Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
July 2014 • Volume XII Number 11
“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. For the last few months we have been looking at the call of the apostles, but do you know you too are called as the Apostles were? Yes they have their special place in God’s good plan, but guess what so do you. Are the Apostles any more loved than you by God? No of course not. Is their salvation any better or deeper than yours? No of course not. The truth is God loves us all the same He is not a respecter of persons. We read this in the Book of Acts, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” (Acts 10:34) I am very glad that God’s love for us is not greater because of our abilities, talents, or even looks. God’s love for us is based on His love first. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us, but it was before the foundation of the world was laid. Brother John helps us here. In Revelation we read, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) Christ died for us before the world was formed. Again John tells us “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) So too is our call to ministry. God had a purpose and a plan for our salvation and if this be true (which it is) then our call to ministry is God’s idea and His call for us to ministry is based on God’s desire for us to minister and our obedience in response to His call. Now here is where the rubber meets the road. In Mark we read, “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.” (Mark 3:13) Here Jesus “called unto him whom he would” (Jesus did the selecting and calling not the apostles) and “they came unto him.” Jesus did the calling, but the apostles “came unto him” or responded to Jesus’ call. It amazes me how Jesus can call and people can reject His call. This happens all of the time. In church or any time when the Holy Spirit is moving (Jesus is calling), but people reject His call. There is a lot to be said about God’s longsuffering. But here in Mark the apostles responded to Jesus’ call and had an opportunity to walk, talk, and learn with Him. That is all God promises us when we answer His call. He does not promise us tomorrow, riches, fame, health, etc. all He promises us is He will never leave us or forsake us and if He is with us than we will have the opportunity to learn how to become like Him, the Father’s main goal in our lives. In Mark 3:14 we read the results of the obedience of the 12 apostles, even Judas. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,” (Mark 3:14) Now I do not know for sure since I was not there, but I think there were many more people in the race to be apostles. We know there were more than 12 disciples. In Luke we read, “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” (Luke 10:1) That would make 82 disciples not just 12. The number is not really important, but what was important was their willingness to go forth and preach. They were called. They knew they were called. They wanted to be called and they went. That was the expected response from man and God. From man the expected response is to expect God to call us because He has THE plan and purpose for our lives. From God He expects man to answer His call in obedience and then go forth where and how he is sent. Here too is where the rubber meets the road.
Next month we will finish up looking at the call of the Apostles by looking at how they were divinely equipped and how they were sent forth. Can you hear Him now?
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Character or Ability
The longer I go with God the more I am convinced God is more concerned with our character and how we do things for Him than what we do for Him and our abilities. After all our abilities and talents are God-given, so why do we think God is impressed? Why do we go after someone with great ability with our whole heart? I laugh in bewilderment when someone scores a touchdown or makes a basket and then they point upward with one finger towards the heavens as if to say God helped them score this touchdown, basket, or goal. God is not impressed by our physical abilities (that includes singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument), but He is very impressed with our ability to humble ourselves and our obedience. God is very impressed with our ability to allow Him to work in our lives so that He could conform us more and more into the image and character of His precious Son Jesus Christ. Now the word “character” in not found in the KJV per say, but the Scriptures of the KJV of the Bible speaks volumes to how much God is concerned about His children possessing Godly character and attributes. One of God’s greatest character attributes we can posses is being men and women of great integrity and honesty. Now this integrity and honesty comes out not by doing the right thing every time (something we must also daily do), but out from the “experiences” we have allowed God to take us through to develop and mature the character of our inward man. Paul in Romans shares these verses with us, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience (Strong’s #1832, proving, trial, approved, tried character, a proof, a specimen of tried worth); and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5) It is the “experience” in God we have that develops us, that matures us, that allows the revelation of God to grip our heart to such a degree of reality that nothing in this world would be able to move us out of the way God has for us to go. This “experience” (character) we read about in Romans 5:4 get’s its origin from the ancient world. In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into molds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called “dokimos” or “approved.” This is the type of life-style we are to live before God and the world. We are to be men and women of integrity, men and women of honor, and of good character. This character: proving, trial, approved, a specimen of tried worth is to go much deeper into the roots of our lives, even down into the recesses and corners of our need for righteousness and holiness. Paul told the Church at Corinth, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (character). 