”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)
Greetings again my Brethren. Okay more this month on the divine and diverse ways God communicates with man. You know if God only used one way of speaking to us our attention span and complex multi-tasked world would kick in and we would miss Him every time. I am so glad God knows our frame, He knows how we think and operate, I am so glad God knows our mind and heart that He can get to us at just the right time and the right way when we need to hear from Him. Last month we looked at Angels. Yes, God does use Angels to minister to mankind, but Angels are created beings well before man. After God made man God said we were very good, no so with Angels. In Genesis 1:28, God gave man the ability to multiply (not Angels) and replenish the earth (not Angels) and subdue it (not Angels), and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth, but (not Angels). Angels are not saved by grace nor do Angels have a spirit soul. But Angels can sin. In Ezekiel 28 we read of Lucifer the chief Angels in heaven that sinned, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:15-16) My friend stay away from worshipping Angels it is nothing less than idolatry. So, this month we are going to look at how God uses our heart to communicate with Him. Let me allow that to sink in. Yes, God communicates with us in our heart. In Romans Paul tells us, “(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;).” (Romans 2:13-15) Now Paul is not talking about the 613 Jewish Mosaic laws or even the law of the flesh that rules our carnal nature, oh no Paul is talking about something deeper, something spiritual, something of the heart. First off, please notice verses 13 to 15 are not word written out right, but is a parenetical thought. Here Paul was thinking these words as the Holy Spirit gave him inspiration and then he wrote his thoughts down. This process was a little different than the writing of the Bible where the Holy Spirit gave the writer inspirations, like when I sit down and BAM before I know it three or four pages are before me. Now, the Bible’s 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament was written by 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years. These authors lived in different places and different times, with different cultures. They had many different occupations and lifestyles, but the focus of what they have written is the same – to reveal God’s heart and will for mankind. And it is through this focus and revelation (enlightenment) God speaks to man, to his heart. God has placed within man a knowledge, a law of His nature and character of His righteousness as well as God has placed within man a knowledge of sin, of wickedness, of evil, all of the elements in man’s heart that is not in keeping with God’s law of the life of God. They are both are in the heart of man. God has placed them there. Again, Paul writes, “their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;).” This is how we know the difference between right and wrong. God has given us the ability the knowledge in our heart to be able to discern between good and evil. His word tells us what is righteousness and what is unrighteousness, what is holy and what is unholy, what is Godly and what is ungodly and as we take within us His words then His Spirit, the Holy Spirit communicates these truths to our heart. In hard times David the young psalmist knew this truth that deep within side of him and us is a call that comes out from the heart of God to our heart. David writes, “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” (Psalm 42:6-7) Have you ever been there? “O my God, my soul is cast down within me:” Yet, there is a deep call of God out from Him to our heart that corrects us, chastises us, encourages us, enlightens us, a law of His righteousness and goodness, warning and strengthening us so that we too may not sin against God. When God speaks to our heart most often it is a word of correction or rebuke. God is not a chatter box and does not speak to as many people as they say, oh no God is a man of few words, but when He speaks to our heart He wants us to listen and obey Him.
