maybe eating and drinking or sleeping like the five foolish virgins) and “cut him in sunder” (not sure if that is figuratively), but then the lord gives is portion away to the unbelievers. This seems like a heavy price to pay for slumbering, but it was not the sleeping that caused the stiff penalty from the lord, but the servant’s inability to be able to judge when the lord would show up and ask his servant to give accord of himself. Unless we wait on God and get an ability to be able to judge ourselves, situations, even people we will never be watchful and know what to do.
Next month we will continue looking at the seven other proper characteristics of our waiting. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you.
Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
God’s Word Says
The Offense of God
One of the greatest central truths I have learned in my life is there seems to always be some type of offence in me. The longer I go with God the more I see and feel these offences in me that well up in my flesh to take control of my heart, mind, and of course whatsoever is in our heart will come out our mouth. I am amazed just when I think I am over getting offended someone says or does something that touches an offence buried in my heart and I say or do something (usually dumber than what the other person said or did) and I am exposed for the carnal, fleshly man I am at times. Did you know we cannot be offended if there is no offense in us. What happens when we get offended is a word or action from someone reaches out to us and touches the offence laying dormant in our heart and when it comes alive all hell breaks loose in our spirit. Now there is some good news and bad news here. The bad news is our words usually alienate our friends and strengthen our enemies hand in our lives (at times like this we usually do not pray for them as Jesus asked us to) not to mention the hatred and wrath that begins to move in our heart, but the good news is this offence has given God an opportunity to work in our lives by showing us what wicked and ugly thoughts and feelings are buried deep in our heart. Believe it or not the continual sin and immaturity of the Church at Corinth was the very thing God used to bring repentance and restoration. God allowed these things to go on so that something was moving in the Church which allowed correction the opportunity to work in their lives. We can then either agree with God what He is saying about us is true (the Biblical definition of the word – confess) or call God a liar and reject His work in our lives. Yes I said God’s work in our lives. God will even use an offence in us to reveal our heart condition and show us how WE ARE NOT like His precious Son Jesus Christ. My teacher Charles Haun would always say God does not play fair; He will use everything in our lives as we allow Him to reveal our nasty attitudes and ungodly character. Did you know God is more concerned about our character than He is about our ability (even to be used as a vessel to do miracles) or our faithful dedicated service to the church or Him. God is very concerned about our character, He would rather have a child that knows how to move with Him in righteousness than one He can count on to get the job done. Both are needed in God’s economics, but the one who can move in righteousness knows His heart and this my friend is what God is after with His children, just as earthly parents are after with their children. When we get offended again and again it is a sign we have refused to allow God to deal and judge in areas of our lives. When we get offended there is no peace in us, our home, or any relationship we touch, but that is not God’s intention for us oh no, God’s intention for us is, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalms 119:165) In our personal lives and in the relationships with others in the world we are to live our lives by, “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10) Here Paul lays out our guide to daily living with Christians and non-Christians alike in the world in verse 3-10, please reread them again and examine your life here. I know I fall extremely short in many areas here, but still the standard is before me to measure up to. I am amazed when I read verses 9 and 10, “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” What truth, how do we measure up to these words? Can we ever measure up to these words? In this life I think not, but still that does not excuse us from not meeting God’s expectation. Oh how far we are from what God expects of us. Lord please help us to want to be like You.
