Deeper Truths for Hungry Hearts
September 2014 • Volume XIII Number 01
“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. This edition of our newsletter begins our 13th year of service to the Body of Christ. We have been battered and bruised, but with God’s grace and mercy we are still standing and withstanding. Many ask to name one hallmark of our ministry, well I would say we have not changed our message and that is the message of the cross which started in Germany at Christliche Gemeinde Stuttgart and continues with us today. We know as we continue in Him He will continue us and BHG for His glory.
This month we will begin a whole new section “a divine provision” as it relates to our dependence on God and not our independence. The more dependent we are on God the more we will hear and understand the call God has placed on our lives. Now we need to read the last sentence again before we proceed. Sadly in the church today we hear people running around saying they have the power yet Jesus said, I have no power even over my very life except what the Father gives me. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 19:17-18) We are totally dependent on God for everything (even the air we breathe) and on our family, brother, and sisters. Yet the church is full of people who say they have the call of God on their lives that operate outside the framework of dependence on God. The call of God on our lives is not to be an exercise in independence from God, but in a partnership, total dependence on Him. There is to be a union a partnership yoked together with God. And no God does not do all the work we are to engage as we come along side Him in what He wants to happen in our lives and in what He wants to see happen through us to the world. I wonder why we think we can go it alone? Thinking we do not need our brothers and sisters? This thinking my friend is nothing more than self-fed arrogance, presumption, and will lead to frustration, double and triple work on our part, and worse loss to any real work that God has been able to do in our lives. In John Jesus lays it out for us. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:5) He (Jesus) said I am the vine you are the branches here Jesus is showing us the correct order to be productive in God. My friend we never get to be the vine we will always be the branches. To think the production of God’s goodness and His works originates with us is just plain foolishness and open stupidity, yet the church is full of such folks leading good intentioned folks astray. Look at the end of verse five, “for without me ye can do nothing.”Now when Jesus says “nothing” He means “nothing.” We can do “nothing” we are totally dependent on Him for everything as He (Jesus) was totally dependent on His Father for everything. Then Jesus talks about you two groups of people using the word “If” (the most important word in the Bible because it always sets the condition for receiving from God) to express what happens if we think we are the vine and independent of God. For those who do not think they are dependent on God and think they are the captain of their own ship. They will be, “cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” Make no mistake my friend God will either us of to bless people or He will use us for fire wood. Then there is the second group of people. Please know order in the Bible is important: first things first (or that which is important to God is spoken about first) is God’s order. Those who work with God, those who abide in the framework and plan God has directed, “shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Now I will be honest I have never met (including me) someone who could move in this unqualified promise of God. Today we long for the ability to be able to ask whatsoever we want and it be done unto us, but this is only for those who are more than totally (not really sure of the degree required) plugged into the vine. Only for those who are totally dependent on God as His Son Jesus Christ was. What “a divine provision” God has provided for our lives, it is there all we have to do is allocate it through our obedience. “If” sets the condition for whatsoever we shall receive. It’s not up to God, but it’s up to us.
Next month we will continue to look at “a divine provision” as we look at how we are to exercise our dependence more on God. Can you hear Him now?
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Our Stumbling Blocks
While driving back from Framingham, MA years ago God gave me this article. There is a critical need in our family (between me and my brothers and sisters) for reconciliation. I have seen it and felt it for years, with each lie they perpetrate against us and with each upset this gulf and division widens. It seems every time we all come together Karen, our kids, and I are pitted against the rest of the family. At first I did not understand, but as my brothers and sisters started falling away from the Lord I began to see what was going on in our family. Our mother was the spiritual glue that held our family together, but as time and age began to weigh heavy in her life and as her mind began to slip so did the importance of a Godly life-style and the things of God. I finally realized this one night after we all (minus our brother John) went out to a bar to karaoke. I was told John was there last week and really enjoyed himself so I agreed to go and take Karen, Connie, and Joshua. When we got there the place was packed and we sat down and ordered drinks. Karen and I got water, but everyone else got either a beer or a mixed drink. A young man took the stage (with a beer in hand) and tried to sing a song, but he was so drunk he could not remember the words. He ends his show by exposing himself. I could not believe it. The manager quickly came over and apologized for his lewd behavior and told us we all would get free drinks. Right then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “what are you doing sitting here with your family? Just last week you were sharing the Gospel message to 100s of 1000s of people in India and now you are sitting in bar.” I had nothing to say, but I am sorry. I collected up my family and as we were heading to the door my brother and sisters started ridiculing Karen and I. No problem, we value the presence of God more than a few drinks and lewd behavior. Another nail was added to the coffin of separation.
