Waiting on God the LORD’S Visits
October 2021 • Volume XX Number 02
”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. Let us continue to consider the LORD’s visit among us. Last month we finished talking about how God is seen to be visiting His people in Scripture and in real life and we finished up looking at a few verses in John where Jesus was talking about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now to do this thought proper justice we will have to look at a few verses prior to where I would like to settle in. Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:18-21) Now the verse I would like to look at in more detail is John 14:21 and the word in John 14:21 I would like to look at in more detail is the word “manifest” which is Strong’s #G1718 and is also translated as: show exhibit, reveal, and disclose. It is so strong that it implies manifestation perceivable by our human senses. So the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to us individually is not depending on some wind or sound from heaven as it happened in the Book of Acts, but the coming of the Holy Spirit, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in our lives depends on us keeping His commandments and loving Him. If we do these two things then Jesus said He will “manifest” Himself to us. Now this sets up a read a real brain teaser for us to work though in our mind and heart. In verse 18 Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Now we know Jesus was talking about the coming of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16) Jesus lays it out quite clear, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:15-17) You can also see this truth in John 14:26 and 15:26. But did you get verse 15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” It is almost the same wording. The condition for the Holy Spirit to “manifest” in our lives is simple we MUST keep His commandments. Now do not lose the point we are discussing, the LORD visiting us. So in John 14:18, Jesus says, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” I hope you all see what I am talking about here. Jesus said He will come to us. He said He will not leave us comfortless. Well, how is He going to do that if He goes to heaven? (see verse 19) In the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. So, would one be correct in saying the coming of the Holy Spirit is nothing more than Jesus returning in Spirit? After all is not the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity? Yes! You know when Jesus told the Disciples He would be with them always He meant it. In Matthew Jesus said, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: (our mission making disciples, and teaching not making denominations to divide the Body of Christ) and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) You know Jesus never left the disciples even when He went to heaven. He visited them, He manifested Himself through His Spirit, He was right there with them every step of the way. Jesus was with Paul as he was heading to the chopping block. Jesus was with Peter, James and John in all of the things they did that were recorded and not recorded. Now I like that, because if Jesus was with the disciples as He said at the end of verse 20, “lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world” then I know Jesus will be with us too if we meet the requirement for His manifestation in our lives, to keep His commandments and love Him. have you ever been to the end of the world? Oh my friend I have been there a few times and do you know what? Jesus was there with me.
Next month we will begin 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
Our Selfishness
Karen and I (and even Connie and Joshua) like Boxer pets. Over the years we have had two boxers. When we moved to Germany in 1996 we brought two dogs: one named “Rocky” half Cocker Spaniel and Lhasa Apso and the other of course a Boxer name “Annie.” Both were great dogs and we enjoyed their company and affection, but over the seven years we lived in Germany Annie got cancer twice and had to have surgery. Both times she beat the cancer, but the third time it popped out on her it took her life. When we returned home from Germany we got another boxer named “Grimme More Bacon” or “Grimme” for short. And he too got cancer and it took his life, but when both dogs died I cried alike a baby. When my dad (2010) and mom (2014) died I cried. Any time someone we know dies especially if we are close to them like our parents (and that is understandable because we will miss them) or we lose something we cry. Now do not get me wrong here I am not saying we should not cry when our parents or our favorite animal dies, but we must recognize the source of our sorrow if we are to get over the loss. At the center of our tears is the realization of the loss we will experience in the passing away of our family and friends. The sorrow and tears are not based in anything, but our selfishness. Yes I loved my father very much, but he was an extremely sick man living a full life laying his life down for his family and seeing action in three wars. What else could anyone ask of a man? And my mom. Oh how I love my mom who was bedridden, had Alzheimer’s, and a host of other medical problems who gave birth to six children (had 11 pregnancies in all), cooked and cleaned, cared for her husband and children what more could you ask of a woman? Yet my dad, mom, even my dogs died and I cried because of the loss I had experienced. My tears were not about their death, but about what I was going to lose in those relationships. Now do not say that Dave Stahl how heartless can a man be, because this is true of us all. At the heart of all of our tears believe it or not is our selfishness. As a matter of fact it is our self-centerness that is at the center of our grief. And the sooner we realize this the sooner we will be able to prevent our emotions from taking over our thought life and our heart. The true Christian battle is not the devil (he is defeated my mom would not even call his name in any form) or our sin (Jesus died for that), but it is our thought life that must be aligned with what God has said about us and what He wants for our lives. In 2 Corinthians Paul tells the Church at Corinth and us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) God says we are, “a new creature old things are passed away; behold (or look at this) all things are become new” and we think “who me?” Yes you! Our salvation is not based on our good works or religious performance, but on what Christ has done for us on the cross. We must allow the Holy Spirit to open up our understanding to the truth about us and what Jesus did for us. My friend the battle is between our mind and our heart and in that we come to realize what Jesus did on the cross for us and that we really believe it. So too the sooner we realize the center of all of our grief is our self-centeredness the sooner we will be happy when the so called bad things that happen in our lives come our way. Often our inability to recognize it is our emotions and feelings (our selfishness) that are deceiving us and is based on our lack of judgment. Jesus again and again all throughout the Gospels tells us to judge. Judgment must be a part of our Christian walk if not then we will not have the ability to separate ourselves from things that are not godly, things that are unholy, and things that are unrighteous. In John Jesus tells us to, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) “Judge not according to the appearance” to what we think or feel (again our emotions and feelings), but “judge righteous judgment.” Well how can we do this? First we must have a sense