Waiting on God – His Characteristics 

December 2019 • Volume XVIII Number 04

”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.  What a wealth of knowledge contained in Revelation 3:20-21. So far (October) we have looked at Jesus standing at the door of our heart and knocking for a time of fellowship.  This is an example of the attention to God wanting us to come to Him when He makes His approach to us.  He arrests our attention to make known His desires and to obtain that correct response He is looking for in us to make to Him.  I cannot over emphasize that point.  God knows the way we are to respond to Him.  Now there are many responses we can make, but there is only one right one that God is looking for in us. Last month (November) we looked at the opportunity  for fellowship that will lead us to commune with Him. This opportunity extends not to us alone, but to all men or mankind:  male and female, free, bond, or slave the LORD’s opportunity for time spent with Him is extended to all.  All we have to do is slow down and find some quiet time with Him. And this month (December) we will look at perception.  Here are the verses we are looking at to draw out these critical Biblical truths. John writes, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”  (Revelation 3:20-21) Not the hearing of the natural ear, but the hearing of the inner hearing of the heart. 

Right before Jesus shares the parable of the sower Jesus shares these words, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: ¹⁵ For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. ¹⁶  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”  (Matthew 13:13-17) So as we see to hear and understand what God is saying has nothing to do with  our two natural ears, but the perception of understanding of what the Spirit is saying as we receive from revelation. We also see “the people’s hearts waxed gross” or thickened, fatten, or callous which affected their ability to hear Spiritual things.  If our spiritual heart is fattened like the walls of a blood vessel filled up with cholesterol plaque then it will block the flow of the Spirit  and we will not be able to discern or perceive what the Spirit is telling us.  And if we cannot hear from the LORD by the Spirit how can we know His will?  And if we do not know His will how can we do His will?  It is impossible to do that which God has directed us if we cannot hear from Him.  Most Christians today are in this boat.  They really do not hear from God by the Spirit thus cannot perceive, but presume what the Spirit is saying.  Maybe one of our their 1,000 times they get it right, but the other 999 times they are moving further and further away from the will of the LORD.  But in verse 16 Jesus talking to the disciples says, “blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” And why?  Because they (the disciples) have spent time with Jesus and saw and heard the mighty works and miracles He did.  Oh we may hear and see in the natural (and we will), but in the end that hearing and seeing will not matter if we do not have the spiritual understanding by the Spirit to what is really going on. Remember if it happens in the natural realm it has happened in the spiritual realm first.  We see this truth in Matthew 18:18 and in Matthew 16:19, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind (gather together like sheaves of wheat not tied up)  on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 18:18) Notice if it is bound on earth (where we live and move) then it had to have been already bound first in heaven.  So if it is gathered (or bind/bound) to you in earth than it has been already gathered to you in heaven. Our daily and habitual daily walk with the LORD will develop our inner perception to hear His voice clearly. The more correct we walk with Him daily the more correctly we will be able to hear His voice and move with Him. The sharper our perception for the things of the Spirit the better we will know God and His ways.  Perception is critical in our lives.  Just like with opportunity “if any man” desires to commune with God then “if any hear”  it is open to all.  If any man has a heart for God then he can hear from Him.       

Next month we will continue on with more spiritual principles contained in verses found in the Book of Revelation as we look at our response. Do you hear Him calling?  Please know God is calling. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have  you built God a temple?  If you do He will abide and wait for you. Written by David Stahl 

ARTICLE REVIEW:

                    When We All Get To Heaven                                                                                  

In the past Karen and I attended a local church with some friends who attended our Home Group Meeting and before the pastor delivered his sermon a trio got up to minister in song.  They sang great, but before they sang one of the singers said, “we all are waiting for Jesus to come back and take us out of this world.”  Then at about the same time I had this thought in my spirit and wrote down these words, “I wonder what will happen to the church if God does not take us out of this world?  Nowhere in the Bible did God ever deliver anyone without first developing them. Daniel went into the lion’s den. The three Hebrew Children went into the fiery furnace, Jesus went to the cross, and do we think we are any better than them?  Just delivering someone from hard situations and circumstances just makes them soft spiritually and a weaker sailor (I was in the US Navy) in God’s end time army.  My friend it is hard training and difficult lessons to learn that make us fit for battle to overcome areas in our lives.  If God has to deliver us from troubles and problems in our lives it is because He knows the work of God in our lives is in jeopardy of being lost so He moves us along only to be planted in another field for maturing and spiritual growth. To me, it seems with all of the songs we sing in church and plans we do not make the church is making plans to run out on God before the work on earth is done. How can we all want to go heaven when our family and neighbours are dying and going to hell?  Something just is not right here.  To me this seems rather selfish and self-seeking. Now do not get me wrong here I do want (I will and hope I see you there) to go to heaven, but NOT at the sake of my family and friends going to hell.  We must be the salt and light to them “speaking the truth in love”until God says it is time for us to come home.  It is not ours to want a mansion over the hilltop at the cost of sinners lost for all eternity. Let us not be so fast to want to run out of here before our job on earth is done. And there is another danger in this thinking Jesus is coming back to get us and that is Jesus has left us, but how can Jesus come back and get us if He has never left? Many Christians think Jesus has left us, checked out, and will return someday in the sweet by and by to take us all to heaven, but that is not what the Bible says. In other words believing Jesus is coming back for us means that Jesus has left us, but that has never been the case not for one second has Jesus left mankind. Understanding this point is something like trying (difficult unless the Spirit give you revelation) to understand the Trinity:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one.  I think the closest explanation of this I have seen or heard was a slice of Neapolitan ice cream:  chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream also three in one.  At the end of Matthew Jesus promised us, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  (Matthew 28:20)  Now when Jesus used the words “I am with you always” He meant it.  Jesus promised and He always keeps His word.  Well if Jesus is always with us how can He come back and get us?  Karen and I have four kids.  Our first two were David and Daniel.  I would take David and Daniel to the park when we lived on base in 1984-87.  When we would go to the park I would put the boys in a swing side-by-side and push them.  First David and then Daniel would say “faster and faster, higher and higher, wheee what a wonderful time we are having.”  David would look over at Daniel and say daddy really loves us (what we say to God when all is going well in our lives) what a wonderful expression on their faces as they would go faster and higher, but just when they were at the extent of the swing I would jump behind a tree.  At first they did not notice I disappeared all was well, but as they got slower and slower they noticed I was not pushing them and that I disappeared, well you should have seen the look on their face and heard them cry, Daniel daddy disappeared he does not love us (what we say to God when things are not going well in our lives) anymore.  The slower they got the louder they cried (does this not sound like us when we first get saved) until the swing almost stopped and then I would jump out from behind the tree and say, “David Daniel” and they would say “daddy” and I would start pushing them again. Well here is the point of this wonderful story; did I leave my boys? No I was right there the entire time, but they could not see me.  Jesus did not leave us He promised He would not leave us just like my boys we cannot see Jesus, but He is right here with us.  If He is here how can He come back?  To think He has to come back means we believe in our heart He has left us, a real danger indeed.  You know I wonder why many Christians call Jesus’ return to earth His second coming when in reality it will be Jesus’ third coming.  Now read your Bible on this one. The first time Jesus came to earth was when He came as a baby.  The second time He came to earth was after He was crucified and went to hell to give people a chance to be saved who had never heard the Gospel message before Jesus died, “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”  (Acts 2:31), but arose on the third day in great victory for us as He said He would do.  So then when He comes back in the clouds of glory as the Angels said, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:11) it will be His third time.  I wonder why we call His next coming the second coming?  Maybe because we do not know our Bible well enough to be able to state the facts as the Bible represents them.  But this is nothing new.  We have so many misconceptions regarding heaven and things to come in the future.  I think a lot of our misapplications of thought are due to songs we sing and books we write on how we want things to be and not what we know it will be. We must be careful not to lead people astray in spiritual matters if we really do not know what we are talking about or have never experienced something in God.  I have never spoken to someone who went to heaven or hell and came back to earth (and was not selling a book or DVD) to tell people of their experience and the ones who said they did their words do not line up with the Bible which makes them false teachers.  Take heed my brothers and sisters here.  It is far better to encourage someone to do the things they need to do to make it to heaven than to tell (really guessing) people what heaven is going to be like hoping the grandeur of heaven will be good enough to help them make it there.  We have no idea what heaven is going to be like, but I know it is going to be wonderful (beyond my wildest thoughts) not because of the streets of gold, gates, and walls that are made of precious stones, but because Jesus will be there. I am not into heaven I am in to Him!               

