Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
May 2011 • Volume IX Number 09
“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 continue to examine God’s faculties of communication. Now last month we defined the word “faculties” that means of our natural powers: sense, speech, taste, touch, etc. Last month we looked at hearing, how God hears everything we say. Now I do not know about you my friend, but that truly gives me pause for great concern knowing God hears every word I say. Oh I believe that in my mind and in my reasoning, but for it to really have benefit in my life it must take root in my heart. And if it does I will hear a noticeable change in my speech (word selection) and attitudes. Funny how the words we use affects our attitudes. We can even see this in the delivery of the Gospel (good news) message. If we use the hip, vogue, impersonal words of today then we will have a flippant message that will appeal only to the young and those older folks who want to be young at heart and in dress and thinking.
We must season our words with wisdom and relevance; words that leave no mistake to what is the righteous message of Christ. I am ever amazed to hear evangelists, pastors, preachers, and teachers mix the now cool popular terminology with the Bible. One is earthly the other is heavenly and they are opposite. One is flesh and the other is Spirit. If you use fleshly terminology to win people to Christ, you cannot you have only won them to fleshy earthly thinking.Now knowing God hears everything we say the same holds true that God see’s everything we do. Again this should give us great pause in our lives. Solomon writes, “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” (Proverbs 5:21) Everything we do in all of our ways are ever before God. The word “ways” has a few meanings. One for example, there are a few ways to drive to New York City, but the main meaning Solomon was expressing is the way we do things; our motives, attitudes, hopes, dreams, intentions for doing the things we do are “before the eyes of the LORD” and “he (God) pondereth all his goings.” Now that is not God’s goings, but man’s. God knows where He is going; this is a central theme we must embrace as God’s children, but man’s ways are dark to him all the days of his life. Unless God shines His light of understanding in our lives we will always walk in darkness, but once the light of the Gospel grips our heart then God can reveal to us our heart (and how much we are not like His precious Son Jesus Christ) one of the greatest revelations we can ever receive.
Isaiah writes, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) The “we” is you and I and God has “laid on him (Jesus Christ on the cross) the iniquity of us all” which is the heart of the Gospel message. So God sees everything we do. Also in Proverbs we read, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3) God is everywhere and watching. Oh how the childhood songs come back to me; Oh be careful little mouth was you say, be careful little eyes what you see for the Father up above is looking down with love oh be careful little mouth what you say. You know if we really believed this song we would most certainly live our lives much different. Oh we say we believe, but the proof is in the living of our lives and not the words. The Scriptures are full of verses that teach us God eyes our ways, I wonder if this is an important message for us to learn? In 2 Chronicles we read, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) Here God has a reason to have His eyes on us, “to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him.” God is ever watching what we do and more importantly how we do things. Do we do things for the right reasons, with the right motives, what are our intentions for serving the Lord is it money, fire insurance (not to go to hell) or maybe to become popular and powerful? Or do we need the strength that the LORD promises us in this verse? If we are serving God for anything other than, “because He loved us first,” then we are serving God out of a selfish, self-centered heart condition.
Jesus told the disciples, “But I say unto you, That every idle (having no use or value, worthless) word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36) If we are going to give account of every idle word (and either be justified or condemned) why would we think God is not watching to see what we do after we speak? This my friend is serious business, let us pay attention to the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart. David said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) This my friend MUST be our prayer too, because God is listening. Next month we will take a look at smell.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
The Money is in the Fish
When we lived in Germany while I was pastoring we would have some great Bible teachers and some groups from the States come through our church on their way to more austere places to share the wondrous Gospel message. Like any ministry when starting up, money and people are always a challenge to find and seem to hide themselves, but if really called of God both will uncover themselves when the Lord directs. Beholding His Glory (BHG) does not have a lot of supporters; as a matter of fact at no time in the last seven years has BHG had two churches supporting BHG. Almost all support comes from dedicated men and women who are led by the Holy Spirit to support His work (when the support is needed) around the world. BHG does not have a big bank account to wheel and deal with, but monthly supports clinics (a maternity in Nigeria and two tuberculosis in Ethiopia) in Africa, a radio station in Nepal and enough to keep our website, blog, newsletter, books, and other writings alive. Even our travels to the nations are funded by people who have a heart for sharing the Gospel to the ends of the world. Do you know where the end of the world is? I know. If you want to know please contact me and I will tell you where I have experienced the end of the world. Now I really like the way the Lord does this. Why do I need a bunch of money in the bank? He has handsomely met our family needs and I know He will meet our ministry needs. It seems when we compile a bunch of money to put in the bank we start to think of things we want to do and not the things God wants us to do. The model of church or ministry funding in the Bible is one local Body of Christ (church) directly blessing another local Body of Christ or ministry. I do not see the model in the Bible where one church feeds a bank account that can be joined with other’s money to have greater purchasing power in the market place. This seems to me to be more a worldly approach with compounding interest, people to manage it, having to decide who gets what piece of the pie, and so many more pitfalls.
