THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Greetings again my friends. Okay let us finish up this section “As a Servant” as we continue to look at “The Prophet of God.” This week we will begin to look at a heart that brings about a right walk with God. You know ministers in Christiandom preach and teach, work, and serve for all different kinds of reasons. Many for popularity and gain have it be money, power, or influence, but of course, it must be out of a humble heart to see the glory of God come forth and lives of the people change to where Christ can be birthed in them. Paul writes God’s main objective in our lives in Galatians 4:19. “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” (Galatians 4:19) God is not trying to make us rich, happy, influential, powerful, or even give us the biggest church in the world, oh no! God is doing His best, as we will allow Him, “to form Christ in us.” I wonder why most Christians think God is trying to make them happy and “blessed?” I hear I am blessed, you are blessed, brother, all of God’s children are blessed, Well, that is not the picture the words in the Old Testament paint and will not be the picture as time, in this age, expires. I am sure (I include myself here too) our desires for “blessing” come out from our flesh not wanting to be dealt with. And of course this desire for ease and comfort leans itself to misapplication of doctrine and revelation. I guess that is why God took Paul to hell (not literally) so that He could take him to heaven. Now Paul was born around 5 AD in Tarsus, Cilicia, which is in modern-day Turkey and was beheaded traditionally believed in Rome around 64-67 AD. He was between 59 to 62 years old. Where John was born 6 AD and traditionally belief died 100 AD of natural causes. My point is, can you imagine the revelation knowledge Paul could have shared with the Body of Christ if he would have lived longer? Maybe more Books in the Bible? Well, God ways are not our ways. I remember back in 1996 before we left for Germany the pastor of the church we were attending slipped me a piece of paper one day with this verse on it, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1Timothy 4:16) Sadly, it would have served him better to remember these words because the church he was pastoring collapsed and was no more after we left. He went over to the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) dark side and loved his denomination more than he did God. Now, looking at Paul and this pastor, we can see two men each with different walk with the LORD. With Paul we see his walk led to many Books in the Bible, with doctrinal teachings and a love for God that flowed from him for centuries (and still flows today), and a way to serve God in Spirit and truth. The difference between the two is Paul’s walk yielded a heart that brought about a right walk with God. The things he said and did were right and where we get the word “righteousness” from or a right relationship between God and man. The pastor, well, not so much. He was a good man, loved his wife and some people in the church he pastored, but was more concerned about proving the doctrines of the Pentecostal world are more superior than all other doctrines in Christiandom, His focus was the UPC and God took a back seat. I remember at a church service he was asked to speak, impromptu, and as he was walking up to the stage he took off his wedding ring. I guess nothing, even his wife, comes before the UPC. He always carried three or four Bibles with him not to sure what that was all about. His walk did not lead to righteousness, but to just more religion. And I told him so and that was the last time we have talked. His actions proved my point in heart and attitude. Our walk with God if it is right before God will produce a righteousness in us that transcends our understanding which is one of God’s major objectives. He wants to bring into our lives a life of righteous living. Can you imagine that? A life of “righteous living?” Where we do not have to stop living to make a righteous decision or choice. Our life is tied into the life of God, His life, so tight that we just live righteously. Like breathing. We do not have to stop living to breath, oh no. If we do, we probably will suffocate. But, our breathing is automatic, it is something God has hard wired in us. Our muscles and diaphragm work as one as carbon dioxide is exchanged for oxygen in the lungs and our heart then pumps the life giving blood throughout our body. Life is passed from one cell to another cell and we just live. Well, that is what God is looking for in our lives and our walk with Him. To be so wired into God that we automatically live a righteous life. And this all happens as we allow God to develop that servant’s heart in us. As we develop a walk with God that will allow Him to judge and deal in our lives and heart,
Next month we will continue looking at the perfect heart of the “Prophet of God” as we begin to look at three things God is looking for in our walk with Him: obedience, fellowship, and next week we will look at our sanctification. Are you a Prophet of God? To be a Prophet we must be able to hear His voice. Listen closely and you will hear. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
