Waiting on God the LORD’S Visits
August 2021 • Volume XIX 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:
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Greetings again my Brethren. Okay now the fireworks are over let us continue to look at ways we feel God has visited us His people. I do not know about you my friend, but it is a reassuring thought to think the God of the universe, the God who created us, the God who created the heavens, ” . . . and He created the stars also” (Genesis 1:16) in only five words has visited us on earth. The God of all creation has not forgotten His creation. So many Christians and some Believers I know ask the question; in all of this hate, in all of this senseless murder and death we see playing out in the world, where is God? Well, God is where He always has been in Heaven (and in some hearts) upholding His truth and holiness while allowing man to make ungodly decisions and choices that bring death and destruction to His creation. That one thought is amazing. As much as God loves man and what He has created He still gives man the option to walk away from His truth (and ways) and even destroy His handy works. Now if I was God I would not put up with this foolishness. I would make man do the right thing every time, and God could do this, but no, God is a man of His word (unlike most Christians and some Believers I know) giving us the choice, the option to love Him or turn our back on Him in words and deeds. This is a part of His holiness very few people come to understand. So God comes to us, He visits. All throughout the Scriptures we can find time after times, in good times, and bad time God comes and intervenes in the affairs of man. We all have seen the movies on TV, we all have seen the movie the Ten Commandments by Ceil B. DeMille when the Children of Israel’s backs were up again the wall, Pharaoh and 600 chariots had caught up with them and before them was the Red Sea, nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, only sudden death before them, but God shows up for one of His visits. Moses tells the folks to stand still and see the deliverance of the LORD, raises his staff and the waters of the Red Sea open wide to allow the Children of Israel to cross on dry land and then the sea closes trapping Pharaoh and his 600 chariots as they pursues to their death. You can read this amazing true story in Exodus 14:21-31. But this is not the only supernatural deliverance when God showed up to deliver His people. In Luke we read, “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.” (Luke 7:15-16) Here in Luke God shows up in the person of Jesus Christ. Here Jesus raised a child from the dead for two reasons, one to bring life back into the boy for the mother’s sake, but more import as written in verse 16, “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.” What another great deliverance, even though the people got it wrong. They said, “That a great prophet is risen up among us;” Well, Jesus was not a great prophet He was the Son of God, but what they did get right was, “That God hath visited his people.” As I said all though out the Scriptures God have it be by an Angel, Jesus, or Himself God has supernaturally showed up to deliver His people and some people who were not His people. After all Jesus said it “rains on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45). In the beginning of Luke 7: 16 we get a better understanding of why God supernaturally delivers His people, “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God.” My friend it is never about us, no never, it is always about what God is doing in us and what could be done for Him through us. In all things it is always about God! In both examples that I used to document from the Scriptures God showing up to deliver people God was glorified and through this deliverance they were developed. You know nowhere in the Scriptures did God deliver anyone who went on to become someone used in ministry to touch lives for God’s glory. We already talked about Moses, but how about Daniel was he delivered from the lion’s dens? Were the three Hebrew Children delivered from the fiery furnace? Was Jesus delivered from the cross? No, no, and no. In all three examples: Daniel went into the lion’s den, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went into the fiery furnace, and yes even Jesus (God’s son) was not delivered from the cross so that God could be glorified and the person at the heart of the test could be delivered through development. So too in our lives my friend. God has no intention of just delivering us for deliverance sake, oh no, if He has to deliver us from a given situation or circumstances He knows the plan He has for our lives is in jeopardy of being lost. God’s intention for our lives is to go through the test, the situation, the circumstance and as He brings us though (what we would call our deliverance) we are developed not for our sake, but “And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God.”