We must stand for righteousness and for what is right in the eyes of God and His words, and most of all we must never compromise, even when dealing with family unity, the truth of the word of God. Righteousness does not bend to unrighteousness; it is not our place to make peace with my family. God knows our heart, God knows we love our family, but God also knows we love Him more than our family. We were advised by a family member to come back to the family, quote “someday we will have to come back to the family,” well it is not we who have left the family the truth was our family has left God and us. The truth is when our family comes back to God and makes peace with Him then and only then can we have real fellowship with them. Until then we must come out from among them. Paul knew this truth and lived it every day of his life when he said. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And 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. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) Paul was taking about his family too. If we want to be received by God we must meet the condition of coming out from among them who do not follow God and His ways, this too means our family. Yes, there must if need be a physical separation from our family for us to be able to come into the things of God. We then continue to pray for them, but give them over to the mercy and grace of God. Our family does not want to talk with us and why, because our lives and what we believe is a stumbling block for them. It is important to know us being a stumbling block before our family is not our intention, but because of our love for God, His words, and His ways we automatically become a rock of offense to those who do not love God, His words, and His ways. Peter shares this painful truth with us, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:6-8) Karen and I know we are not righteous and holy, but we desire to be (that is the difference) we try to be the very best to our ability (and according to the revelation we have received) to what God and His word has commanded us to do. We know we have a long way to go, but it is important to us to know we are on His road and walking the narrow way God has told those who desire eternal life to go.
Please do not make the mistake to confuse forgiveness with reconciliation. Many people are looking for apologies (forgiveness), but if the people who they have offended or those who have been offended do not have the ability to apologize then they cannot give it. A man cannot give what they do not have. We are not looking for an apology for the heinous things done and spoken against our family, we desire reconciliation between them and God. Did you know, one can forgive another’s transgressions against them but does not need to pal around or even associate with them. In Psalms we read, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2) Why is the man blessed? Because he “standeth not in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” He gets out of the way of the sinner and scornful and let them have their way. They then are able to, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrew 12:14). Now it means what it says. Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). We need to learn when to speak and when to shut our mouths, and when to separate our selves from those who do not see things God’s way. Peace happens when few words are passed between people. Jesus also told us, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:34) Make no mistake my friend if you desire to serve God He will see to it that you are cut out of the world and your family. He will stick His sword (His words) into your life and every relationship to cut your heart out of the love for this world and those who love this world. At the end of the day in all of our lives we must allow God to work in us so that we can get over the stumbling block in our lives, so that we all can come into the eternal life God has for us, but like all things in God this too is our choice.
One of the joys of our trip to Framingham, MA when we took Connie up to be with Jeff during his two weeks on R&R from Iraq and to be with Martin and Dinah (Jeff’s wonderful parents) was when we went to Beth Israel Temple (where Dinah attends services) and met Mr. Morris Hollender. Now Mr. Hollinder (then 83 years young) and a survivor of Auschwitz was standing behind the Bema reading the Torah when we arrived. During the service when he came by to shake our hands and especially after the service during the Kid dish we just hit it off. I really enjoyed talking with him. You could see he is a man that had much to say, but knew when and how to say it. Many people think just because they are educated or know a lot they need to let everybody know how much they know and just how important their opinion or position is, but not so with people with wisdom. People with wisdom can hold their tongue, thoughts, and experiences and share them with impact and meaning at the right time. There were two things that Mr. Hollender said that really rattled my spirit. The first was when he said he does not know why God saved his life in the concentration camp because his parents (and I think other family members perished) were better people than he. I asked him if he had any hatred for those at Auschwitz, those who killed his family and forced him into slave labor and he said no, “honestly before God I have no hatred in my heart.” I thought what a place, to endure a concentration camp and loss of family members, yet in his heart able to stand before God and man to profess he had no anger for those who abused him and put his family to death. And you know what I believed him. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. You could see it in his daily desire to serve God and in the way God has for him to go. Men such as Mr. Hollender are rare and precious in God, they have experienced great loss and now God can give him of the riches of God’s glory, the loss he has experienced has made room in his heart to receive from God. Mr. Hollender does not need forgiveness he has already found that in God, but his need is to share the reconciliation story that he has experienced in his heart and life. Reconciliation comes to us as we agree with what God is saying about us is true; “we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and as we embrace a holy God first, then and only then can we deal with our need for forgiveness with God first, then with each other. Restoration is not the issue, only God can restore, the issue is our need for reconciliation. Forgiveness with others can only happen after reconciliation is found between God and man, this is a spiritual principle and if violated then there can be no “true” relationship between God and man or man with man. This is the point Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians when he said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) Paul was telling us of our great need to be reconciled back to God though Christ Jesus. This is our (Karen and I) ministry to tell people (our family) about their need to be reconciled back to God, even if that means we become a stumbling block. Until then Karen, our kids, and I wait.
Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Real Beauty
I stopped wearing makeup a long time ago and the reason being why should the outside be all dolled up when the inside isn’t? Our Brother Peter puts it this way, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting (arranging) the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of GOD of great price.” (1 Peter 3: 3-4). Brother Peter says it is “the hidden man of the heart” and “a meek and quiet spirit” that is of great price to God not personal beauty and fancy clothing. So why then do we bother so with the outward man when our inward man is so, well ugly. If our thoughts and intents are horrible what is the point of dolling up our outside who are we fooling? Am I against wearing makeup, no and that’s not the point. The point is why aren’t we as concerned about our inner man and inner heart condition as we are about how flawless our face looks. Our hair is perfectly coiffed and looks great, but our heart is so evil, manipulating, and conniving. As if great hair is going to throw God (and our fellow man for that matter) off and He won’t see our miserable heart for what it is? How much time do we work on the inside of us? How much time is spent studying the Bible? When we die we are not going to be judged on our perfect makeup and hair, but on our faith in Jesus and how much we have allowed God to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. I’ve known (and do know) some women who are so hateful inside, but outwardly to the world they look great, say and do the “right” things, but their heart is awful. And then I personally know some women who are plain outwardly, but have a solid walk with the Lord and heart as big for people as the great outdoors. These ladies are beautiful inside and out. Do we not think that God can see our heart and know our secret selfish intentions? Sure we can fool some people, but there are those that can see right through the fancy, nicey (dare I say phony baloney) façade and see who we really are. Let’s get real, God has bent over backwards to give us the gift of salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ. His hands are outstretched to us to help us. He so desires us to become like His precious son Jesus and yet we stubbornly hang on to our “I want,” “I will,” “I won’t,” or “I know best.” Who are we kidding? We’re only deceiving ourselves. “As it is written, “there is none righteous, no not one.” There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after GOD. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3: 10-12). Look life is too short, so let’s look at it this way, if we spend more time on our looks then we do reading our Bible, we’re in trouble big trouble. The test at the end our life isn’t how great we can make ourselves look on the outside. Oh no it’s how much we look like Jesus on the inside. The end is not here yet, but its coming let us prepare to be the Bride of Christ by preparing our hearts to be like Jesus by allowing our Heavenly Father to mold us and make us like unto Jesus. Let us line up our thoughts and intentions with the precious word of God and then we will truly be beautiful inside and out.
Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NO WANTS:
1. In Silistra, Bulgaria Pastor(s) Niki Marsov and Emil Nedelchev. Included now are missionaries from Romania Nicu and Elena. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and George Ritisan at the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School and the Faru (Lighthouse) Church.
3. In Suceava, Romania Pastors Nicu and Marcel at St. Andrews Church. They are still standing by God’s grace.
4. Pastor Joseph Mutua in Nairobi, Kenya needs your prayer and financial support.
5. Pastor Mike Olufemi in Aveile, Nigeria. He needs our prayers and support to be a light in great darkness.
6. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian in Sankaraguptham, India.
7. Pastor Metin Mintaz, Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
8. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
9. Monthly financial support for Vivian’s Maternity and Child Care Clinic project in Aviele, Nigeria.
10. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
11. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
Next Home Group Meeting:
Our next Home Group Meeting will be MONDAY 22 September 2014
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Home: (910) 741-0489
at 7:00 pm, please RSVP
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
September: Local Ministry
October: Local Ministry
November: Bulgaria and Romania
I am still available to share what God has given me at churches and/or home groups. If God moves on your heart to support BHG or other ministries we personally know we would be honored to serve as a go between. Remember, if we want a blessing from God the spiritual principle is we must bless others. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Phone:
Home: (910) 741-0489
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Ministry E-mail: dstahl@beholdinghisglory.com
Personal E-mail: mtnebo@hotmail.com
Online:
Beholding His Glory Website
Beholding His Glory Blog
The AuthorHouse link below will lead you to our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration.” Just copy it into your web browser and return. Also you can purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God.” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
http://www.authorhouse.com/AuthorCenter/Protected/BookHome.aspx?bookID=61464
Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again. All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price and then we will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.
If you know someone you think would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Contributions to this ministry is always appreciated and needed the more time continues. Please feel free to contact us with the above information. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting to others is even greater. And remember, all donations are tax deductible.