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) The Church at Corinth was over into some of the most vile despicable areas of sin the church has ever seen. Paul writes, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-16) It matters not how God uses us, but it matters how we do the things for God; are our motives and intentions pure? It is so easy to be deceived if we do not allow God to work in our lives bringing us to the truth. The truth of the Holy Scriptures does not come to us by way of good works at church or even joining a major denomination, but by allowing God to open His word in the Holy Bible and His words He speaks to our heart through the precious Holy Spirit. So many in the church and in the world are deceived and need to “Awake to righteousness and sin not.” It is the issues around our character God draws close attention to in our lives. Sadly Michael Jackson, the king of pop music passed away a few years ago. I say sadly because by his life he was not too concerned with the things of God. Oh he was a great singer and dancer and made millions maybe billions of dollars in his life time, but when he stood before God the day he died the standard of judgment was not how well he could sing and dance, but how much of God’s character did he possess? What was his relationship with God? Again it does not matter what man says about you or what you have done while on earth, what matters is “how” you do things for God and how much of God’s character you have allowed Him to work into your life. Reality and truth is always seen through the eyes of God. Truth is always from God’s word and perspective and if our lives do not align with God’s perspective and word then all we do with our time on earth is for naught. When I first heard Michael Jackson was taken to the hospital I shot a quick prayer up for mercy, but the Lord brought the first ½ of this Scripture to my mind, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God is long suffering, but there is a time God says enough. God knows the past and future, He has a plan and He will bring it all to pass. Now I am not saying Michael Jackson is in Hell, I do not know for sure, God is God and He gets to make that call. Hell is such a horrible place, I cannot imagine such a horrible place and wish no one would go there, but we know people daily do. But if we take a truthful look at Michael Jackson’s life we will see it was full of things that run contrary to the word of God. The international media and Hollywood and world entertainers are praising Michael Jackson for his revolutionary and innovative dancing skills and unbelievable voice, but that is not what God is saying about him. Please reread 1 Corinthians 2:9-16. We often do not apply these verses to God’s judgment, but that is what these verses are talking about. Who are those people who have missed out on what God has prepared for them? (verse nine) And why? Because, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Men who have not allowed God to work in their lives, men who go after the praises of the world more than the praises of God thus have missed out on life eternal with God. Oh they have life eternal, but it is not spent with God, but in Hell. The Bibles teaches “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalms 9:17) There are over 54 verses in the Scriptures that speak of Hell. My friend Hell is a real place as much as Heaven is. I really feel bad for Michael Jackson because I believe he was in great jeopardy of going to Hell like all who reject Jesus Christ. I really believe Michael Jackson opened himself up to demon oppression when he did the video “Thriller.” As Hell is real so are demons and if we open ourselves they and 1,000s of their cohorts will fill our mind and spirit. Tens of millions of people hailed him king, but if the world is running (that means in the religious Christian world too) after you and calling you king please know God is not. I cannot believe the number people on TV saying they did not want to live knowing Michael Jackson was dead, they need to find the real King of the world Jesus Christ. Even today “Thriller” is still the number one selling album of all times in the world. Men and women (both young and old) today are still hooked by the demonic spirits that projects Michael Jackson’s music around the world; chief of these demons are the spirits of homosexuality. The longer one goes towards the world and away from God the easier it is to see, not judgment per say, but spiritually discern their life. The world called him the king of pop music, but sadly in reality Michael Jackson died a premature death leaving behind three children, weighing 112 pounds, with needle holes all over his body, almost bald, living in fear and confusion (no wonder his heart failed him) from many allegations of pedophilia, homosexuality, being 500 million dollars in bankruptcy, and having to take a medicine cabinet full of medications to find rest when all he had to do was turn his life and heart to Jesus Christ the real King of the world. He started out a good looking black man being raised by a Christian mother in the conservative heart-land State of Indiana, but ended up in the weird, freakish, anything goes very liberal State of California. His fifteen facial surgeries disfigured his face to the point he appeared