THOUGHTS FOR CONSIDERATION: Greetings again my friends. What are you after my friend? For sure what we go after is where our heart is. What we go after is seen in our actions and desires. What we go after is seen in our heart and words. Going after someone or something is a big deal in God. In Proverbs we read, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverbs 23:7) As a man thinks in his heart so he goes after what he thinketh about and thus becomes that thing which he thinketh about. In the six verses before, Solomon gives us some great advice on some observation of some moral virtues and their contrary vices: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. 4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:” (Proverbs 23:1-6) All of these six verses reflect what the person is going after. Verses: (1) Food, (2) more food, (3) dainties, more food, (4) riches, (5) more riches, and (6) back to food Solomon was saying what is in his heart, looks like food and riches, so is he. My friend we must be very careful to what makes it to our heart, because whatsoever it is we will become that. In 2 Kings Jeremiah writes, “And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to “walk after” the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.” (2 Kings 23:3) To be King at this time, which was Josiah, he had to write the law perfect by hand. If he messed up the last word he had to start all over again till it was completed perfectly. I wonder why we think God expects less from us? Way too many Christians think they can live any old way and still please God. Well, we have grace, praise God. God understands our short comings and failures, well He does, but believe it or not God still expects us to live a life free from habitual sin (now do not look at me that way as if I am not talking about you), coming short of what we know to do, and wanting to please Him with all our heart. God expects, He is counting on us to have a walk “after Him” and not as much of a walk “with Him.” We will look at “with Him” next month. This my friend is a walk of obedience and it starts in our heart. Well, what does it mean to “walk after” Him? For sure, if there is not a “true” (taking something out of the natural and putting it in the spiritual realm) love for God in our heart there can never ever be a “walk after” Him, but I think it is much more. I think David was hitting the mark when he wrote, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) WOW, am I there yet? Was David there? Well, I can only speak of myself and at times I am, but at other times I am not. BUT, the goal in God is to desire to be there. Our walk of obedience is a life-long desire that gets its origin from the bedrock of our soul. If you notice The King, “stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to “walk after” the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul.” Not only in obedience as we should keep, but they made a covenant with God. This was more than just walking the aisle or making promises to God hoping He forgets. Oh no, when a covenant between a king and God represents a significant and binding agreement that outlines mutual commitments and responsibilities. This relationship is deeply rooted in the principles of leadership, morality, and divine guidance. This is serious business my friend, because if one of the covenant makers breaks the covenant then there is hell to pay. Yes, breaking a covenant with God can lead to serious consequences, including divine judgment, loss of blessings, and relational discord. Those who break such covenants may face God’s disfavour and the potential for severe repercussions. Now that would be individually and nationally. When we speak to God let us not speak flippantly, but with soberness and thought of heart. Our walk “before God” is being observed by God and everyone around us. God is watching us closely let us measure our words and open our heart so that Christ can be formed in us.
Next month we will continue looking at the perfect heart of the “Prophet of God” as we look at the next walk with God “with Him” looking at a walk of fellowship. Are you a Prophet of God? To be a Prophet we must be able to hear His voice. Listen closely and you will hear. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Prosperity and Success
As we travel around to many places in the world we do not see a lot of people who want to be poor and fewer yet who want to be “poor in spirit.” But being “poor in spirit” assures us we have a place in the kingdom of heaven and maybe the kingdom of God. Jesus told the people gathered on the mountain, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Not too many people heard His words as many do not hear his words today. Now remember the kingdom of God is not a place and you cannot get a good job in this kingdom nor is the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is a place we all (or I should say most Christians) hope to go to someday, but the kingdom of God is a heart condition it is within us. The Pharisees demanded of Jesus, “when the kingdom of God should come” and Jesus asked them and said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21) Paul told the church at Rome, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17) I am afraid the nominal apostate church of today has done a great job in deceiving many Christians in not knowing the difference between the two kingdoms. We must come to a correct spiritual understanding of these two kingdoms if we will ever come to know other important concepts and precepts like what is prosperity and success in God. One thing for sure unless you come into the kingdom of God you will probably not come into the kingdom of heaven. Again, the nominal (denominational churches, etc.) and the apostate churches have done a great job in redefining these words for those Christians who do NOT read their Bibles, but have a heart for God. They target theses Christians specifically so they can get money and service out of them to further their ungodly ambitions and programs. I have seen it all over the world in and out of the church. I will tell you God is not pleased, but He will let things go on and on (God’s longsuffering), but my friend I am telling you now there is a day (it may be coming soon) when God will say enough is enough and pull back the curtain taking away our comfortable places to (what we call) worship and expose people for who they really are. Biblically prosperity has nothing to do with money yet the church (around the world ) is obsessed with collecting every dime and mite it can get its little greedy paws on. We use to go a church where no matter how many people were in the service the offering had to be taken up. Other components of the service could be exempt, but not the offering. Somehow, I think they have missed the point of why we come together as a local body of believers and later (as we attended) it