 The true hallmark of us wanting to go to heaven or even of our faith is not believing for a miracle, but joy in hard times, joy in difficulties, joy in trials, and joy in the dealings and judgments of God.  Funny how many Christians blame God for things that are not His fault. I hear many Christians say God is dealing and bringing judgments into their lives, but in reality the hard and difficult times they are experiencing is not from God, but of their own handy work.  God’s dealings and judgments in our lives yields spiritual growth and development when we have learned the lesson God desires to teach us.  Jesus Himself said, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12) What a wonderful promise from God. Trials, difficulties, and tribulations are the normal life experiences for Christians.  Peter encourages us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13) I need to keep reminding myself of these verses when I am going through difficult times, but we must also remember Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us.  Hard times, bad situations, and difficulties in our lives if not tempered by the Holy Spirit yields bitterness, an anguished spirit, and rebellion to God and man.  Our greatest need is not more of “things” or even more trials, difficulties, and tribulations because our need does not move God’s heart oh no what moves God’s heart is our obedience to Him and His word to us.  Some day heaven will be a wonderful time and a wonderful place, for how long I do not know.  What will we be going? I do not know.  When we all get to heaven, well we know that will not happen.  Sadly there will be many (probably more will not make it than those that do) who do not make it to heaven.  Let us labor now for them.  Let us do and say the things we need to do to be the example of integrity, honesty, and righteousness before God and man.  Heaven is a wonderful word to my ears and heart.  My hope is my father (Jan 2010), mother (June 2014), sister (April 1961), other family members, and friends who have closed their eyes in death in this world are waiting for me there.  This is my hope that keeps me going until I come to know the truth for myself about heaven and all that God has in store for me and all that have done the things they needed to do in God to go to heaven.Written by David Stahl

THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:                              