clown-like. His bizarre thinking of reality opened him up to throngs of people abusing his generosity on a day-to-day basis. The world calls his life a success, but the word of God calls it sin and shameful. And his life was out from the choices he made, so too we will end up from the choices we make. Michael Michael, oh how I hope you are not in hell. I would not wish anyone to go to hell, but if so it happens out from the ungodly choices they make in life. Let us not follow the example of Michael Jackson and take a chance with our eternal soul, but allow God to so work in our lives so that we will come to know the truth of the word of God and escape Hell’s eternal flames and torment. My friend God is concerned about our character and not our abilities. God cares about us drawing near to Him and not the world. Have we allowed God to test us by fire and trials like the coins? The truth we hold in our heart will be seen for all the world to see and hear. I was checking out my new free self-crank radio and I stopped on a Christian radio station. The speaker was talking (like everybody else in the media) about Michael Jackson and said, “we usually do not play Michael Jackson’s music on our station, but in honor of his death we are going to dedicate the next three days to his music.” How they compromised the truth of the message of the Gospel, for what? They replaced God’s message with a worldly entertainer all for the popularity and air-time, like the throngs of people who took advantage of him in life also took advantage of him in death. God is really watching and listening to what we are doing. Now please do not misunderstand me I am not beating up on Michael Jackson it is too late for him, he will receive the rewards of his choices. But I am warning those who are still alive; take heed, take heed, take heed to ourselves and our relationship with God. Who cares if we are the best singer or dancer in the world? What profit are these when we stand before God? “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34-37) On judgment day God will not be asking us what we did while on earth, He will already know.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Timing is Every Thing
I am ever amazed at how God times things. Dave and I attended church on Mother’s Day Sunday and at the request of the Pastor stayed afterwards to have some cake and fellowship. We stayed a bit, talked, and ate yummy cake then left. On the way out, the Pastors wife handed me a lovely bouquet of flowers. As much as we appreciated them I didn’t feel that I should keep them as Dave bought me flowers the day before and so did Connie, so I was wracking my brain trying to think of whom to give them to. Dave was thinking the same thing. So we started discussing the flowers and suddenly a thought popped into my head to take the flowers to the Wal-Mart parking lot to give away. Both of us were in agreement. As Dave pulled into the huge parking lot he went down to the end of the rows so he could make a total pass when saw a lady quickly walking to her car and he said “how about her?” We pulled up almost behind her, Dave jumped out of the truck, ran up to her window as she was starting to pull out of her parking space. He knocked on her window and she opened her door. Dave handed her the flowers and said “these are for you, Happy Mother’s Day.” The lady said, “for me?” Dave said again, “yes these are for you.” Well the lady started to cry and told Dave, “you don’t know this, but I had just lost my daughter, these flowers are from her.” We left, both stunned at what had just transpired. Had we left earlier or later from the church we would’ve missed that lady. We didn’t know that precious soul and she didn’t know us but GOD knew that she needed some Mother’s Day flowers. Folks, just because GOD is silent doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear or know what is going on. GOD sees and hears all and orchestrates things for his glory and our or someone else’s benefit. I learned while we lived in Germany that sometimes the best made plans sometimes get a wrench thrown in them. On more than one occasion we’d try to get out the door to go somewhere and it seemed like we just couldn’t get out of the house. I remember one specific incident where had we left the house when we wanted to we would’ve been in a big accident. We had missed it by minutes. We were trying and trying to leave on time, but we just couldn’t. Those of you who know us personally know our military background and the punctuality that goes with that. There’s an old saying man makes plans and GOD laughs, so true. In the words of Charles Haun we as Christians need to just “go along for the ride.” For when we do, God will open the doors that He wants us to go through.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Included now are missionaries from Romania Nicu and Elena. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and George Ritisan at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School and the Faru (Lighthouse) Church.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel 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. Pastor Metin Mintaz, 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 Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
Next Home Group Meeting:
Our next Home Group Meeting will be 22 July 2014
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Home: (910) 741-0489
at 7:00 pm, please RSVP
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
July: Local Ministry
August: Local Ministry
September: 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:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
The AuthorHouse 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. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