The Body of Christ is a spiritual Body and God’s ways are not our ways nor is His ways the ways of the world. The reason for God’s one-on-one approach is because of the Godly relationship that is to come out of it. Always remember, all Godly ministry comes out of Godly relationship. If there is only a money bridge connection not much Godly ministry is going to happen. God is always more concerned about our relationships than our money. The longer I go in the Lord the more I am convinced of this point. I believe the Lord really likes it when we first start something up that He has asked us to do. It is not seeing the thing He has asked us to do come alive, but the work God can do in our lives as we struggle (and sometimes flounder, but not sink) like a seed fighting to push its way up through the soil. During this time the Lord is teaching us to depend on Him as our source of all resources and provision. During the early times we are lean and hungry for God, but too often when we get established we get fat with money in the bank we can get complacent and even begin to compromise what we have been taught by God. God’s strong arm of strength is replaced with the weak arm of the flesh of man and his money. If God cannot teach us to depend on Him to be our all and all then He really cannot use us, we disqualify our self for service. Take heed here my friends who minister. If our ministry in built on the goodness of man, good works, and not the dealings, judgments, and lessons of God then they are doomed to failure. I promise you my friend, your friends will turn their backs on you at some point; you can ask Job and with the turning of their backs is also the turning away of any support they gave God, not you. Never forget a true man of God realizes money given to his ministry is not given to the minister, but is given to God. Please take heed not to wrongly touch God’s three “Gs.” God’s girls, God’s gold, and God’s glory. And words do matter, so if someone or some church (who supports you) says they are giving money to you, in love please correct them.
Remember, we can share pure truth, but if the end result is not love than the truth will not avail for much in lives. Now please understand love has many edges that is meant by God to cut us to the heart. Like truth which often cuts us in layers; sometimes very fine, but at other times truth viscous lays us open to the bone. We think love is soft, warm, fuzzy, and good, but most often love is hard, prickly, strong, and edifying. This is where real spiritual growth and development happens. Paul shared this very critical, but deeply misunderstood truth in the church today, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) The truth hurts! The truth is to kill us, but if we are obedient to God the same truth that killed us will make us alive. But sadly we see churches teaching only parts of the whole counsel of God, and why? Who wants to find the truth about themselves as compared to Jesus Christ? It is scary to find out who we really are. Most Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, and Christians do not know who they really are because they have not allowed God to deal and judge in their lives. It is much easier being someone else you like on TV, or have read about in a book, or even endearing yourself to the “beautiful people” by spouting out cool and hip sayings of the world. Teaching (the message of the cross) or “speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things” does not put butts in the seats. Teaching (self-sacrifice) or “speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things” truth does not fill offering plates. Teaching (discipline and death to self) or “speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things” will not allow you to run the church the way you want it to go. After all who (believe it or not I do) wants to be told they are wrong and need to change in some areas? My friend be not concerned about the deceitfulness of your friends, but be more concerned what God says about you. He will repay their evil in due time, God is not mocked nor is His children. Our part is to keep our heart pure and our hands clean with a right heart condition toward them.
