Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
August 2012 • Volume X Number 12
“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. Let us continue to look at God’s social relationship as we look at how God dwells in His people, how God meets man, and how God communes with man. Is it not wonderful to know God dwells within His people? But it is even nicer to know out from this dwells God meets and communes with man. Remember God is God and He does not have to do anything for man, oh no God can do what He so ever desires to man. It is only God’s grace and His good pleasure for man to know Him that keeps man from what he richly deserves, total destruction. Because of God’s love for man (who first loved us) we have a hope and future in knowing Him. In the Book of 1 Corinthians we find this divine spiritual principle in action. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17) Did you get that? “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We are one Spirit (the Holy Spirit) with God. We are one in spirit to whatsoever we are joined to. It is our choice. We can be joined with sin and we will be one in the spirit with sin or we can be joined with God and be one in the Spirit with God. This union in the spirit (in both cases) my friend is far greater than on the surface, but is at the bedrock of our very being. In Ephesians we read, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22) Now I really like this verse because it tells us why we are to be conformed into the image (icon) of God’s precious Son Jesus Christ we are, “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” God’s plans for us is to become an eternal place of habitation this is why we must be holy because God will not live in an unholy vessel. Please do not ask me to explain it I cannot, but I know this is God’s plan for us and I will do my part in making a holy place for God to live in my heart.
Not only does God desire to dwell within us He also desires to meet with us. In the cool of the evening God would meet with Adam, but when Eve was on the scene (Genesis 3:8) things changed in their relationship. But God still desires to meet with man. In Numbers we read where Balaam met with God, “And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee.” (Numbers 23:3) Well things are no different today God stills peradventures us to come meet with Him. James gives us the recipe in this meeting with God, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8) We make the first move, we must desire to meet with God (or draw nigh) and He then will meet with is.
Not only does God want to dwell in us and meet with us, but he wants to have communion with us. I do not know about you my friend, but this just thrills my soul. We get a great view of this desire of God to have communion with us from the Book of Genesis, “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,” (Genesis 18:1) and then in verse 33, “And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” (Genesis 18:33) God always makes time for communion with the one who makes time for God. Abraham was not better or more special than us he was just a man God had a plan for and knowing God has a plan for each and every person the more we spend time with Him the more we will know of His plan for our lives.
Next month we will begin to look at the privileges enjoyed by man in his social relationship with God.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Just Wipe the Slate Clean
I wonder why we think God just wipes our slate clean and forgives us of our “sin?” This wrong thinking is at the heart of the reason the church, especially in the States, has lost its power and authority in the world. Who wants to be told they will have to face the consequences of their actions? No one wants to be held accountable for their actions (me too at times), but if we are going to come to any spiritual growth and development we must settle this issue well in our thinking and heart. Did you know there is a difference between “sin” and “sins.” Did you know in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible there are 448 occurrences in which 389 verses talk about “sin” making “sin” the most important topic in the Bible. But today all we hear from most pulpits is: expository review, our destiny in God, how to get our next blessings from God, or highlights from the latest and greatest self-help book, rarely do we hear someone talk about “sin.” Did you also know the topic of “sin” was the number one topic of Jesus during His earthly ministry. In Romans Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 Paul was not talking about our “sins,” but our “sin” the disobedient, manipulating, selfish nature of man that wants its way and not God’s way. “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him (Jesus) that was to come.” (Romans 5:12) Also in the KJV “sins” are recorded with 172 occurrences in which 166 verses talk about our individual acts or works of our flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21) I think this list about covers them all in some form.
Now please understand our “sins” get their evil roots and origins from our “sin” nature. If we do not accept God’s terms to deal with our “sin” our “sins” can never be dealt with and we will live our lives being led by our self-seeking selfish emotions, lusts and sinful desires. My friend God does not just wipe our slate clean, our “sin” and “sins” must be dealt with. Our “sin” and “sins” are never just forgiven there must always be a price paid for them. Our glorious Savior Jesus Christ paid the price on Calvary’s cross shedding His precious blood and making a way for our “sin” nature to be dealt with and if we accept His terms: confess with our mouth believing Jesus died for us and repent (about face or flow in the opposite direction) turning from our sinful and wicked ways our “sin” nature will be dealt with and never to be remember by God. Many Christians say, our “sin” separates us from God, oh no my friend, this too is wrong denominational thinking. Yes man sinned (I have a hard time blaming brother Adam, I too have sinned), but because of this “sin” nature that was passed from Adam to all born of woman God sent His precious Son. No our “sin” does not separate us from God, oh no my friend our “sin” and the thought of us being eternally separated from God in Hell moved God to give His wonderful Son to pay the price for man’s disobedience and waywardness. How can we say “sin” has separated God from man? Never forget and never allow any one to deceive you into believing that our “sins” are just wiped away as our “sin” nature is. This wrong thinking is at the heart and the foundation of most religious denominations (Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostals, etc.) in the world. Just come to Jesus, He will wipe the slate clean, and you will be forgiven, well that is half true, but a half truth is the same thing as a lie. Just come to our church, get involved, give your tithes and offerings, and you will grow in God, wrong. Doing things for God will never produce spiritual growth and development in us. Now it is true, if we accept God’s free gift of salvation our “sin” nature will be forgiven, but our “sins” individual acts or works of the flesh still will need to be dealt with by God and us. Many Christians never get victory in some areas in their lives because they are waiting for God to do all the work, well my friend God is wanting for us to take Him at His word and receive His promise of strengthening us in the inward part to be able to overcome our flesh, to be able to stand and withstand life’s problems and the enemy of our soul.
