Waiting on God the LORD’S Visits
December 2021 • Volume XX 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:
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Greetings again my Brethren. Where did this year go? They say the older you get the faster times flies and boy is that true. Not only faster, but if not in God the crazier things get. I just shake my head when I see the things going on in America. Do we really think our woke military will protect us? Oh no my friend, as a military veteran of 24 years I hope and pray the Chinese and/or Russians will be merciful. For years I have always heard it does not matter who is in the White House, but it matters who is in your house, well not so my friend it matters who is in both your house (you as the temple of God) and the White House. And why is America out of God’s control? That is an easy one, because the “church” in America is out of God’s control and getting crazier with each passing day. A few times Karen and I went to Pentecostal or maybe Charismatic, non-denominational church in Holly Ridge and boy talk about out of control. Both times we went instead of preaching the pastor decided to pray for the people after a long time of singing and dancing. The pastor would stand there as the prophet (??) of the house (why I said could be Charismatic) would prophesy (??) over them, then suddenly without any warning the pastor would grab them by their head and start groaning, yelling, and gasping as if the word of God or healing was being pressed or communicated through him. Ungodly manipulation, so ungodly, so out of control. The first time we stayed for the show, but the second time we got up and quickly left when he started. My friend the church in America is in an horrible spiritual condition because they have not been sharing the truth of the word of God for years and I am afraid it is going to take great persecution and maybe devastation to American to get her back on track. Like all things in God time will tell.
This month we will continue to look at the Lord’s visit, but not in a positive way. We think when the Lord shows up “good things” are going to happen, well the “good things” from the Lord’s perspective may not be so good from our perspective. What we think we need and what God wants us to have often are two different things. Of course what we all need is more of God, but we also need what God wants to give us at this time. He knows our need, He knows our frame, He knows our lack, but the question we must ask our self is do we know our need? Do we know our frame? Do we know our lack? Oh we say yes, but do we know what God knows about us? Do we know our self as God knows us? I truly believe God would want to so work in our lives to the point He will be able to open up to us and reveal our heart and true need. Then and only then can God can “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Often times when the Lord visits we can have a divers attitude. In Mark, we find the towns folks and maybe some of the disciples had a unwanted attitude. We read, “And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.” (Mark 5:15-18) Here in Mark we read where Jesus casts out a “legion” (a Roman Legion in Christ’s day was 5,420 soldiers) of devils. What wonderful miracle, but the people in the area did not seem to appreciate Jesus or the miracle as much as the man who was possessed. As a matter of fact the people wanted Jesus to depart and all the man wanted to do was be around Jesus. Does this sound like today in most churches? The people in the area had an unwanted reaction to the Lord’s ministry. Now this was unfortunate for the man, he was so thankful for his deliverance, and all he wanted was to be around Jesus, why he even had to be told what Jesus did for him, “And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine, but the people wanted nothing to do with him or Jesus. Does that not sound familiar? Sadly the Lord is working in lives, but other people want nothing to do with what He is doing. They too have an unwanted spirit. At the heart of an unwanted spirit is ungratefulness and a lack of understanding to what the Spirit is doing. You know as strange as it may seem the people were more fearful of Jesus then they were of the possessed man full of devils. WOW talk about lack of understanding. When I read this story I feel bad for the man (think of what he could have seen and touched) who was delivered, but in the end he too was used of the Lord for God’s glory. The story ends, “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:19-20) God always gets the last word.
More next month as we continue to look at more diverse attitudes towards the Lord’s visit. 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
Fear Not
I had returned from a ministry trip to Bulgaria and Romania as always the people were so giving and kind. I find those who have the least give the most and this trip was no exception. All along the 17 days we were gone as I beseeched the LORD and He would respond, “come and go as planned all is well.” What an assurance I would get as we faced trying things along the way. God speaking a word of encouragement goes a long ways in settling our spirit, calming our nerves, and removing fear. Have you ever experienced fear (I have) in your life? It hits you in the pit of your stomach. This world is in a mess and if we allow this world to affect our thinking and heart we too will be in a mess. This is why John said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life ,is not of the Father, but is of the world.17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Now notice it says “the things that are in the world.” Most Christians are so stuck on the things in the world that they do not really miss a genuine relationship with the LORD. Their carnal relationship is based on knowing God through all of the technology driven church. We were sitting in Paris at Charles De Gaul Airport and I looked and everyone in the two rows (of 15 seats) behind us and in front of us were glued to their hand held electronic devices. A bomb could have went off and they would not have unplugged from their mesmerized state. Our love for the world will prevent us from knowing God in any meaningful way and maybe prevent us from going to heaven. Our love for the world is kindled in us because we do not want to experience loss in our lives. We want what everyone else has and more. As Christians we must never allow the fear of loss in our lives move us out of God. The loss we should want to experience is the loss of our love for the world and our flesh. Did you know God measures our gain in Him by what we lose? We think God measures our gain in Him by what we can gain to our self, even spiritual things, but that is not true. God measures our gain in Him by how much of the world we can lose, how much of our: selfish, self-seeking, religious nature we can allow God to kill in us, and in that same amount of loss God can fill the loss with His goods. Fear of loss is rooted in greed and arrogance. We must never allow fear of any type control our lives. Prophetically speaking God’s message to His children today is fear not. This has always been God’s message and God changes not. From day one at Jesus’ birth the angels said, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) Fear not, no matter what the world is doing, fear not no matter what the news says, “fear not for behold (stop and look) I bring you good tiding of great joy.” The angels brought the good news of Jesus’ birth and a word to remove the fear. Lack of fear in our lives enables us to understand God’s plan for our lives. This is why it was important for the shepherds to “fear not” so they could understand the plan God had for His dear Son. So many Christians today operate in fear (in so many areas) and know not the plan God has for them, yet are praying and begging God to tell them what is going on. Well, God does not operate like that, oh no, He expects us to be in control of our emotions and thoughts so we will be able to function and flow with Him. Again it is our love for the world and for ourselves that keeps us in fear, believe it or not God has the remedy for our fear and that is affliction and darkness. Did you know God will put us into a fix so He can fix us? Jeremiah found that out and God brought him through the refining fire of darkness and fear. In Lamentations we read, “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not intolight. 