Now there is another side of offence in the Bible that many people do not know about because it is not taught in most churches today. Most sermons (not messages from God) teach about a good moral meaning in how to live our lives in a good and decent way, but that never get down to the heart of God whereby we become the work of God. Not what we do for Him, but our very lives is the workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) of God. Now I really enjoy speaking to Bible School students especially third year students they think they know everything. When I start I tell them I have a goal and a target in mind; the target is their heart and the goal of my words is to strike their heart and see how low I can get them in their thinking and in their heart condition, because the way up in God is down and the lower we can go in God with our self-worth, self-seeking, and selfishness the higher we can go in God no more no less. At the same measure we can go down we can learn and go up. In Constanta, Romania I had a Bible school Student tell me at first he rejected my words and thought I was crazy, but as he listened and saw my method (and madness) before too long my words and heart condition for him captured him for the Gospel. There is a spiritual principle moving here; the preaching of the Word of God is to offend us. When I minister the word of God (as He gives it to me) my intention is not to make someone happy, feel good in their heart, or cause them to jump to their feet and bobble their head back and forth, oh no my intention is to bring them down in their eyes, to stick them in their heart with the word of God and bring them to a place of silent retrospection and reflection. As with the Bible School students my goal is to see how low I can get them to come down in their eyes so that Jesus can be lifted up. The word of God is to prick our heart, it is to cut us to the quick, it is to open the eyes of our understanding so that we will be able to see the Lord high and lifted up so that His train can fill the temple of our heart. The word of God is to be a rock on which we are to stumble and fall to our knees. Peter tells us, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed (Jesus the word), the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But 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 2:7-9) If we are going to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” something will have to be used to cleanse our lives from the filth of this world so that we can be chosen by God and become the “royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” He so desires we become. It is the word of God; the Gospel message that offends us as it exposes the sin in our lives. And as we see our sinful heart condition as compared to the word of God coming to us God is able to draw us unto Himself. This offence is not unto death like us getting offended at our brothers and sisters, but is an offence unto life. Remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians, “By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;” (2 Corinthians 6:8-9) The offence of the preaching of the word of God kills us, but it makes us alive at the same time. The more you look at these verses the more you have to scratch your head and wonder. Paul told the Church in Rome, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 9:32-33) The Christians at this time in Rome were into a works salvation as most Churches in America and the world are today. They stumbled over the words of Paul when he said, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:1-5) and when he said, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” (Hebrews 6:1) or when James said, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18) All of these words caused the people who were seriously listening to stumble at them, but for the ones who were serious about their walk with the Lord got up from their knees with a new sense of purpose, commitment, and new calling, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” What else in our lives can God use (of His own) to hone and refine our character? Not suffering this is ours for the softening of our heart. Certainly not God’s blessings these are ours to give away so that others may receive. How about troubles and persecution? No, these are ours to work righteousness and Godliness in us. There are two ways for our soul to be cleansed. The first is through affliction, anguish, distress, and inward torment. And the second is through the fire of a burning love, a love impatient and hungry. Make no mistake my friend if you are serious about walking with God He will get us one way or the other.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
How to be Saved
Last month I wrote “Are You Saved,” but this month we’re going to discuss how to get saved. Unfortunately most of us have these crazy notions that: we’re really not that bad or our good points will certainly outweigh our bad points. Wrong!! The Word of GOD says “As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE: THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. THEY ARE ALL GONE OUT OF THE WAY, ALL TOGETHER BE COME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT ONE. (Romans 3:10-11) In my Bible these verses are in all caps, I guess God is trying to get our attention. If you’re thinking to yourself, yeah but I’m not that bad you are deceiving yourself and are a liar.” Jeremiah tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). We must get to the place where we see what sin has wrought in our lives—and that is only death. If GOD says our heart is deceitfully wicked (without HIM in it) we can’t say otherwise. Either we agree with GOD or we call HIM a liar. It’s black and white and there is NO gray area. Salvation is nothing more than God’s grace (nothing we can do to earn it) and us repenting (walking in the other direction) from our sin through faith in what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Paul to the Church at Rome writes, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-25). And this grace does NOT give us carte blanche to sin as John Hagee so eloquently said, “grace gives us the opportunity to repent not the opportunity to sin.” And repentance is NOT confessing our sins to some guy in a fancy closet or saying a ton of prayers. Repentance is an on-going, continual process and literally means to do an about face from our sin. This is NOT a one-time deal. If we ask Jesus to be LORD of our life and sit on the throne of our heart we will be doing a lot of repenting make no mistake, HE will clean house IF we let HIM. Paul again writes, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) It is the Godly sorrow in our repentance through faith that worketh salvation in us. Grace and repentance through faith. Paul helps us again, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works ,lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) It can hurt when God begins to work on us. Oswald Chambers puts it very well: “Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of GOD is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself.” This is why we can only come to GOD through HIS Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth ,and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6 ) This is why it is idolatry to try to approach GOD through any other person , be it Mary, any of the saints who have gone on before us, any dead relative, angels, whatever or whoever. It’s all idolatry pure and simple. GOD wants us for Himself. It is a slap in the face to GOD if we pray to anyone else or have faith in any one or anything other than Jesus Christ HIS son. So who was hanging on the cross for us? Jesus and Jesus alone. Paul yet again writes, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus , and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). Only two types of people will dispute the Word of GOD: 1) atheist’s and 2) religious people—because they go about after their own righteousness. My friend main stream denominations are a work based performance religion (what must I do to be good enough to be saved), but real salvation is not what we have done, but what Jesus did on the cross for us. You know it’s a lot easier to follow a religion then to ask Jesus into our heart and be LORD over our life. This why most of the people in the world are religious, but lost. The only question now is will you be saved?
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
- In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Included now are missionaries from Romania Nicu and Elena. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
- Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and George Ritisan at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School and the Faru (Lighthouse) Church.
- In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
- Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
- Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
- Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
- Pastor Metin Mintaz, 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.
- Monthly financial support for Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
- 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:
24 April 2018 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: 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:
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/
The AuthorHouse 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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