Every year Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart (our church in Germany) would have an old-fashion American style picnic in a huge park outside of Stuttgart called Max-Eyth-See. This was the park all of the Auslanders (foreigners) would go to grill out, play soccer, spend time with families, and just get away from things for awhile. Auslanders have it very tough in Germany. The first couple of years funding this picnic was a struggle. We would spend 1,000s of Deutsche Marks (2 DM to 1 US) buying food (chicken, steak, beans, chips, drinks, all of the trimmings), renting and sitting up tents, our praise and worship team would play and sing, and of course we would play a soccer tournament. You cannot have a picnic in Germany and not play soccer. We would feed all in the park (100s) for free, the cost was huge without any return on our investment or so I thought. This is God’s economy of His mathematics. The things we do for God are not about adding, but mostly subtracting. In God we progress not by what we add to our selves, but what of our self we can lose. In God spiritual growth and development happens not in gaining to our self or increasing in our skills or abilities, but in losing; our selfishness, our presumption, our self-seeking, our wrath, our anger, and so much more. Did you know God had to deal with my motives and desires for why we were having the picnic. I thought we were going to add more people to our church (like many other churches), but that was not God’s idea. God’s idea was to build on and strengthen the relationships already established and tear down some so that He can build a new in some. Did you know God starts building by tearing down? God does not build on another’s foundation. People that come as a visitor to a church are given to out from the relationships within the church. If the relationships are unhealthy and are not established in God then the new people that come to a church are given a sickness (even unto death) from the dysfunctional relationships. I have seen this truth operate too many times in many churches around the world. Often churches have well tuned programs to cover up for unhealthy relationships, but you know people are savvy, this is why people come and go from church to another church. In Kenya there is a term for this called churching. Or why people stay for awhile, but when they see the true heart and relationships within the church, they suddenly leave and no one notices they have departed. The heart of every church is not the good works, but the relationships. We must guard with all diligence our hearts, our relationships, and make very sure our relationships are established in God full of honesty, honor, and integrity and not established on a religious denominational or non-denominational system of programs. The measure of success is not the results of how many people were saved, baptized, joined the church, money taken in for missions or to keep up an ever decaying building, but how all of these good works were done. Remember, in God it does not matter what you do for Him, but how you do it for Him. Our motives, ambitions, and desires are what God is looking at. Jesus told the disciples, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:16-17) The focus is not hearing (doing), but “take heed therefore how ye hear.” Do we hear with the right heart condition, right motives, and with the right desires. How can we give the life of God to new people that come to our churches if we have ought in our heart towards the Brethren? We give what is in our heart. And please know, we cannot give from our hearts selectively by person it is all or nothing. Jesus taught, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37) What is the “abundance” that fills our heart? There is so much lack here in the Body of Christ, Lord please help us.
Anyhow one year a very successful pastor from SC brought a group through when we were planning the picnic at Max-Eyth-See and asked how we pay for all of the expenses. I told him God will provide. Well his response was, the money is in the fish and went into the story of Jesus commanding Peter to go fishing for the tribute or taxes they owed, “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them (those who collect the tribute or taxes) go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:27) He said the Lord showed him the money is in the fish. The people are fish and they have the money. And if you get the people then you will get the money. I thought to myself what a crock of crap. I could not believe he would say such a thing, but worse he was serious about it. I said, well I will look at it and hold it before the Lord. I did for about a nanosecond. But, through this talk I sadly saw this is the spirit and heart of most churches in America for evangelism. Now I am not saying all churches, but I am saying most churches. Remember if the shoe fits, change it; if not then pray for those churches who run after money and numbers. Get the people and you get their money. Get the kids, you get the parents, and then you get the money. Brethren this ought not to be. I have seen this time and time again. This is not God’s idea of evangelism. You know after God dealt with me and adjusted my thinking, priorities, and motives the annual picnic was such a joy (not happiness which is situation dependent) to do. We did go fishing, but we were after fish not people or money. And guess what, our church took off what fellowship and communion we had. Funding the picnic was never a problem. God brought teams from all over the world to come and help pay for and help pray with the people that responded to “real love.” You know when things are given free to us like salvation we can see the price paid and the commitment and dedication given by others, maybe that is why we respond.
Written by David Stahl
DEAR FRIENDS:
God often speaks to us in ways and if we are not careful we will miss His words. One way God speaks to us is through nature. Just look at how water makes no resistance against the rocks yet the water always wins. How trees grow and no one knows when, a real mystery. How trees seemingly stand and do nothing, but inside the tree is lifting gallons and gallons of water up to the top and then to the bottom 24 hours a day. Even with deadly storms God speaks loud and clear to man. We humans are funny, we think we are in-charge of things on earth, well God will let us run the show until we get too far off track and then He reins us in by demonstrating to us His power and authority. In the Book of Job (the oldest Book in the Bible) God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind; for us today that would be a tornado. After all that Job went through; losing his family (except his wife), his worldly wealth, most of his friends, and even his good name Job came to a place where God had to get his attention, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” (Job 38:1-3) No matter who we are God knows how to get our attention. I guess once was not enough later on God needed to get Job’s attention again, “Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.” (Job 40:6-10) God knows how to get our attention my friend. Hear the words of God to Job. This was the case back on April 16th in Eastern North Carolina when over 70 whirlwinds (tornadoes) touched down in an eight hour period ripping a path of death and destruction never seen before in North Carolina by tornados; 24 people thus far were killed and billions of dollars of damage was done. People say show me God, well look at the power of a whirlwind. Look at the trees twisted and snapped off like toothpicks, go watch a thunder storm; the lightening cracking through the sky and the deafening thunder. And in all these things God is speaking, “this is I the LORD God Almighty, the author of your life, I control the wind and the waves, I can do all things. I know how to get your attention, and I know how to humble you.” Take heed my friend.
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. He 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.
