Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
March 2011 • Volume IX Number 7
“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. Let us finish looking at the essential attributes of God as we look at the most important attribute, God’s holiness. Now we read in the Bible that God is holy and many preachers and teachers spend hours of ministry conveying this attribute, but most Christians really do not believe it because if we did we would live our lives much differently than we do. Now we think we can be good enough (do not need to live a holy life) and see God or we can work our way to heaven like most religions and denominations teach today and see God, but that is not what God says. Peter tells us, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Now the word “conversation” here has nothing to do with speech, but refers to our life-style and behavior. Read that in now, “so be ye holy in all manner of life-style and behavior.” My friend if our life style and behavior is not holy then it is unclean. Paul helps us here when he said, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.” (1Thessalonians 3:7-8) Our lives (as Christians) is to be sanctified, set apart from the world unto God and God alone. A holy generation unto the LORD, yet that is not the picture we see of the church collectively. Most Christians are so plugged into the world they know not this critical attribute or desire to have it moving in their lives. We think by going to church every Sunday and Wednesday, speaking in tongues, singing in the choir, doing some good works, or paying our tithes God is going to usher us all into heaven, well those are not the requirements to see the LORD. Funny how man has a works mentality, but that is not what God wants to see, oh no my friend God wants us to become something in Him not do something for Him.
There are only two requirements we must meet to be able to see the LORD. The writer to the Hebrews gives us these requirements, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14) “Follow peace with all men” and yes you guessed it “holiness.” Now the first requirement we often can meet in our self-fortitude and strength, but the second “holiness” can only be completed in us by God’s dealings and judgments in our life. We must become the work of God (Ephesians 2:10) and we must allow God right of way to do this critical work in our lives. We must have the revelation of who we are apart from God and His holiness to be able to be holy as God is holy. In Isaiah six we read where Isaiah had this revelation and he changed inwardly. Unless we have this revelation we will never be changed where we can see God, where we will be holy. Isaiah says, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5) When we really see the LORD in all of His beauty and glory our minds will open up to this understanding and to the need to become like Him, holy. Also it will give us a desire to endure the chastening of the Lord. “Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:6-7) Without this chastening of the LORD or purging of our sin there is no way we can be holy. And if we never become (a process of God working in our lives) we will NEVER see God now on earth and in the next life to come.
Next month we will begin to look at God’s faculties of communication with us.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Facing the Truth
One of the greatest revelations we will ever discover is how we embrace the truth of God in our lives. We all like to believe we know the truth, but in reality believing is not enough, we must know the truth. Knowing the truth, like our walk with the Lord, is a continuous process as we “ . . . grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) If we can learn this simple point we too will know truth in a deeper and fuller way. One of the first things we must learn about truth is; it is always from God’s perspective and always progressive. Truth is never ours to own, but ours to use to open up God’s grace to us. What I knew 20, 30, even 40 years ago about God and His ways are different to me today. God has added understanding while subtracting my presumption. This is how the Lord can kill and yet make us alive. (Deuteronomy 32:39)
While we were living in Germany and while I was still pastoring I was invited to a gathering of religions to come and defend the Gospel message. I thought the Gospel message needs no defense, God does a great job in defending His own word. But now I see why I felt to go and speak. At the meetings there were: Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, Taoist, African Witchdoctors, and many more religions I have never heard of. It was fancy, well catered, and very well attended. Each in turn took their turn in speaking about their religion and why people need to convert to their thinking and ways before it is too late. As I was sitting there the Lord spoke to me and said, “they will not change unless they can realize they have been lied to all of their lives.” When it was my turn I spoke on truth from one verse from John, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) I told all of the other religions Jesus was the only way to God (the Father). Well you can guess what happened, just like today when we speak what we have heard from God (the truth) some speak harshly, full of wrath, and get jealous wanting to distance themselves from us and our ministry, but in reality it is the truth that has offended them and since they know little of the truth they vent their frustrations and presumption toward us. Jesus told the truth and they physically killed Him. My friend if you tell the truth they too may kill you. Jesus time and time again told the disciples not to be surprised when people speak against you. But this thought of needing to realize they have been lied to before they can receive the Gospel message really captured my thought for years and to be honest it still does today. And this truth has not changed. As we sit in many churches around the world we see and hear things that are not true. And for the people to reject them, so they can move in the truth when the Holy Spirit touches their understanding, they must come to the cold, hard fact that the man of God (whomever) has lied to them maybe all of their lives. Now this is a very difficult thing to do. Most people do not have the inward strength to say I have been lied to all of these years and now I will change. It is far easier to continue in the lie than to suffer the shame and loss of humiliation and pride. And worse yet, if our parents have been faithful in taking us to church (or wherever) all of our lives, when the Holy Spirit touches our understanding, we learn they too have lied to us all of our lives. How can we face the truth about people we love and look up to when we learn they have lied to us and led us astray of the truth. Most children do not have the ability, inward strength, and love for their parents to confront them not in vengeances or hatred, but in love to see them changed in God too. It takes God strengthening us in the inward parts to be able to realize we have been lied to all of our lives and then turn from the lie and move now in the glorious truth of the word of God.
