Waiting on God – His Characteristics
April 2021 • Volume XIX 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:
Greetings again my Brethren. Wow where is the year going? You hear as you grow older time flies by faster the older you get and my dear friend it is true, but it is also true time is not mine it is God’s and He is not keeping it as we do. This month we will finish up the sixth section to “The LORD’s Call.” What a tremendous section of truth we covered. So much heartfelt information and if we would embrace it with all of heart we would be further down the line in coming to know God and His ways. We will end up looking at Luke 9:62 and what our response to God MUST be. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) What we are looking at here is that our response to the LORD have it be yes or no, MUST be made in an unhesitating act of finality springing from an irrevocable decision. We always automatically assume when God speaks to us we always respond in a way in what God wants us to do. Well my friend I must be honest I have not always responded yes to the LORD, but have said no. Sadly I confess this, but I want to be honest to you, myself, and God already knows if I am honest to Him. Sometimes we do not have it within us to answer the call or we think we do not have it within us, but guess what my friend we always do. God would not have called or even stirred us to action if we did not have the ability to do that which He wants us to do. He knows us, He knows our frame, He knows our strength, and better yet He knows our weaknesses. And here is the key He knows we know where to go to get what we do not have. You know a man cannot give you what he does not have, but in the things of God the man who does not have can go to the LORD and get what they lack. There in Luke 9:62, the man has what he needs to plough the ground, what God wants him to do, but what does he do? He looks back or changes his mind and heart not to do what God wants him to do. If we look back (maybe as Lot’s wife did) then we are not able or as Luke says “fit” or joined together to make complete. Paul said the same thing in Colossians. “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” (Colossians 2:19) See if we do not have it that is okay we can go and get it. But if we do not have it and we know where to get it and we do not, then that is not okay. Here in Luke the person was not knit together because he started maybe walking with the LORD, but stopped and went their own way. Many Christians in the Church and even some Believers in the Body of Christ (which is not the church) is full of such people. Now at this time it is important to look at the kingdom of God. What Jesus was talking about and what Paul was talking about was two different things, two different kingdoms of God. Most Christians when they read the Gospels where Jesus talks about the kingdom of God they think Jesus is talking about heaven or some kingdom on earth, but oh no my friend Jesus is talking about the Millennial Reign when He sets up His earthly kingdom for a 1,000 years. After the Resurrection when Jesus comes back to earth to collect His bride in what some call the rapture and after the seven years of tribulation or “Jacob’s Troubles” as described in Jeremiah 30:7 and in many other places in the Scriptures. After all of this Jesus will set up His kingdom on earth to rule and reign 1,000 years and this man who puts his hand to the plough and stops, turns back, falls away like many today in the church will not be “fit” to rule and reign with Jesus during the Millennial Reign. Did you know it was God’s original intention for the Jewish people to accept Jesus as their Messiah (the Son of God the Christ, and the Lamb of God) during His earthly ministry and if they did then God would have brought in the tribulation then the Millennial Reign. In Matthew we read, “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) Not the gospel of grace. You can also look at Matthew 9:35, Mark 1:4, Luke 8:1. Even Phillip in Acts 8:12 was preaching the things of the “kingdom of God” and not the message of salvation saved by grace through faith the way we are saved. Since the Jewish people did not accept Jesus as their Messiah God did something different, not a plan B, but changed His plan to see the salvation of ALL man happen. What is God’s plan and will for man? Whatsoever God wants it to be. He can change it at any time He is God. All throughout the Scriptures God changes His plan (in the Garden, Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babel on and on) to accommodate His purposes. Why was Jesus so troubled in the garden and prayed, “Not my will He prayed, but thy be done.” Maybe Jesus had another plan? I do not know, but I do know Jesus was slay before the foundations of the world as the Old Testament prophets prophesied a suffering Messiah. What love!! You know the Old Testament prophets knew of the suffering Messiah and the Millennial Reign just read Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalms, and more, but they could never put them together. Why? God hid it from them as He hid the mystery of the Gospel from the world until Paul shared it. They never understood how Jesus could come and die for our sin, be raised from the dead, go back to heaven, come back for the Resurrection (rapture), then after the tribulation, come back and establish His kingdom (the Millennial Reign) on earth. I think Jesus in His divinity knew this from the start. He often told the disciples He was going to be killed, but they did not get it. (see Luke 20:9-16) Of course then God pushed His time line out 2,000 years and counting for the “Church Age.” My friend God grinds slow, but very fine. I believe after the Church Age which ends with the Resurrection God will pick up His original plan: the Tribulation, Millennial Reign, and Kingdom Age. Now Paul’s usage of the “kingdom of God” is quite different not talking about the Millennial Reign, but of what is to be in side of us. In Romans Paul writes, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:7) Today if we never come into the “kingdom of God” (Paul’s) we will probably never make it to the kingdom of Heaven which is a third kingdom of God. So the man in Luke 9:62 who turns his back or turns away from the LORD is not worthy of the attributes of the Holy Spirit coming to live within us. They will not have the “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” which is God’s intention for us.