Next month we will continue looking at more divine ways of diverse Godly communication. He is speaking to us, but do we have the hearing ears to hear what the LORD is saying to us? Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Our Subtle Emotions
The longer I go in God the more I see just how subtle and destructive my emotions are to the work of God in my life. I hear Christians beg God for a deeper walk with Him, to be taken deeper in knowledge and revelation, well a deeper life in God is nothing more than obedience to God and us putting to death (God wants us to do it) our wild yet very subtle emotions and feelings. Now I could talk about how our wild emotions can cause physical manifestations (that would be more in line with social or personality analysis what most Christian counselors do and call it something spiritual) such as: sadness, anger, wrath (there is a big difference between the two) selfishness (host of others), and of course the biggest fear which causes insecurities, anxiety, panic attacks, but I would like to address the subtle and not so discussed emotions in the church because they are accepted as something that is from the LORD or just ignored to satisfy our inward fleshly desires. I will be honest the subtle manifestations are more dangerous to our spiritual growth and development than the physical. Anything that affects us spiritually always has far reaching consequences in our lives more than the physical. Please understand I am not justifying the physical manifestations one bit, but when something affects our spirit it has struck deep in our soul and the longer it lodges in our spirit the harder it is to remove. We must be very careful with what we allow to affect our spirit. All too easily we open the door of our spirit, our heart and whatsoever we allow behind the door we shall become that. In Proverbs we read, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverb 23:7) In the Greek the words, “For as he thinketh in his heart” is translated as a man opens his gate. The gate all though out the Bible has been seen as a place of decision. So whatsoever we open our heart (or gate) to we will become that or “so is he.” It is our choice what we open our gate (heart) to or not to. Remember, when we open our “self” up to something there is something we are not opening our self up to. That boils down into two camps either light or darkness. Things that support the work of God in our lives or those things that do not support the work of God in our lives. And if we allow our emotions both physical and spiritual to rule our lives they will run us into a huge ditch and get us so far off track it becomes almost impossible to get back. This is why Christians fill the mental health institutions or why Christian run like lost sheep to so called Christian psychiatrist (an oxymoron). I will be honest I know what I am talking about. I have allowed my emotions to run wild (in the past) at times as I traveled overseas in ministry to the point I became sick coming home early and sadly the work God wanted to do in me and in the lives of others was not accomplished. Again, it is our choice do we open up to feelings, pains, lumps, and bumps or ignore them driving on, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” You know they say you are not really ready to live until you are ready to die. And die we must because no one gets out of this life alive. It is better we die to our selfishness, to our self-seeking allowing God to work in our lives than to live in fear (and all of the emotional things that comes with it) a life filled with hell on earth which is not God’s intention. God’s intention is to bring us into a place of rest not struggle. I heard a TV preacher say, “if you are not butting heads with Satan maybe you both are going in the same direction.” Well, there is another option, maybe we are at rest in the LORD and need not to struggle? After all struggling in areas in our lives is our choice dependent on what we allow behind our heart.
Now there are two subtle spiritual areas that do great harm to the spiritual growth and development of many Christians and they do not even know it is happening. The first is the subtle deceptive difference between something of the spirit of God and our emotions. In a service as the music cranks up the music leader says, “stand to your feet, wave your hands to the LORD, and sing out!” Well, if your feet and hands move before your heart it is not the Spirit of God it is your emotions (dangerous) that are moving you. Today in the Christian world “churches” are filled with people who only know an emotional ascent to God their spirit is so pumped up and ignited there is no way for the Spirit to calm them down and allow the word of God to take root in their lives. Services are nothing more than an orgy of lights, sound, smoke, hard music (entertainment) feeding the flesh and the people love it. Again, they love the music and not God. The biggest church in Jacksonville who have three services every Sunday has announced they will add a fog machine and more lights to their “worship experience.” The Body of Christ is filled with seeker friendly churches (we know we are the church and not some