On the same note I am very puzzled how the different American denominations each can say they have the truth, everyone else is wrong, and are going to hell useless they join their church to believe like them. I have heard this song and dance for years. Strange how the truth from the word of God has divided people out into different groups or maybe it is not the truth, but other words that have been painted and primped up to represent truth. Never forget what God said is the truth, the Scriptures and the words He speaks to us, everything else often is our (me too) selfish and self-centered attempt to ascend into the heavens (like the Angel Lucifer) making an emotional approach to God with our feelings, intellect, or worse using the truth to manipulate people to get them to do things. When Jesus stood before Pilate He defined something greater than what truth was, He defined who was of the truth, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:37-38) Pilate heard Jesus speak (face-to-face) and knew He was the King of kings, this is why he could say, “I find in him no fault at all.” He knew Jesus was Caesar and so much more. My friend hearing God’s words (not other’s words) is the key to knowing the truth. But please notice Jesus never answered Pilate’s question. I wonder why not? Because truth is owned by God and He will tell us what He wants us to know. This is why hearing correctly is so important to our spiritual growth and development. And this is why our revelation of God matters, like our teachers. For the one who has a greater, deeper (which is down) revelation of God will walk and teach a greater and deeper understanding of restrictions and limitations, the place of God’s completion and fulfillment for our lives. The babes in Christ will walk and preach a hip, cool, liberty freedom message appealing to man’s carnal nature, logic, and reasoning are non-spiritual pointing people to God through their emotions, and it always seems they persecute those who have a greater and deeper revelation. This my friend is not what God is looking for.
It seems most disagreements in the church today happen not around the absolutes (the tenants of the faith) of the Gospel message, but around how the optionals (the taste not, feel not, handle not of the faith) are used to share the Gospel message. My friend truth never changes, nor does God, His word, and His ways to share the Gospel message. The Gospel message is designed by God to be shared one-on-one in spoken and written word, period full stop. The fancier we get the less God is involved. Remember if the world is running after your church or latest book God is not. I still say the more we use technology to share the Gospel message the less of God is in us. Often times the optionals become absolutes and the absolutes become optionals and when this happens there is a conflict in the Spirit and those not of the Spirit of God will get offended, stumble, and fall out of the way, but this can be a good thing if the lesson of offense is learned. It never fails when I write about our critical need for standards, righteousness, and holiness I get attacked by a handful of folks that say I am being legalistic or condemning, well this my friend is nothing more than a sign of them not really knowing the truth. To be honest I like it when someone tells me I am too condemning or legalistic, because I know the truth and I know I have done my job to share the truth with them and now the truth is a mirror (cleaned by the washing of the word of God and polished by the precious Holy Spirit) for them to look deep to expose areas in theirs lives (that includes me too) that only the power of God can change. If not we will be stuck in some dead-end denomination, religion, or maybe a cult that talks about the truth and evens preaches sermons about the truth, but knows nothing of the truth. Truth my friend is to convict us (a most edifying and uplifting work of God in our lives) and bring us to the revelation of who we are apart from Jesus Christ so that we can realize our eternal need for salvation, which is much more than having our sins forgiven. The chief job of the Holy Spirit (someone most denominations know only in word) is to convict or reprove us so that we will know the truth, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11) And to lead and guide us to all truth. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:12-13) A person, church, denomination, or religion without this element of God’s grace moving in it is following a false doctrine. Remember, a lie mixed with a little truth is always a lie. And for a lie to be received it must have an element of truth moving in it. This is why churches around the world are full of well meaning folks, but lost to the truth of the word of God. If the message is God loves you (which He does) (the truth), He is going to give you a chicken in every pot, and a new car every year, or you have great freedom to say and do whatever you want (the lie), well you have been deceived and the truth is not in you for these are not totally words of truth.