Next month we will start looking at a new section The LORD’s Visits. Do you hear Him calling? Please know God is calling. 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:
All In
Now I am not a poker player nor do I watch poker (Texas Holdem) on TV, okay maybe as I surf I will stop and hear a player say “I am all in,” now this gets my attention. When you are “all in” you are betting all of your chips (money) that you have the best hand and are totally committed. You have nothing left to play with; sink or swim, fish or cut bait, your future in the game all depends on the hand you are betting on. Now the rewards are great usually you double or sometimes triple your chips (money) if you win, but the cost is high. If you lose it means you lose everything. As I look at our walk with the LORD this is where we all need to be, “all in,” but that is not what I see or hear today and sadly even in myself at times. I will be the first to tell you my brothers and sisters that I have not made it, I have not forsaken all to follow the LORD, but that is where we must be to receive God’s best for our lives. Brother Peter said to Jesus, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Matthew 19:27), if that were so where did he get the boat to go fishing in John 21:3? It was not about the disciples fishing, but about the disciples going back to a previous revelation (fishing), they were not “all in” as they had said and thought since Jesus died (in their eyes) we better go back to what we used to do before we heard of Jesus. My brothers and sisters we must be “all in” now and more important in the future. The LORD has satisfied our spiritual hunger to some extent, however, none of us should be totally satisfied. Rather we should be holding our spirit before the LORD seeking more. There is so much available to us from the One who is the source of all life and truth. There is yet before us an expansive field of spiritual reality and we are to venture into it with our eyes closed (into darkness) and our heart open as the Holy Spirit leads us into new discoveries. Our present attainment of spiritual life and experience is the place to which we have been brought through Jesus Christ our LORD. As I have been teaching at our Home Group Meeting the process is: training, exercising, and obedience and the more we are trained by exercising in our lives the more we will be obedient to God and yes also to man. Now God has a reason for all of this. All of this is a preliminary training school for the ages yet to come. It is in the here and now that we make certain qualifications and are approved for our placement in the eternal ages. These qualifications will not be given to us spontaneously when we get there oh no rather, we are being qualified for them here during this present time. Then in the eternal ages to come that which has been acquired through discipline and training through the surrender (by going all in) of our old life to the resurrection of the new all of this will be projected upon another (higher) plane of living in the ages that are yet to come. Our present life is a test it is only a time to qualify for our next position in Christ. These are the treasures Jesus was talking about when He said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:19-20) Jesus was not talking about money or gems He was talking about the “true” treasures that will enable us to move and function with Him in our next life. Whatever we build up of spiritual value, vigor, and vision during our lifetime this is all that the LORD will take of us into eternity. We who have been touched by eternal truth and are seeking to go further, must have a correct perspective and goal. The LORD is very busy building His Body, of which we are a member, training it and doing a thousand things within and for this to happen we must come to place in God where we are “all in,” no matter the cost. The day is coming when we will cast our crowns at His feet, but before then we must count the cost to acquire the crowns. Each of us has a certain degree of spiritual hunger. This hunger rests on certain levels of spiritual obedience and experience, ever seeking to take us further. We do not belong (I must keep telling myself this time and time again) here; we are here for just a few fleeting years of training and discipline and then we will be taken. We are to continually move from one level of spiritual understanding and experience to another. This is determined by the amount of spiritual revelation that we have obtained through our responses to the LORD’s presence and His workings within us. Because we are reacting agents, we learn our lessons through these experiences. We were made this way in the structural law of our being so this might be possible. I have discovered that I must carefully order my steps as I walk with the LORD. I must be continually sensitive to His voice and responsive to His presence. Then He will guide my path, as He disciplines and trains me in order to push me up into a higher order of spiritual reality and life. You know we become spiritually hungry on different levels, according to our commitment and dedication toward the LORD. Sometimes people say, “oh I know that as I heard it before tell me something new.” But first we must experience the depths of the word we heard. We must come to realize that there are a thousand facets of truth in this glorious treasure of redemption, which radiate from it continually. All revelation is purely a progressive matter. It is eternally moving and is inexhaustible. Anyone who tries to pull it down and label it into a fixed doctrinal pattern will only hinder and frustrate its full outworking. We must always remember that spiritual truth is a progressive revelation which continually expands and moves upward, as Job said, “as the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7) The truth I have for us today is, “are we all in” with God? It is wonderful to gather other truths, but commitment and dedication will never be a truth that God overlooks in us nor will they be a truth we will never have to pay for. In my spirit I am troubled by the way Christians (especially in America) handle the things of God, but I know God has a plan and He will bring it to an end no matter what we say and feel. Take heed, hear me Christians of America: look at the world you live in, look at your neighbors dying and going to hell, look at your lesbian and sodomite friends who shake their fist at God in defiance calling lust love, good evil, and evil good. Look at the Supreme Court with each major ruling contradicting God and His word moving America further and further from the truth of God’s word and closer to all out debauchery. So now God has given us leaders and rulers after our own heart, vile and reprobate. My friend God is looking to see who is “all in” and who is willing to sell out. The rich young ruler was not. God is looking to see who will stand up for His truth and His word or who will compromise the truth