denomination or building) that teach their people to worship their feelings and emotions and not God. Many ask what happened to the hymns; music that has carried the Believers for 100s of years? Well, they have been replaced by songs that affect our emotions and not our spirit. Hymns affect our spirit. They are songs that are sung to God, songs like: Sweet Hour of Prayer, Blessed Assurance, and Turn Your Eyes Unto Jesus, but songs like: God is as Awesome God, Standing on Holy Ground (written by a homosexual) affect our emotions. They are songs about God. They get our hands and feet moving before the Spirit can get our heart in a low place before Him. Now people would say what is the danger in this emotional approach to God, well when our emotions engage it takes over many areas of our thinking to the point we miss what God is doing in our lives. One of the greatest areas in our life to see if we have allowed God to control our emotions is do we have an ability (in God) to shut our mouth and keep our opinionated nature to our self. Do we have to tell everyone what we know? Is our opinion so important we must let people know what we feel? If yes, these are just indicators that we have not allowed God to deal and judge in our lives to the degree we can control our thoughts and feelings in God. I remember when my one time friend told me I talked too much. We were driving to Opole, Poland from Stuttgart, Germany (about seven or eight hours) and after about two or three hours on the road he spared not my feelings and just told me to shut up, I talk too much. I do not have to let him know just how smart and knowledgeable I am. I do not have to have an opinion on everything. When we are over in our self (by not being able to keep our mouth) we disqualify ourselves for service. I am amazed how God picks the folks I am to take on my trips overseas. On one trip to Turkey it was no doubt that the young fellow and pastor who went, God wanted him to go, not just to preach the word (and he did well), but more important to allow God to work on his character flaws as God does on every trip I go on. We think we are doing God a favor preaching the word, but not so fast pilgrim God is baiting us, even luring us with the opportunity of preaching to the heathens while His intention is to work on our character. There is a great you tube video I would recommend for anyone who feels they have a call to go preach to the heathen. The you tube is by Paris Reidhead and is called “Ten Shekels and a Shirt.” I do not want to spill the beans, but it is about Brother Reidhead going to the Sudan in the 1940’s and him thinking he was going to save the heathen, but God got him alone in his room and he had enough of God in him for God to be able to show him he was the heathen who needed saved. It is a wonderful thing in our walk with the LORD when we find out we are the heathen. Well, the young pastor who went to Turkey with me never shut up, always preaching to me, and had to get his thoughts and opinion in so finally on our way home at the airport in Istanbul I had enough as Jake did and I told him to shut up! Well you know how that went over. Religious people built on themselves always get offended. He dodged me when we got to the States and when he got home he wrote me in long hand, cryptic letter (in red) justifying himself. He rejected every attempt I made to talk with me. It is a scary thing to come face to face with our imperfections and flaws. Only if we have enough of God in us to show us the truth about ourselves and agree with Him will we ever get over our character issues and truly be used of God. His actions just showed my words were true and he lacked the ability in God to handle truth. Funny how people do not like hanging around or talking with someone who can see right through them. I guess they do not realize God sees through us all the time. My friend there is a holy place in God when we can shut our mouth long enough to hear His voice and learn of Him. Yes, there is a place of silence in God that brings us to nothingness. A place where we have nothing to say. The first is perfect. The second is even more perfect and the third is the most perfect. There is a place of silence in God that brings us to nothingness. A place where we have nothing to say. There are three types of silence: a silence of words, a silence of desires, and a silence of thoughts. The first is perfect. The second is even more perfect and the third is the most perfect. In the first, the silence of words, there is virtue (strength) that is acquired. In the second, the silence of desires, quietness is obtained; and in the third, the silence of thoughts . . . this is our goal: the internal recollection of all of our senses. To lay hold of the silence of thought is to arrive and abide at the center of our being where Christ dwells. Not by speaking, desiring, nor reasoning, we reach the central place of our inward most, that place where God speaks to our innermost man. It is there that God communicates Himself to our spirit; and there in the inmost depths of our being. He teaches us Himself. He guides us to this place where He alone speaks His most secret and hidden treasures of His heart to us.