of righteousness within us and God must be able to put it there. Then we must exercise our ability to look at a situations and even certain people (their motives and intentions) and align it up with the word (both written and spoken to us) of God. Did you know there are some people you cannot be around and still serve God? Did you know there are some places you cannot go and still be called a Christian? There are some things and people you cannot stand for and be called a Child of God? Most Christians do not know this and are deceived and get over in many areas that get them off track in God. In Matthew Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5) Many Christians would say, aha see Jesus said not to judge so they stop reading and miss the message Jesus was sharing while running their lives into a deep ditch because of their lack of discernment and inability to judge . We must continue reading to find the message. Jesus was saying take heed to how you judge not what you judge. In Christ it does not matter what we do for God that counts, but what matters is HOW we do it. Do we do things for the right reason, with the right motives, and with the right intentions? How do we judge? Do we have the right heart condition to judge righteous judgment or are we judging things after the flesh? If we have the right heart condition then we will easily be able to see the speck in our brother’s eye because we have allowed God to remove the beam from ours. Unless we allow God to judge and deal in our lives. We will never be able to judge righteous judgment. And when we have under gone God’s dealings and judgments to varying degrees we will be able to see even the selfishness in our heart that causes all of the grief in our lives. In the Proverbs we read, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised iswisdom.’ (Proverbs 13:10) The word “pride” here talks about our selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-seeking. It is all of that selfishness that causes “contention” or Strong’s #4683, all of our strife, debate, and self exaltation. Jesus was telling us to judge righteously and when we can do this our self will be put to death. We will have allowed God to give our selfish nature and character a death blow. Once our self is put to death we then will be able to see what is right and then be able to do the right thing. Paul knew where the battle raged, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18) Paul knew it was in our flesh (our emotions, the soulish man. our feelings, our selfishness, etc) where nothing good dwells, not our spirit because if we are a Christian the Holy Spirit dwells within, believe it or not.
I do not know about you, but the older I get the more selfish I seem to become. The older I get the less grace I seem to give other people who mistreat or wrong me. The older I get the more I seem to be less tolerant with people who do not agree with me. All this really means is the older I get the more selfish I am becoming and the more I need God to work the more in my life and kill my flesh. True happiness is not found in material things, a sense of well being and good health, popularity, and the list goes on, but true happiness is only found when we can abandon ourselves in God’s all knowing hands where no selfishness can exist. Written by David Stahl
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Faith in Your Faith
Dave and I were watching the news recently when they had a gentleman with his wife on talking about a relative who was in the hospital due to a gunshot wound. As they were interviewing this gentleman, behind him was a huge cross sculpture with (I assume) Jesus clothed and with up stretched arms representing a particular domination. I thought to myself this man and his family may have plenty of faith in their faith or denomination, but do they have faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in your faith or denomination is NOT faith in GOD. Because when bad things happen we think, “well I did this or that so why is this happening to me?” As If GOD owes us a trouble free life. Faith in our faith or denominational religion is NOT faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, nor is it faith in GOD’S faithfulness to us no matter what comes our way in life. When was the last time GOD did something for you? When was the last time you asked HIM for something and He answered you? HE is ever faithful to us. The Bible tells us: “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) This is the church within the church, the REAL body of Christ, with Jesus in the forefront. It is NOT any earthly denomination! We are His body. The above Scriptures are not a religion. Our faith in a denominational religion is NOT the same as faith in GOD and His Son our savior Jesus Christ. Religion says Jesus’ blood was not enough to save us from our sins–we must do works for salvation. Ahhh, but don’t you see what an insult this attitude is to GOD who bent over backwards for our salvation by sending His only Son Jesus to die in our place? Jesus was the only one in the universe who was sinless, who didn’t even have one snarky, or bad thought about anybody. We all deserve the cross, but Jesus definitely did not deserve it. His perfect sinless and Holy blood was shed for all and purchased our ticket to Heaven and opened the door for us to approach a Holy and righteous GOD. What is your faith in, your denomination or in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Is your faith in Jesus to such a degree that if he asked you to leave your religion, would you? That my friend will tell you right where you are. It is easy to see just, look at your life and hear your words for out of our mouth speaks our heart. Are the sacraments going to save your soul? Is your Pastor going to vouch for you at the Great White Throne Judgment? Is tithing 10% every month to the church, singing in the choir, cutting the church grass going to save you? No they will not. I implore you to read your Bible and know where your faith is and more important whom your faith is in. Is it in the Pastor, the Priest, in the good deeds of mankind, or in Christ. Folks, I know people that go to a certain denominational church where the pastor was caught (on camera) indulging in homosexual acts with another man and the congregation was okay with this. They’re faithful to this pastor and to the denomination, but not God and His word. Their logic was, “well we all sin.” This “faithfulness” DOES NOT translate into faith in Jesus. Because the Bible says, “Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he the believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living GOD; as GOD hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) Folks there are many wolves in sheep’s clothing within the nominal church, we need to be very careful and discerning to whom we are faithful to. Jesus didn’t give himself to everybody He knew men’s hearts. The Bible says “But as He which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) This (holiness) does NOT come out from any religion, any denomination, or works that we might do for the LORD. It is through faith in Christ and His righteousness. Paul tells us in Hebrews, “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Let us conclude the matter, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.” (Hebrews 12:2) Where’s your faith, mine’s in Jesus.
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:
19 October 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:
October: Local Ministry
November: Bulgaria & Romania (Projected)
December: 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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