Did you know there is a big difference between standing and withstanding? This wrong thinking of God just wiping our slate clean without a cost being paid even bleeds over into our personal relationships inside and outside the church. It is no wonder relationships within the church are so fractured and painful, we expect God and our brothers and sisters to keep forgiving us for our ungodly words and deeds. It is no wonder some have no victory in God, they have never really allowed God to work in their lives to the point we have been developed into a mature son or father in God. We just keep (as the Baptist say) walking the aisle and asking for forgiveness. Did you know this is not God’s intention for us needing forgiveness again and again. As I work as a substitute teacher I tell the kids they are not suppose to be making mistakes, now knowing I am a Bible teacher they go right to this forgiveness issue. Well, I tell them forgiveness is true and needed, it is God’s love for us, but if we live our lives thinking we can make mistakes again and again and it will be okay we will never become mature. In God making mistakes is only okay if we learn from the mistake. We are not to get stuck in making mistakes, if we do it is “sin” to miss the mark of God’s intention for us. This is also true for God’s forgiveness again and again. God intends for us to once ask forgiveness and then grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Most denominations teach it is okay, just keeping asking and God will keep forgiving, well my friend I would hate to stake my eternal soul on this unscriptural advice. Would it not be better if we ask God and our friends to forgive us and then march on never needing to retake the same ground? Retreating and re-fighting for the same ground always cost twice the price.
My friend, God never just forgave Adam and Eve (take heed to who you hang around with) for their disobedience, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:22-24) Adam and Eve had it all, what a wonderful life, but because of their disobedience God did not wipe their slate clean, but held them accountable for their actions. Later on in Adam and Eve’s life their son Cain killed his brother Able, the first murder. Cain’s slate was not wiped clean, oh no, “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” (Genesis 4:11-15) A walking dead man, because of disobedience. Not so strange I have met many people like Cain.
Now some Christians would say these stories are from the Old Testament, well here is a very sad one from the New Testament, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” (Acts 5:1-10) God never wiped Ananias and Sapphira’s slate clean; they died because of their disobedience. Now I was not there nor is it recorded, but it looks like God never gave them a chance to ask for forgiveness. Disobedience (oh me) is always dealt with by God.
The Bible is full of examples of God holding people accountable for their actions. I wonder why we do not hear these examples taught this way in churches today? Never underestimate the power of denominationalism. When started our church “Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart” in Germany I just knew the American people I worked with and knew our friends around the base would attend, but to my amazement not one person who I worked with attended our church. And only a very few of our American friends came for a visit. Now when they came they really enjoyed the service and the people, but they never stayed. Their denominational pull was too strong to move them into what the Lord was doing. We had left a major denominational church (oh how we still love some there), but their doctrinal beliefs has yoked their judgment and is controlling them even in the face of knowing the truth about ungodly situations and people, a blatant error in truthfulness and Godliness. Sometimes you just have to stand for the truth and separate yourself. Religion, denominations, and traditions of men are powerful, controlling, and eternally destructive, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) My friend only God’s power can break people free of these yokes and “sins.”
The longer I go with the Lord and the more I study the Bible the more I come to recognize just how important the restrictions and limitations of God are for us to be able to come to fulfillment and completion in Him. My friend it is when we walk in God’s ways and in His restrictions and limitations we are able to understand the truths of the Bible. In the church today we have so many versions of the Bible it is no wonder we have so many denominations, and it is no wonder we have so much wrong thinking, like freedom and liberty in God. Oh no my friend if you have a desire for spiritual growth and development it comes by way of learning and walking God’s way. We cannot keep making up new doctrines and Bibles and expect to understand God and His ways. If you want to understand God through His word you will have to study the Bible, what Paul instructed Timothy to do. And to do this you will have to go back in translation not forward. The truth in the word of God is found in the words as the precious Holy Spirit guides and leads us into revelation and all truth. This is why you cannot use the NIV and other versions of the Bible. This too is why we have so much wrong thinking in the Body of Christ. We just keeping changing the Bible (with each new version) to what we want it to say, now we are justified by a Bible and now we can make up new doctrines and teachings.