True Prosperity and Success
I was surfing through the channels recently and I came across this guy by the name of Mike Murdock. Now I will be honest it has been a long time since I have heard someone spin and misrepresent the truth of the word of God when it comes to prosperity and success. He was shameful. Now I am not going to tell you not to listen to this clown that is up to you. If you feel to give this man your hard earned money that is up to you, but be not deceived do yourself a favor and ask the Holy Spirit if this is what He wants or are you being deceived by a slick talking charlatan. You will thank me for it later. I was really struck by his sales pitch, “you have just 10 minutes to call in and get a piece of this special onetime offering.” I guess people were calling I heard phones ring and saw people talking, but not sure of context. Again, I am not going to tell you to give or not to give that is up to you. But, one thing for sure we are to have a spiritual wherewithal to prevent us from being taken advantage of by people like Mike Murdock and the rest of the prosperity teachers and preachers like: Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Andrew Womack, Creflo Dollar, Morris Cerullo, Paula White, and so many more. When it all comes down it is more about greed, manipulation, and self-promotion by the charlatans than about hearing from God. Prosperity in the Scriptures has little to do with money or wealth, but it seems those who pimp the Gospel for money and wealth (see names above) think it does. Now do not get me wrong God wants to meet our NEED He does want the needs of the Gospel to be met, but when you tie your obedience to man’s requirements (what they tell you God told them to tell you) you are off the mark of the truth. We give not because man tells us God told us to, but because we feel in our heart this is what Jesus would have us do and in obedience to God in the giving we are rewarded not by the amount given, but by the act of obedience of giving. It mattered not what we give or do for God, but how we do and give things. God knows what we need does he not? The charlatans (see names above) say you are poor because you have not given your money back God as they feel you need to. Well, what are the poor people in Africa and Asia going to do who have no money to give God? Have they sinned? I would say no way, I would say these folks are a lot more Godly than the charlatans. If this be so I guess Joseph while at Potiphar’s house must have been in sin. God said of Joseph, “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:1-2) What? God said of Joseph he, “was a prosperous man?’ What did Joseph have? Money” Power? Wealth? No Joseph had nothing he was slave, maybe a loincloth to cover his manhood, yet God said of Joseph “he was a prosperous man.” To God prosperity has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with pushing forward into God. Here in Genesis 39:2, the word “prosperous” means to push forward in various senses. Strange how some have twisted this word for their welfare, well maybe not so strange for the greedy and selfish. All throughout the Scriptures the word “prosperity” really has nothing to do with money or wealth, but means to be in good condition or to bring to a successful conclusion and has to do with our heart condition not riches. Maybe that is why the charlatans do not understand the Scriptures and work for their well-being so hard. Mike Murdock’s profile on Wikipedia says, “On March 3, 2003, the Associated Press reported Murdock asked followers for money to help the poor but spent more than 60% of donations on overhead, including his salary, and only a tiny amount (reported to be “legal minimums of 1% to 3%”) on helping the needy, or any other ‘public interest.” This is not the heart condition of a broken servant of God. Again, I not telling you to give him money or not to give him money, but asking you to be spiritually aware. We need to be a creditable witness to the life changing power of God not a witness to how much money God will give us if we do something for Him. God is more concerned about our character and integrity than about our ability to do things for Him and that includes raising money for Him. I wonder why we always attach money to God’s ability and love for us? If we have no money, a nice car, or place to stay does this mean God does not love or want to use us? Many equate God’s anointing with nice car, airplanes, big ministries, jewelry, and fame well that is not so. God does not care about these things. Again God’s number one focus in our lives is our character. This is just utter foolishness because those who believe these things lack the ability to spiritually push forward in God they are more concerned about the earthly, carnal world of materialism, power, control, manipulation, and things than in God. In Joshua we see this word prosperous, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:8-9) The word “prosperous” here is the same word in Genesis 39:2, to push forward in God. Here the way of prosperity for Joshua comes by the way of, “thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:’ When we “truly” know what God’s word says we will not get over into side shows or trickery to try to take advantage of people. We