The second area of our subtle emotions is when we blame everything on the Satan. I cannot believe the number of Christians who have no spiritual understanding and still call themselves Christians, yet worse some spend more time praying to Satan telling him what they are doing to do to him, “I am going to bind you” or “I am going to take back what you stole from me.” If we are a Christians and walking with the LORD how can Satan steal from us? What foolishness, but the worst part is these Christians really believe Satan has power in their lives. Now Satan is real the Bible tells us so, but the Bible also tell us he is defeated if we allow him. I choose to NOT give him power in my life, but choose to be powered by God. In the Book of Colossians Paul tell us, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15) Satan and his powers are defeated! When will some Christians believe this verse? When they stop allowing their emotions to run wild. After all we have to blame someone for our failures and short comings when we do not control our emotions, hungers, and desires. It must be Satan causing us to be bad. Now the real danger in blaming Satan is we let off the real culprit, our self. James tells us, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) It is not Satan that causes us to sin it is our lust. We get enticed and snared by our own lust that we have not allowed God to deal and judge within our lives. And the longer we go in this lust the harder and stronger this lust becomes till we become overwhelmed and we sin. The origin was not the enticement or even the sin (Jesus died for this), but our emotions running unchecked and wild. My friend the only power Satan has is the power we give him by speaking his name, trying to define and understand his tactics and ways. So why in the world would we need to learn about how Satan functions and operates? What a pile of religious crap! I think it more important to learn about how God functions and operates. But no the religious and hyper-spiritual crowd want to go after the devil and bind him when he has no power, except for the power we give him in our lives. My mother (God rest her soul) never used his name in any way her thought was why recognize him? Let us recognize Christ and what He has done in our lives instead of what Satan (supposedly) is trying to do in our lives. How can we be at rest in our heart and spirit if we keep Satan in our thoughts? Foolishness utter foolishness, but most of the Christians today blame Satan for all of the bad things in their lives. What is God’s part in all of this? The truth is it is not Satan that causes us to do bad things even sin, but our flesh. Paul knew, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 7:18-20) Paul knew it was his emotions (his flesh). Paul knew it was his emotions that caused him to drift away from God’s promises for his life. If our emotions rule and reign in our heart we are only destined for one thing and it is not for the purposes and plan God has for our lives, but lust and then sin. So, mind your emotions! Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
It’s Coming
Our Brother Peter in encouraging Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, (and us today) over 2,000 plus years ago, really lays it ALL on the line in 1 Peter 4:15-19. Now, I will only address a tiny portion of this, but I encourage you to read the entire Book of 1 Peter. So, Peter says, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:15-19) As Christians we can pretty much anticipate trials and tribulations coming our way. I read recently in the news, always depressing, that a North Korean family, to include a 2 year old had been sentenced to “political life imprisonment” after North Korean officials found a Bible in their possession. This was according to the State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2022. GOD help that family. Folks, not to put the kibosh on your great day, but this mess is coming our way. Our society today is doing its darndest to marginalize and demonize Christians. The thing for us to be concerned about is how we go through this with a good, proper Christian attitude and not freak out. They treated the SON of GOD like crap can we expect any better? I don’t think so. Read and re-read what Jesus told the twelve disciples in Matthew 10:16-34 when He sent them out by twos. We must not forget that the Sadducee’s and Pharisees were hot on Jesus’ trail like a pack of hounds on a wounded deer. Everywhere He went they were there trying to trip him up or catch Him saying something, or heaven forbid, healing somebody on the sabbath. Oh, how gauche!! Can we handle that abuse with the same grace, dignity, and restraint that He did? Personally, for me that would be a big NO. It would indeed be the grace of GOD if I did go through something like that without yelling, kicking, and screaming. Yes, I’m a big sissy baby. Truthfully though we don’t know how we’d react until we get in that kind of situation. So, perhaps it behooves us NOW to get as much of the Word in us as we can. Perhaps NOW we should draw closer to the Lord. Jesus told us and the Bible tells us, standby it’s coming. Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and in Agigea Pastor Jacob as the interim Director for the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian at Gospel Assembly in Sankaraguptham, India.
4. Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
5. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
6. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
8. Christian and Ina Kopjar Missionaries to the County of Liberia.
9. Brother John Vlad, (serving as the Operations Officer), his wife Cristina, and three daughters aboard the international ministry ship Logos Hope.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
8 August 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
(910) 382-9287
BEHOLDING HIS GLORY ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
“Pebbles of Truth”
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 am
FUTURE BHG SCHEDULE:
August: Eastern Europe
September: Eastern Europe
October: 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:
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Website:
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
FREE OFFERS
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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