Next month we will conclude looking at the ways we can say the LORD has visited us. 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
Self-Will Must Go
Obedience is found in denying self’s will. This was so for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He (Jesus) became obedient. He (Jesus) humbled Himself. He (Jesus) became a servant. He laid aside His own will. Thus, we must suffer death to self before we can take up our cross and follow this wonderful man and savior from Galilee. Jesus said. “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39) Here the work of salvation was settled in the heart of Jesus so now He could go to the cross on Calvary. Jesus had to die to Himself before he could be brought to the cross. Did you get that? Many believers will fight the cross for the sake of their own self-existence, but once we become willing to die to self and our desires then God can bring us into the sacrifices which lie along our paths of obedience. Do not rush too far ahead of the Lord’s will. Training and learning are first necessary before coming into some aspects of His will. There must be a denying of self before there even can be a learning. Jesus said, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) The denying of self is necessary for your learning. Taking up your cross is necessary for your learning. All three: denying, taking, following are indispensable to fulfill the learning process. “Disciple” means “pupil” — one who is a learner. Self-will does not function in revelation whether it has it or not. So why should the Holy Spirit introduce revelation into such a condition. Insisting to push forward in self-will lowers the possibility of Holy Spirit revelation. Elisha learned this when dealing with the sons of the prophets, “And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?” (II Kings 2:15-18) There is a direct ratio between obedience and victory. The more laying aside of self-will the greater the learning of obedience. The fuller the obedience, the more numerous are the victories in Christian living. Obedience brings victory. There are many examples in the Bible which reveal the truth that obedience brings victory. Along with these examples of obedience bringing victory, there are also the injunctions, an order or command, of the Lord. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Isaiah 1:19) Obedience carries to victory and victory carries to fulfillment. Obedience must move with the cooperation of man’s will. “If ye be willing” In willing obedience there is an appetite being created, “Ye shall eat the good of the land.” The appetite is for fulfillment. Therefore the extent of willingness is also being increased. Obedience keeps you on the road to greatness in God. Why did not the children of Israel possess the promised land after two years in the wilderness? Why did they die in the wilderness? Disobedience. By obedience, fulfillment, and possession finally were achieved, by the next generation and they moved into the things, the promised land, the Lord had prepared for their fathers. After generations in the promised land, the Israelites went back into disobedience and became servants to those who they were to rule. “Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:” (Nehemiah 9:36) Instead of possessing and ruling that which God gave them, they were conquered and ruled. Obedience must be constant if victory is to be constant. “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.” (Exodus 23:22) God will oppose those who oppose you. He will afflict those who afflict you. Obedience aligns you with God. In that relationship He will relate to others just as they relate to you. Obedience is far reaching. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19) What is the extent of the results of our obedience. We will never know in this life on earth. In our obedience to the Lord small things become big things, big things become bigger things, but all things in obedience to the Lord have eternal consequences. The extent of the results of obedience becomes a very serious factor. Because of the disobedience of some, others will suffer. Many attempt to gain some self-comfort by inventing doctrine which they believe relieves them of their responsibility before the Lord. Nevertheless the Word of God still speaks, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” More sobering than that are the words recorded in Ezekiel, “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezekiel 3:18) Again, “By the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous.” By the obedience of one, a person comes to Jesus. By the new convert’s obedience, two persons discover the Christ who saves. Then four come. How far does obedience go to which God has called us? Unto eternal life! Obedience is so very important that God will take us through extreme difficulties to instill it in us by hard knocks or bumping our heads. Who can fathom the importance of the life of obedience to which God has called us? This training is to project us into awesome fulfillment. If we are to get there we must learn obedience in our training program. Where the Lord has to speak only once to us. Do not despair in your rigorous training circumstances. Remember their purposes. Always keep in mind the goal, to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, and then, plod on. The race is not to the swift, but to those who are faithful in obedience win the prize.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Watch Out!
It’s been brought to my attention recently that a video came out by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Choir (9 July 2021 Fox News) with some disturbing lyrics to a song they performed. Now this video may have been performed two years ago in New York City and just recently come to light not sure. One thing I am sure of is their agenda. Watch out they are coming for our kids. Now they will say the song “was taken out of context,” the heck you say! Out of our mouth speaks our heart! Jesus tells us in Matthew, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart: and they defile the man.” (Matthew 15;18) I’ll put the words to the song further into the article. Folks the world, social media, and especially TV and the entertainment industry is and has been trying their dangedest to portray homosexuals (both lesbians and sodimites) as “regular folks or at the very least that guy and gal are just funny, clever, well groomed, and entertaining. How many people were smitten with the characters in the Will and Grace or the Ellen show? Even kid shows now allude to their characters as being gay. TV commercials tout that homosexuality is “normal” they’re nice everyday folks like the rest of us, wrong. “Love is love” well not so my friends, because if you disagree with the LGBTQ+ life style you’re a “hater” —you’ll find out quick, fast and in a hurry how loving they are! Yes, they want all of us heterosexual (Christian and non- Christians) to respect and “love” them, but you won’t get the same in return–especially if you, “speak the truth in love” as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:15 and tell them their life style is ungodly, unholy, and an open abomination to God. Over 6,000+ years ago two Angels pulled Lot and some of his family out of Sodom and Gomorrah so they could destroy the city because of the wickedness of homosexuality in the city. Moses writes, “But before they lay down (went to sleep, it was late ) the men of the city, even of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him. Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us that we may know them.”( Genesis 19: 4-5) Folks they weren’t talking about inviting the Angels to a late night bonfire and s’mores party! GOD even showed the homosexual men of the city mercy and gave them a chance to repent even after blinding them so Lot and some of his family could escape with only their lives. God could have just killed the homosexual men right out that night, but He gave them one more chance. Is HE not a merciful GOD!! Yes!!! Folks people have not changed much since then. My friend, the only thing that can change the ungodly lifestyle of homosexuality (and other sins) is Jesus, but for this to happen you must come to a place where you hate (more than anything in this world) being homosexual. My friend it is an unholy, evil spirit that has a hold over their life. You must totally reject Satan and his evil spirit by reaching out to God in deliverance in word and deed. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior, with your mouth reject Satan and the homosexual lifestyle, and stop going to bars, bath houses, and other places where homosexuals gather. But the key here is not only the rejecting of Satan and not going to bars, and bathhouses, but coming to a place of “godly sorrow.” Paul tells the church at Corinth (I feel sure there were some homosexuals in the church too), “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) You have to come to a place where you truly hate the homosexual lifestyle if you want to be delivered, until then no matter what you do or say you are in open rebellion (shaking your fist in the face of God) to God and doomed to hell for all eternity. Back in 1977, Anita Bryant (who was an anti-gay activist) found out how “loving” the gay community was when they went after the orange juice company who sponsored her. The company dropped Anita and there went her livelihood, bomb threats, death threats against her family, her marriage crumbled under the strain of the attacks and she and her husband divorced. And just like today, unfortunately the church was nowhere to be found, oh there were a few churches that stuck by her, but not enough to push back the onslaught of the homosexual community. Watch out they are coming for our kids. And don’t forget the bakers, within the last few years, who got sued because they wouldn’t make cakes for homosexual weddings, or a transgendered birthday. They got sued, I guess that’s “love” for you. But, as Christians that is what we are supposed to do “speak the truth in love” be it homosexuality, drug use, stealing, fornication, lying, idolatry etc, etc. But GOD calls the homosexual lifestyle an abomination which to God is more than just a sin. Read Leviticus 18:22. Read Romans 1:18-32. As people walk away from GOD, He will give turn them over to a “reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28) Read it!! What was a sin and abomination 6,000+ years ago, still is today. So may I encourage you parents to watch your kids like a hawk! Know what they’re looking at on the computer, cell phones, social media. Take a wary eye at people (homosexual OR heterosexual) that take an interest in your kids. A lot of predators (homosexual and heterosexual) look for single or mothers whose husband are gone or busy so they can ingratiate themselves into their life and have access to kids under the guise of “helping out.” And some predators are bold enough to go after your kids with both parents around! They are that arrogant and sneaky. One should always seek out the LORD in regards to people tending to our children. SEEK the LORD first!!! If you don’t feel right in your gut about someone move on. Better to be safe than sorry. If your child mentions something off or weird to you, pay attention. There are some things a kid (depending on their age) won’t be able to make up. Ground your children in the word of GOD make sure they’re saved, predators like to ply kids with things, give them gifts, give them a little attention, let them do what they want, they’ll appeal to their greed, and sneaky behind the parents back conspiratorial ploys. Now I am NOT saying all homosexuals are going to come after your kids for let’s say physical gratification, of course not. It’s the tolerance and acceptance of the LGBTQ agenda that they’re looking for. If kids think it’s ok for a man to dress up like a lady and act like a caricature of a lady and if they think two women kissing each other is OK, then it’ll be easy peasy to get them to reject the rest of GOD’S plan, reject the sanctity of marriage, the father being the spiritual head of the family, walking in the straight and narrow, living righteously, ultimately walking with and being obedient to GOD. You know, they never tell you how many homosexuals suffer from depression, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual diseases, suicide. If only they would give their hearts to Jesus, repent and follow Jesus, He will set them on the right path, and give them peace. That is our message to them. So here’s the words to the song. You tell me if there’s no agenda in there: “You think that we’ll corrupt your kids, if our agenda goes unchecked. Funny just this once you’re correct. We’ll convert your children. Happens bit by bit. Quietly and subtly, And you will barely notice it, You can keep them from disco. Warn them about San Francisco. Make them wear pleated pants. We don’t care, We’ll convert your children We’ll make them tolerant and fair. We’ll convert your children. Someone’s gotta teach them not to hate. We’re coming for them. We’re coming for your children. We’re coming for them. We’re coming for them. We’re coming for your children. Your children will care about fairness and justice for others. Your children will work to convert all their sisters and brothers. Then soon we’re almost certain, your kids will start converting you. The gay agenda is coming home. The gay agenda is here! But you don’t have to worry because there’s nothing wrong with standing by our side.” So As of 9 July 2021 the video had 88 likes and —wait for it—- 5,000 dislikes! Still count not on social media to tell you what to think, watch out!! And do not think the homosexual agenda is not in the “church.” We went to two Pentecostal (they seem to have a big problem with homosexuality) Churches where the Worship Pastor was openly gay (in the 80s this church used to host a gay evangelist every year and his assistant who died of AIDS) the other Church had two Bible School students (in the 90s) active in the youth department, both gay as a six dollar bill. They are coming for your kids and will not stop! Read your Bibles and watch your kids like a hawk.
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:
24 August at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
Guest Speaker will be Dustin Peters
Home: (910) 741-0489
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
August: Local Ministry
September: Local Ministry
October: 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/
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