will be rooted and grounded in the divine spiritual word of God that touch lives and help make a change in the lives if people who are lost and in need of a Savior. This is what the world needs not another millionaire Bible teacher or preacher. I do not see a single verse in the Bible that tells us we are to be super rich with many houses living better than the people who give to our ministry. Also from Mike Murdock’s profile on Wikipedia, “On March 22, 2012, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Murdock’s home, assessed at $1.5 million, was for sale. The 9,943 sq ft 25-room home with built-in wine cooler located on 6.89 acres was first listed for sale on Realtor.com on November 29, 2011 for $3.2 million and then subsequently on September 4, 2013 (MLS 12020088) for $2.7 million. According to public records, Murdock also was the owner of another property. There is something wrong with this picture, but again you make the call. Success is like prosperity the meaning has to do with having a correct understanding of relational wisdom in areas of the things of God. It has nothing to do with hitting the lottery or our ship coming in. Oh no “success” from God’s perspective has to do with understanding correctly in the areas of the things of God. In the weightier things of God. Once we push forward in God (be prosperous) we then will have the right perceptive in relationship with the things of God. We will understand how things in God operate. We will be able to see (understand) the big picture how things work together for our good. How what we call bad things that happen to us turn out to be a blessing. I am reminded of our neighbor’s tree that was taken down by a hurricane that hit our area. If you would see the tree laying down on the house you would think this is a very bad thing for the house and the neighbor, but a few days after that our neighbor’s house burnt down and if the tree that fell in the hurricane would have been standing it would have been a bridge to other neighbor’s house. Now did God know this in advance (you judge) I do not know, but I do know my neighbor would have lost his house if the tree was standing. “Good success” for us in God is when we have the understanding of how things in God happen and how we fit into His big picture. How can we operate in His will if we do not have the big picture? We cannot! We only fool ourselves, deceive others, and have to resort to being a charlatan. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Stubbornness?
In 1 Samuel we read an account of the Prophet Samuel rebuking King Saul who was supposed to smite the Amalekites—everything, men, women kids, oxen sheep everything must die. But the people and Saul kept the best of the animals for a sacrifice to the LORD. Obedience is better than sacrifice, especially in God. So, Samuel said, “And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, (he lied) and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, (he lied again) and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (I Samuel 15:18-23) Stubbornness is NOT a good character trait to possess. I’ve heard people say, with pride, they were stubborn as if it was a great thing. Stubbornness is stiff necked, unyielding, difficult to handle. If the Doctor tells you to make lifestyle changes and you refuse out of stubbornness your health will suffer. “I’m going to do it (or not do it) my way. I’ve known people who have had medical problems and all they had to do was listen to the Doctor, take their medicine, maybe get some exercise and eat extra salad or fruit to regain health. But would they, nope. If you do what you’re told by the Doctor and persevere even if you find it difficult that’s okay, at least you’re trying. Stubbornness is not a good thing especially if we know the right thing to do and we don’t do it, that’s very close to idolatry, maybe even sin. When we’re stuck on pleasing ourselves, doing what we want to do and when we want to do it, be careful we’re on a slippery slope and the bottom of the barrel or the ground is soon to follow. I don’t think stubbornness will get us to Heaven. Jesus said: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30) Humility and seeking the Lord goes a long way with The Almighty and can prevent or maybe even reverse stubbornness in our lives. Read your Bible! Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NOT 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 Brother John Vlad as the Director of 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 and Pastor Metin at the Mavi Kilisesi in Dalaman, 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. The many Pastors Paul and Costica at the Skina and other Pastors and Brothers we have meet in Ukraine over that five years.
10. Betuel and Bianaca and others in Erbil, Kurdistan.
11. Pastor Joeseph Kariuki Gatimu at Jesus Victory Temple in Mombasa, Kenya.
12. Pastors Ravindra Shiwnandan and Victor Lupuku and other Pastor and Brothers in Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
18 August 26 at 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: Local Ministry
September: Erbil, Kurdistan and Dalaman, Turkey
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.
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.