became sadly clear their true focus was not God, or the people, but the money and their agenda. It does not matter how much money a church has oh no money is not a measure of prosperity (especially spirituality) in God. Oh the number of churches that think they are “spiritual” because they have a nice building. And even sadder the number of churches that think they are spiritual because they are moved by their emotions. In the past while teaching at the Mission Bible School in Agigea (a wonderful school), Romania the second year students and I had much discussion on the topic until I took them to the word of God Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily (a double imperative), I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6) They got it then. The Word of God always settles the issue if you have a heart for the truth. In Genesis God said of Joseph, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2) Did you get that? Joesph was a prosperous man yet all he had was probably a loincloth. My friend Biblical prosperity is not about money and riches, but to be in good condition or bring to a successful conclusion. To push forward in God. Not too many Christians are looking for this type of prosperity maybe that is why not many Christians are in good condition or are successfully brought to a conclusion. Success in God is not measured by who has the most toys, houses, or cars when they die oh no. Success in God is measured by correct understanding and wisdom in relationships and other things of God. No wonder Joseph was such a big success in life he always kept his relationships in check with reality. I will be honest here I get this wrong often. I like to see everyone as my friend, but in the end those people who like to use and take advantage of me well, as God said about a pastor the last time this happened, “you were his friend in your heart, but he was not your friend.” This prosperity and success message go beyond the church walls and into the depth of our heart. In the past there were times and places in which there was a substantial moving of the Spirit and many came to respond to the presence of the Lord. However, as soon as this presence lifted they left as their interest was in being blessed rather than in being changed. we must desire to be changed and not just blessed. God can bless anyone, but cannot change someone unless they have a desire for the truth for the word of God and what words God speaks to our heart. Many have experienced touches of this higher realm of worship and desire more, but it cannot happen in the atmosphere of loud rock-like music and entertainment within the present day Church. This limits us to praise which cannot lift us into the higher realms of worship in the Spirit. True worship has nothing to do with singing, dancing, or flag waving, but to bow our head to the ground yet the church muddles on in its presumption, but her time is slowly running out. There is a present urgency and need to present ourselves as being available to become a place of habitation for the presence and glory of the Lord, beyond anything that has previously been experienced or seen. This manifestation of His glory will impact the nations as we have never seen before and some things God is changing up in parts of the world. As I said earlier in this article we spent the week at the Mission Bible School (CRST) in Agigea. We got there on a Friday night and class began on Monday to Friday, but on Saturday they had a great symposium of the refugee crisis in the Balkans. Over the years I have followed it more from a distance since we live in the States and are not touched by the magnitude of the mass of people and the seemingly unending need to care, feed, and house the masses. But if you look close there is much more going on here. To really understand what is going on you must read a book called, “A wind in the House of Islam” by David Garrison. The book talks about the nine geo–cultural “rooms” in the “House of Islam,” and the Wind of God’s Spirit is blowing through every one of them. David Garrison spent three years travelling a quarter–million miles through every corner of the Muslim world to investigate reports far and wide of Muslims turning to faith in Jesus Christ. In this amazing odyssey, Garrison gathered the stories of more than a thousand Muslim–background believers, asking them the question. Due to the wars in Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and other hot spots huge streams of people are moving from a dangerous place to a safer place. Strange how God would use war to move the Muslim people. So now we have country after country (Greece, Turkey, Germany to name a few) in crisis from this exodus of people. Now even though I was not asked to speak at the symposium they asked if I wanted to say something, but I told them they would not like what I had to say. I told them I would say the church for the last 50 years has miserably failed to answer the great commission call to go and make disciples of all nations as Jesus asked in Matthew 28:20. Only 10% of the missionaries (in the last 50 years) go to where 90% of the people who have not heard of the wondrous name of Jesus. It is either too hard, too dangerous. too expensive, you name it are not going so God said okay fine. I wish none to be lost no not one. So, if the church will not go to the people then I will send the people to the church. The question I would ask is what will the church do now? The church (collectively) has failed to do what Jesus has asked so God is taking the initiative and now the masses of people are at the door and now what is the church going to do? You could say God would not do that. Well, if you say that you would sound like my second year students at the Mission Bible School when I told them God changes His mind. You would have thought I was teaching heresy. God will do whatsoever he needs to do to get this wonderful message of grace through faith to people who have never heard it. God will stop at nothing and will use anyone who has a heart to share His love. This is why I really admire and appreciate the students at the Mission Bible School because when they graduate they go to places where Islam is the only religion knowing it may cost them their lives to share the Gospel. Yes, my friend times are changing in the world. God is lining up things and closing some things down to keep things moving forward in God. On a trip in the past to Bulgaria we found out about the new laws that would close down almost every Christian Church in Bulgaria. You would say God would never allow that to happen, well as of the printing of this article we are waiting for the news. What does the new legislation say? These are the main problems with the new legislation:
– Only Bulgarian citizens will be able to carry out liturgical activity if they have had theological training in Bulgaria or their foreign school is approved.