A Helper 

In Genesis 2 we read, “And the LORD GOD said, It is not good that the man should be alone, I will make him a help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18) Thus from a rib from Adam GOD fashioned Eve. (Genesis 2: 21- 22) The story goes downhill from there the talking serpent, blame shifting, cursed, and getting kicked out of the garden. I don’t believe Adam and Eve meant to throw us all under the bus-so to speak, but for whatever reason Eve did NOT consult with her husband first after talking with the serpent.  Eve was no doubt deceived; one by the talking serpent and two by her own decision making abilities. There are times in our lives, if we’re married, that we will have to make decisions while our husbands are away and in his place. Which is fine if we’re both on the same page, but unfortunately it’s usually not the case unless we’ve been married for a long time and even then only IF the wife has an inkling of spiritual authority and is aware of how her husband thinks. Men and women think differently and to me (maybe because I’ve been a block-head) it’s taken me some time to get on the same page as Dave. Partly from my own wrong thinking and not knowing better and partly from being said block-head. A Christian woman is to be a helper to her husband. If she is out of order the family dynamics will be out of spiritual alignment. And if she is “running the show” (it doesn’t matter how educated she is or thinks she is, how talented she is or thinks she is) then the husband is NOT running the show.  Thus she needs to repent, step down (from her throne), and line up with the word of GOD. I can’t tell you how many married folks we know where the wife is running things. It’s unbelievable. Worse are the ones that act like they’re submissive Christian wives while making their husbands lives a miserable hell  behind closed doors if they dare to disagree with her.  GOD-forbid she doesn’t get her way, it’s all about her and that’s a shame. You can’t be a helper to your husband if your are off wanting and doing your own thing. You’re supposed to be helping him. We had a friend once (no longer friends) whose husband had serious heart problems, so to “help” him do the yard work she got him a riding lawnmower. She still didn’t lift a finger to help him with the yard work or any outside chores. Are you kidding me? I thought, geez maybe she wants him dead. (Bad thought, I know.) We Christian ladies are to help our husbands as they deem fit, not what we deem fit. He may need help in the yard or fixing a fence. If you have children of age you all should be outside helping Dad with the chores. Is there anything more useless then a man who hasn’t been taught by his parents to trim a lousy bush or mow the yard? How sad. In another vein is there anything more pathetic then a man who waits on his wife when she comes home from work and he’s worked all day too? He’s the one doing all the domestic chores and she well, I don’t know what she’s doing besides being rebellious and wanting her way. This should not be. Now this is not to suggest a man can’t bring his wife a cup of joe (coffee) or a snack from the kitchen, I’m not saying that, but the dynamics here is all wrong, if he’s waiting hand and foot on the wife, something’s wrong, very wrong and NO the husband is NOT laying his life down by being a doormat and shirking his role as the spiritual leader of the home. This is wrong thinking. In Ephesians Paul tell us, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”  (Ephesians 5:22-25) Paul in these verses is not talking about husbands following their wives, just the opposite. Paul is talking about the husband providing a loving and nurturing leadership for the wife and the entire family.  As Christ leads the church so too the husband is to lead the wife and family. In just  a few verses we see the depth of this leadership the husband is to provide,  “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”  (Ephesians 5:28-29) Again it is about leadership not about laying your life down for your wife. The husband  is to love his wife as his self and we all know no one loves us more than us. Christ is the head of the home, then the husband then the wife. The Bible is quite clear on order in the home. If the spiritual authority order is messed up in the home little else will be right in that home. The lack of faith in your husband is also all too clear to see and misplaced. You see GOD will deal with our husbands if they are in error so not only do you not have faith in your husband, you don’t have faith in GOD.  Let me tell you  GOD will get our (husband’s) special attention. I guarantee it. But WE women must line up with the word of GOD then GOD will deal with him. Also IF you have kids let the man deal with the  boys as needed.  Men know how to deal with boys. We hate to see it, but sometimes a rambunctious boy needs a reality check by his father to be a productive member of society. In other words, sometimes the dad needs to put the fear of GOD in a boy. We’ve all seen it. Mom interferes with dad disciplining little Timmy and the kid grows up not only distaining parental authority, but outside authority and God also.  Very rarely do men grow up well without a father to keep them in check. Read your Bible and let us line up with the word of GOD. Time is getting short our souls and our kids souls are at stake. 

Written by Karen Stahl

NEEDS NO WANTS:

1. 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. 
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and Ian at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
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. Dan, Cathy, and 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 for 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 Ndolimanain Ruhengeli, Rwanda.

NEXT HOME GROUP MEETING:

10 December 2019 & 17 December  2019 at 7:00 pm

At 232 Everett Drive

Sneads Ferry, NC  28460

7:00 pm please RSVP

Home:  (910) 741-0489

NEXT SERVICES FOR THE ROCK FELLOWSHIP AT SNEADS FERRY

8 December 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

15 December 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

22  December 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

29 December 19 232 Everett Drive, Sneads Ferry NC  in Chadwick shores 11:00 am

POCs are Freddy Everett (910) 545-7918 or David Stahl (910) 382-9287

FUTURE SCHEDULE:

December: Local Ministry

January: Local Ministry

February: 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:

Home:    (910) 741-0489

Mobile:  (910) 382-9287

FAX:     (910) 741-0489

 

Email:

dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com

Website:

www.www.beholdinghisglory.com/

Blog:

http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/

NEW OFFER

Booklets on Spiritual Authority,  Spiritual Leadership, Prayer, Body of Christ, and Righteous Living the Four Anchors of God are now available by contacting us and requesting one.  You can see them on our home page.  Get one now.

The Author House link below will lead you to our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration.” Just copy it into your web browser and return. Also you can purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God.” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.” 

 http://www.authorhouse.com/AuthorCenter/Protected/BookHome.aspx?bookID=61464

 Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again.  All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price and then we  will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.   

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.