wanting to be politically correct, not wanting to offend. Looking at those Christians who have sold their soul to a political party (the donkey or elephant) saying, “if we just can get our man in the White House” thinking their man will lead them to the land that flows with milk and honey when in reality they have been deceived duped, and taken advantage of for more political gain, fame, and money. Oh Christians please look at what once was and what is now. Look at how far we have fallen in knowing the truth and morality (shamefully setting aside the things of God) in the last 10 years. Has our God lost His power and ability or have we sold God out for other’s powers and authority? James 1:8 tells us this type of Christian “is double minded and is unstable in all their ways.” When the Bible says “all” it mean all. In all of their ways these Christians are unstable. Oh I warn you my Christian brothers and sisters God is NOT mocked! When I heard the Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage He brought these verses to my attention, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Higgaion Selah.17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. (Psalms 9:15-17) Scoff and laugh at me all you want. Shake your fist at God all you want, but in the end God gets the final word whether you believe Him or not. Take heed my Christian friends God is watching to see who is “all in.” My friend America is a sinking ship spiritually you better be in the life boat.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
God’s Order
At this stage of the game I look at people as I would in family relationships. People my age as brothers or sisters, young people like my kids, still younger people as my grandkids. This order was established since day one in the garden, it is just that — order. GOD isn’t messy or disorderly. In the family it’s GOD first, then man, his wife, then the kids, and if you have pets well they’re way down at the bottom of the totem pole. The responsibility of raising said kids or young’uns never goes away no matter how old they get or how old we get. Oh sure they grow up and move away, but we are still supposed to correct their wrong thinking if given the opportunity. Will they like it, most likely no. Most times when we hear something we don’t like it’s because it hits a nerve, because it’s true. So just because they (our kids) don’t like something doesn’t mean it’s not true or good for them. Truth hurts even the best of us balk at truth. But if truth is important to us and as Christians it should be we will accept truth (even the ugly truth about ourselves) and learn from it and move on. If our kids are to fulfil the purposes that GOD has for them in their life we as parents must speak up and correct wrong thinking no matter how old they are. A righteous love for our children is NOT an indulgent love. Indulging wrong behavior (when they’re young) and indulging wrong thinking when they’re older is destructive and ungodly. We read in Proverbs, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24). Now it says “hateth” (and God means hate) which is a very strong word. Of course we can’t take a stick to our adult children (though the thought has definitely crossed my mind at times I’m not going to lie), but we can speak to them and correct their wrong thinking. It’s our job. We are NOT our kids pals. We are NOT our kids friends. We are NOT our kids buddy’s. That is NOT GOD’S order. We are our kid’s parents their mom and dad. Now that is GOD’s order. We will ALWAYS be their parent. We have an obligation to GOD to correct wrong thinking when given the opportunity. Are they entitled to their opinions, yes, however, if their opinions are wrong we should speak the truth in love and address that. They may or may not change their minds, but at least you did the right thing. Silence is compliance and NO they probably won’t change their stinkin thinking on their own, UNLESS they are truly led by the LORD. Again in Proverbs, “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.” (Proverbs 15:5) Hopefully, if we didn’t raise fools they will listen and consider what we said. Our kids are to respect us not the other way around. This is God’s order. Now how do I mean that well, I know darn well all of our kids are much better at handling electronics then we are. It wouldn’t be the first time that Dave or I have asked our kids to help us with our computer, smart TV, or even our new-fangled Iphone. Even our grandkids have a better handle on technology then we do. Our daughter worked in a bakery and a bank for years and I’ve asked her for help in both areas in the past and I so appreciate her help and all of our kid’s help, but do I respect all of our kid’s opinions in all other matters? Yes, if their opinions line up with God’s word? Oh heck no. Even though they (and their spouses) are way more educated than me I am still the Mom. I’m not as educated as they are, but I have more wisdom and life experiences than they do at this stage of their lives. They are catching up, but still I will always be their mom and Dave will always be their dad until we are drooling in our oatmeal (GOD forbid) they better not forget that. Unfortunately in today’s society and in a lot of churches they tout “going along to get along.” which is ungodly and dead wrong. GOD’S ways are not our ways. If a child won’t listen to parents who they can see and hear they certainly will not listen to a GOD who they cannot see and hear. And if they don’t learn to respect their parents here on earth (even if they are wrong), well good luck getting them to respect GOD. And yes they are to respect their parents even if they are wrong. (NOT sinful or ungodly just wrong in a child’s eyes) Just because you are right or think you’re right doesn’t mean you have the right to raise your voice to your parents, tell them what to do, or disrespect them. Dave always said even if his dad was wrong he would never ever disrespect him. The only one we are to “go along to get along” with is GOD. If that relationship is right then everything else will probably be right or working in that direction. We cannot do things the world’s way and expect Godly results. If GOD expects us to speak the truth in love to our spouse or kids then that’s what we’re supposed to do in keeping with HIS order.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
- In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in SilistraPastor(s) Yanko, Marcho, and Emil. 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.
- In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu 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.
- 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:
20 April at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
April: Local Ministry
May: Local Ministry
June: Local Ministry
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/
NEW OFFER
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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