Beloved let us allow the Holy Spirit to open up the truth to us. Oh we say we want this, but our actions (me too) speak louder than our words. How do we resist the Holy Spirit one would ask? Not by saying I resist you, but by every time He brings the truth to us and we turn it aside. Every time the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and we do not agree. Every time He touches us and opens up our understanding to the truth and we reject it. The handful of folks that reject our writings are not rejecting us, but the words God is speaking through us. The Children of Israel thought they were rebelling against Moses, but in reality were rebelling against God, a big mistake. You can ask Korah and the 250 Elders. Every time the Holy Spirit comes to us and we know the truth, but reject it because we do not want to suffer loss in our self. And especially when the Holy Spirit comes to us with truth and we see (understand) it but do not receive it because we refuse to admit someone like our pastor or even our parents has lied to us for years, maybe all of our lives. Only if we allow God to strengthen us can we handle truth, if not truth will kill us and not make us alive. We must accept His word to us and face the truth, if not there will be no change in us and we will lose everything starting with each relationship we have. If not we will stay in a dead-end denomination or religion working for God, but never becoming the work of God (Ephesians 2:10). What is truth? Jesus, said, “I am the truth . . . .” But know this we must face the truth some day. All will stand before God, sinner and saint alike. It is better we face the truth now because later will cost us dearly.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN
Skin Deep
Paul wrote to Timothy “…that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). On the cover of a recent VOM (The Voice of the Martyrs) magazine was a young woman from Indonesia who had received severe burns to her face while escaping her village because of Muslim attacks. At first glance one would recoil at the sight of the poor girl who was much prettier before the burns. But on closer inspection of the photo you can’t help but be drawn to the lovely spirit that comes out through her smile. She had been through so much and yet the love of the Lord shines through. “For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.” (Psalms 149: 4) Shame on us vain women! Folks beauty is only skin deep; burns, disease, accidents, etc. all can alter our appearance significantly and quickly. How much better would it be if we put as much effort into our souls as we do our face and hair? How often have we come across Christian women who have perfectly coiffed hair, nice manicures smell good, perfect makeup and yet they hide a heart black with sin. What is the point of looking good if it only masks a heart of envy, pride, hate, deceit, rebellion, and disobedience . . . well you get the picture.
Jesus told the Pharisees, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” (Matthew 23:25-26) Here Jesus said we must clean that “which is within the cup” (the inward man) so that the outside (the outward man) “may be clean also.” If we never allow God to clean our heart we will never have (no matter how much make-up we put on) a clean outward appearance. We will be dirty, filthy in thought and appearance. We deceive ourselves if we think the outside looks good—then surely the inside must be good if not great. Who are we kidding? As if people can’t see though us. Let’s get the inside right and worry about the outside later. At a dermatology appointment Dave and I saw brochures for Botox injections, laser treatments, and other treatments to get rid of wrinkles. Are we that shallow? If we looked like we just stepped off the cover of Vogue Magazine will that help us come judgment day? Can all of those creams, make-up, plastic surgery, lotions and potions, give us an edge with God? Do we think He’ll be impressed? As much as we spend on cosmetics, jewelry, clothes, nail salons, and etc. do we spend the same amount of money on worthy charities and offerings? I doubt it.
Vanity and selfishness go hand in hand. Do all of these goofy magazines make you a better Christian? Do you read your Bible as often as you read those dumb magazines? Look those magazines are after your money they could give a flying flip if you died tomorrow and went to hell. The spirit driving most magazines is hardly godly. In fact most are probably demonic. Now I’m not saying we shouldn’t groom ourselves and look presentable, but we surely don’t have to go overboard. On the other hand shunning cosmetics and haircuts doesn’t guarantee holiness or godliness either. I’ve seen plenty of plain women with no frills, long hair down past their waist and just as unrighteous and ungodly as their foo-foo’d counterparts. Thinking that you are holy because you wear long skirts, don’t smoke, drink, don’t cuss, don’t cut your hair, all the while looking down your nose at everyone else is religious pride, please go back to Matthew 23: 25-26. Trust me you haven’t arrived at total holiness. It’s about the heart!!! It’s not about the outside, it’s about the inside. God doesn’t give a flying flip if we wear make-up or not. But He does care about our character. As Paul said in 1 Peter, “even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3:4). God does care how we treat our husbands. God does care how we treat our family and friends. What if God allowed our husbands to judge us? What if we could only enter the “Pearly Gates” on our husbands say so? Boy wouldn’t we change our tune and sing a different song? Folks, life is too short let’s get it right before it’s too late. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. Let’s put Christ first and our self last. Remember the word JOY: Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Let us worry about the things that please God and our husbands, let us keep our hearts on the straight and narrow.