3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. 4 My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.5 He hath builded against me, and compassed mewith gall and travail. 6 He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.” (Lamentations 3:1-8) I am sure Jeremiah was not full of himself when God finished with him. Jeremiah goes on for 54 verses to what God is doing to him. And then in verse 55 Jeremiah gets it, “I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. 56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.” (Lamentations 3:55-57) Fear is not God’s best way of getting our attentions, but please know God is not above using fear in our lives to get our attention and shut our mouth. I can personally speak of three times God used fear in my life to get me back on track. Fear will fill us (in this order greatest last) when we: lack time in service to Him and His people, lack time in studying the word of God, and most important lack time in communion (not communication, praying) with Him. When we lack in these areas there is a void in us (which once was filled with God) and now the lack in us is filled with fear and not the things of God. Fear fills us when we lack the things God has for us and of course our lack is based on us choosing not to do what God has asked us to do. Because we are nearing the end of the Church Age (I believe this with my whole heart) many are going through difficult and trying wilderness experiences which is a very good thing. These wilderness experiences are for a purpose that we must understand, if we are to be fully prepared for the outworking of our calling and ministry. When I was sharing in Silistra, Bulgaria I told the church that I never thought I would see the second coming of the LORD in my life time, but now I am not so sure. Things are moving at such an alarming rate in the world, that people (sinner and saints alike) cannot comprehend what God is doing so fear fills their lives, but this is not what the LORD wants for His children. Troubles and sorrows in our lives often begin in a wilderness experience – in the privacy of our personal relationship with the Lord (where separated from all else) we interact with Him alone. Jesus Himself was called apart into a desolate place for a very specific purpose and is the servant greater than the master? His response reveals the deep work of preparation that had taken place during his time in the wilderness. Jesus told us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The same thing the angel said, but this is a promise from God. Paul encouraged us, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) They meant it. The purpose of these wilderness experiences is to bring to nought our natural ability and fears into the place of complete dependence upon the LORD. Our greatest human ability can never accomplish the work God desires to do in us. We have to come to a place of emptiness, but this too can cause fear in us. God’s answer is His dealings and judgment in our lives as He is able to open up to us how much different His character and nature is so much different than ours. After all He made us and He knows our frame and infirmities. Now make no mistake my friends bad times are coming our way just read the Bible and if you do not agree you have been deceived (like the humanistic church who believes a great end-time revival is coming) by the gods of this world, but we have an assurance He will never leave us or forsake us when the tough times come our way. In Isaiah we read, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will bewith thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:1-2) We cannot stop the floods and fires coming our way they are coming no matter what we believe or say, but what matters is will we be full of fear when troubles comes our way or will we be full of faith knowing God is with us even if the floods overwhelm us and the fires scorch. This is the message I shared at Bethel church in Constanta, Romania they got it that night I could see it in their eyes and I could feel it in their hearts the only place that fear matters.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Broken
Experiences in our lives that break us–if we follow Jesus should make us more usable to GOD in HIS determination, not ours. If something breaks us and yet we aren’t humbled or more malleable to GOD, well that’s pretty much a wasted experience, The strong individual is a myth, oh maybe it’s a cultural ideology, but in GOD–HE doesn’t need our strength–we need HIS strength. The Bible tells us, “My grace is sufficient for thee: my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Bible also tells us “GOD resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). True inward strength which has been developed by difficulties, by bad (what we would call bad) outward experiences (if a Believer) should: 1) draw us closer to GOD and 2) be tempered with humility. If life has dealt a humble (a Believer) person a horrible blow, they quickly and immediately call on the LORD. We must look to our Brother Job who lost everything (sons and daughters, wealth, standing in life) in one day, then lost his health. How many of us could go through such tragedy and maintain our integrity and trust in the LORD? How many of us could handle the wretched, wrongful accusations Jesus was subject to? Never mind the barbaric whipping, beating, and crucifixion. Could we honestly say, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) I think not. And yet we’re supposed to be identified with Jesus in his sufferings–is the servant above the Master? You know our suffering is what GOD determines in our life, not us. God gets to pick the sacrifices, not us. However, due to poor choices we could very well bring suffering our way–especially if we don’t consult the LORD. LORD, should I do this or should I do that? Without asking the LORD we end up with self imposed suffering, but suffering that the LORD brings our way for HIS sake is different. Can we handle this with GOD’S grace, help, and remain humble and obedient? That indeed would be the mark of a true disciple of Jesus. God help us to get to that place. You probably know many people who have gone through much heartache, but in the heartache they stiffen their neck to the point their tragedy and heartache is practically a waste. And I think to myself my gosh what does it take to humble us? Folks, no matter what we go through we must humble ourselves, keep our eyes on Jesus, and keep plodding on until GOD calls us home. Jesus is the answer to everything in our lives. For those of you that are truly broken I leave you with the words of our dear friend Paul: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39) Nothing no nothing. Remember the broken alone are useful to God. PLOD ON!
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:
21 December 21 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:
December: Local Ministry
January: Local Ministry
February: 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/
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.
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