– Only Eastern Orthodox & Muslim believers will be able to train clergy and run schools.
– A foreigner will only be able to preach if doing so with a Bulgarian ordained minister.
– Foreign donations will only be allowed for building construction or social aid and will need government approval. No salaries of pastors for example could be paid from abroad.
– No religious activities can take place outside of buildings designated for them.
– Only religious groups with +300 people will have legal status.
On our trip to Romania and Bulgaria in every Church we went into we found stacks and stacks of KJV of the Bible. They all came from Greece from an organization that gives away free Bibles. All you have to do is contact them and they will send you (even pay for the shipping) as many Bibles as you want. I believe God is flooding Bibles, now in these days, into places where the freedom to share this wonderful Gospel message will soon be restricted. My friend we cannot get it wrong any more too many lives depend on us getting it right. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
It Matters Who Your Friends Are
The Bible says “Be ye not unequally yoked together 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 that 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 I will be their God, 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, And, will be a Father unto you, And ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) If you call yourself a born-again Believer or even a Christian you have absolutely NO BUSINESS HANGING AROUND, SPENDING TIME WITH UNBELIEVERS. No sir. People think “Well, I can witness to them and steer them to Christ.” Oh really? OK then give them the gospel message and see what happens. And don’t be too surprised if they hem and haw and don’t have anything to do with you. Listen God doesn’t give a flying flip about your friends or acquaintances. You would say, “but maybe GOD brought them into my life for a reason….” Yes, that’s what we say when we want to do what we want to do and hang out with who we want to hang out with. GOD is interested in us being interested in HIM! “Oh, they’re not so bad, besides we have fun,” News flash GOD doesn’t care about you having fun. People will pull you down and OUT away from GOD faster than you can witness to them and pull them up. Read your Bible—and no not just the parts you like or agree with. Who did Jesus hang out with? Mostly the 12 disciples, NOT the religious crowd like the Pharisees and Sadducees (who wanted to kill him) nor did He hang out with the people that just wanted what Jesus could give them. His (Jesus’) circle of REAL friends was rather small. We are to separate ourselves from worldly things, pleasures, and worldly people. We are not to hang out with people that make us feel good, people that make us feel wanted, people that affirm whatever in our life because we need affirmation from someone—hey why don’t we worry about God’s affirmation! Why don’t we worry about what God wants us to do—wow now there’s a really bizarre thought, If, you call yourself a Christian why aren’t you hanging out with other Christians? If we aren’t hanging on to Jesus we aint hanging on to anything. Have you ever seen a Bald Eagle hanging out with Pigeons? Or a Barn Owl hanging out with Sparrows? Of course not. Birds of a feather flock together. Time after time in the Bible GOD told the children of Israel NOT TO associate with certain groups of people. And why? Because they will learn their heathen ways and be drawn away from God (see Deuteronomy 7: 1-4). GOD wasn’t joking! My friends take heed to yourself. “Evil communications corrupt good manners….” (1 Corinthians 15: 33). Now the word “communications” here does not mean talking like we think today, but the “company” (Strong’s #3658) we keep. It matters who we hang around with. Your eternity depends on it. Read your Bible. Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and in Agigea Brother John Vlad as the Director of the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian at Gospel Assembly in Sankaraguptham, India.
4. Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey and Pastor Metin at the Mavi Kilisesi in Dalaman, Turkey.
5. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
6. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
8. Christian and Ina Kopjar Missionaries to the County of Liberia.
9. The many Pastors Paul and Costica at the Skina and other Pastors and Brothers we have meet in Ukraine over that five years.
10. Betuel and Bianaca and others in Erbil, Kurdistan.
11. Pastor Joeseph Kariuki Gatimu at Jesus Victory Temple in Mombasa, Kenya.
12. Pastors Ravindra Shiwnandan and Victor Lupuku and other Pastor and Brothers in Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
20 October 26 at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
(910) 382-9287
BEHOLDING HIS GLORY ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
“Pebbles of Truth”
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 am
FUTURE BHG SCHEDULE:
October: Local Ministry
November: Local Ministry
December: 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:
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Website:
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
FREE OFFERS
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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