Written by Karen Stahl
DEAR FRIENDS:
Well ¼ of 2011 is almost over and still no confirmed plans to travel abroad. Now we have plenty of invitations; even some new ones to Peru (we have never been to South America) and Mozambique, but here we sit doing what God has for us to do. Karen and I (well maybe me more than Karen) have a great desire to travel aboard again and we both believe we will travel sometime in 2011, but until then we wait and desire to be found pleasing in God’s sight in the things He has for us to do. Waiting is the place of receiving in God, but it is not just waiting, but waiting and doing what God wants us to be doing while we wait. When I travel to Africa I tell the story of how while pastoring in Germany our church would take up our tithes and offerings by singing the song Mumbo Sawa Sawa (things are getting better), an East African Swahili song. Now when I would say this the church full of Africans would jump to their feet and start singing and dancing. After awhile they would calm down and I would tell them (I really believe this) I believe the heavenly choir will be led by an African. God has put something in Africans He did not put in me or most white people. Well you should have seen them jump to their feet, sing and dance even harder (if that was possible) then after some time they would calm down, now I can get some truth into them. I would then point to the person leading the song service and say maybe it will be Brother John, but no matter who it is they will get that position not because they are African, but because they have qualified for the position. Not much jumping and dancing now. To get this position in heaven the person will have to do the things God has wanted him to do. They will have to say and do what God wanted them to do and say, they had to be approved by God. My friend did you know we must qualify or approve ourselves in God’s plans for our life so that we can walk in other things for the future? God is not going to give us greater things to do for Him if we cannot handle what He has already given us. No matter what it is God has a process for us to operate in and we must be found faithfully abiding. No matter what we did in past times for God, no matter what level of success we have won for Christ in the past this does not matter, but what matters is how we are functioning in what God wants for our lives now: Ministering the word of God locally, keeping our newsletter, books, articles, and blog current, holding monthly home group meetings in our home, helping other ministries to send containers full of materials abroad, keeping our clinics in Aveile, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia up and running, helping the radio station in Kathmandu, Nepal continue to touch lives, not to mention the more important things like living a Christian life before the world and loving my wife and family with all of my heart. As we do these things (the things God has for our lives now) and are found faithful in them God will approve us for the next things He has for us to do. It may be travelling abroad again, if so glory be to God, if not glory be to God, but whatsoever is next for us will be glory be to God.
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and Pastor Yanko. Times are troubled in Bulgaria and need much prayer.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastor George Ritisan at Lighthouse Church, and Ciprian Bozdod at the Mission Bible School. They too are expanding making more room for God and ministry to Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Asia.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Pastor Marcel at St. Andrews Church. St. Andrews is still a key brick in the wall of God to the nations of Eastern Europe.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support. Kenya has seen much change and experienced much upheaval, they need your prayers for safety.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. A concrete wall is needed to provide physical security to the clinic due to the political unrest and poverty. The wall and labor will cost over $8,000. We needs your 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. Financial support for the printing of “Wandering in the Wilderness: Call to Ministry.”
8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
9. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
10. Major Robin McIntosh, Chaplin, Gatwick Airport, Salvation Army, London, England.
11. Monthly financial support Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
12. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
13. Pastor Sharief Ramsis, Khartoum Evangelical Church, (his Church) and their feeding and lodging ministry of the 1000s of children from the famine and war regions.
14. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), Mashuli Etienne, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda, and the plans for a Bible School and K-12 school.
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
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
Our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration” has been published by AuthorHouse, where you can also purchase it online. You can also purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
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.
We are projecting to use the royalties for: our maternity clinic in Aveile, Nigeria, radio station in Katmandu, Nepal, TB clinics in Ethiopia, and Lord willing the Bible Schools in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Congo, and to help publish more books. We have five more books at different stages of production. 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.