Let us stick with the KJV where most tools to help study the Bible are based. This truth I have learned as I have observed there is an eternal difference between a gifted speaker and a broken speaker. Gifted speakers: well-dressed, flashy, zealous, animated, strong in their ability to preach or teach because of their many notes and preparation, well versed in words and in the hip sayings and expressions of today’s culture in their approach to preaching and teaching the word of God. But a broken speaker is one that speaks from loss, one who speaks out from the dealings and judgments of God, who stands to deliver the word of God with his legs weak and his hands hanging down by his side. One who has been taught, through God’s dealings, and fears to speak because they know the responsibility and accountability God holds them to. His words are hard to mouth because the Holy Spirit of God is pushing them through his spirit as tears of repentance and cleansing flow like a cool summer rain. My friend which one are you?
My friend God does not just wipe our slate clean, we must come to the realization of the price Jesus paid for our “sin” and allow God to work in our lives to deal with our “sins” if not I must let you know your “sin” and your “sins” have not been yet forgiven. We are not saved unless we have had the revelation of what “sin” has wrought in our lives and the world. Unless we have been devastated, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:24-25) we will ever be lost.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Oh, Death
God has been dealing with me lately on the subject of death. Our faith in God has to be greater than our sense of loss when a loved one dies. Most times we’re blindsided by death in that we don’t see it coming. So we must purpose in our hearts now that we will have faith in God no matter who dies in our families―be they an infant, sibling, parents, spouse, the youngest to the eldest. We all know we’re headed through death’s door. We are all going there. The thing is where will we be going after our death? We all are eternal beings (if you are alive today) we’re going to be around for a long, long time, but the big question is where will we spend this time in heaven or hell? So, if a loved one dies today (God forbid) we must know in our heart of hearts that if they died in God we WILL see them again. Yes we’ll miss them here, but our turn will come soon enough then we’ll be together again.
When we lived in Georgia there was an article in the local paper about a Baptist Preacher who got in a terrible car accident. A few of his children died in the accident, a few survived. The thing that struck me was the man’s attitude throughout this tragedy. He said something to the effect of the LORD gives and the LORD takes away blessed be the name of the Lord. Did he feel the loss of his children, you bet. Did he feel a little blindsided, of course, but his faith in God, though he was sorrowful, never waivered. He will see his children in the sweet by and by. Brethren, that’s how we’re to be. Our faith in God MUST BE GREATER THAN OUR feelings of loss and sorrow. Life and death has been going on since day one here on earth, and it won’t stop until THE ALMIGHTY brings it to an end. It’s a fact of life and quite frankly God wants us to move on, even with a broken heart we must move forward.
Is God not a good Father to us? How can we doubt His love for us when He has bent over backwards to save us? Is He not aware of what is going on in this life? Is God up in Heaven wringing His hands over anything or any situation, of course not. And we need to remember that. God Don’t wring His hands over anything. I read a story once of a woman who had a sickly child, one day the child asked what it was like to die. Well as upsetting as it was to the woman she took it to the LORD in prayer and do you know what He told her to tell the child? It’s like going through a door. This happily sufficed the child and the child died shortly after that. God does not give us more than what we can handle. Sometimes death is for a good reason, “The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil come.” (Isaiah 57:1) Death is not senseless and arbitrary to God.
Now this is just me thinking out loud, but did you ever stop to consider that maybe God gets a little offended at us when we carry on so when a loved one dies? To be honest our tears and mourning usually is out from a selfishness on our part whereby we feel bad because we must experience a loss in our lives, we will miss them and it hurts us or worse we have treated the deceased poorly in this life (maybe even took advantage of them) and we are trying to appease our guilty conscious with a big funeral and all the trimmings. But my friend, God is “not the God of the dead.” (Mark 12:27) When Jesus died on the cross the Bible says, “graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27: 52-53). Jesus is alive and well, granted He may not be here in sight, but He is waiting for us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalms 116:15). God Bless you all, read your Bible, and settle this important issue in your heart no matter who dies in your family. If they die in God you will see them again and if they die not in God well, that sounds like it could be another article.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Times are troubled in Bulgaria and need much prayer.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastor George Ritisan at Lighthouse Church, and Ciprian Bozdod at the Mission Bible School. They too are expanding making more room for God and ministry to Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Asia.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Pastor Marcel at St. Andrews Church.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
8. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
9. Monthly financial support Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
10. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
11. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
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:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
Our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration” has been published by AuthorHouse, where you can also purchase it online. You can also purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
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.
We are projecting to use the royalties for: our maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria, radio station in Katmandu, Nepal, TB clinics in Ethiopia, and Lord willing the Bible Schools in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo, and to help publish more books. We have five more books at different stages of production. 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. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
