Stay Tuned

Good day. Today we are posting the newsletter Stay Tuned written in 1995 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka, Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writing for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1995.

Stay Tuned     V17n29

How often have you talked to yourself, and made statements that you hear, but did not pay much attention to?

For myself, I can recall asking God to be a little clearer, on what He would have me do.  Looking for God to take me by the hand, and lead me down this path, so I will not make any mistakes.

Yet, we know that the scriptures tell us, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."  It also tells us, to "be a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only."  I have to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk.  I have to set an example that people will know is achievable.  They have to see that they too, are capable of hearing God, and doing as He asks of us, as individuals.

For those of you who are around my age or older, you will remember the radios that we had a few years ago.  They had tubes instead of transistors.  You had to be real exact in setting the tuning, if you wanted to get real clear reception of any station.  If you set it in a hurry, you ran the risk of having the station fade in and out.  The end result is, that you could miss the most important part of the program that you are listening to.

Christianity - our walk with God, is much the same way.  Our relationship with God is like that tune radio.  It takes a real fine-tuning, to hear and maintain our fellowship with the Father.  What we have to take the time to hear and understand is, what does it take, to keep ourselves fine tuned, just as that old radio?

First off, we have to remember that the radio needed a power source, 120 volts.  So, you have to be at a place where a power source is available.

We as Christians, have to recognize our source.  Faith only comes by developing a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).  We have received the gift of Christ (Eph. 4:7).  We become a new creation, old things pass away, and I have a new lease on life (II Cor. 5:17).

Now that I have a power source for my radio, I can turn the set on.  Since this is a tube radio, it will take a little time for the tubes to warm up, and become operational, for the purpose that it was intended.

Now that I am born-again, I too have a power source for my life.  I have the ability to stay plugged into it at all times.  Yet, I also have a free will, so that if I choose to stray from it, I will come unplugged.  The glow of the tubes goes out, and until I get plugged back into the proper power source, I will no longer be capable of hearing the instructions that Father has for me.

Once I get plugged back in again, it takes awhile for the tubes to again get warm, to where the radio will be operational.  It will be a short time until I can again have clear reception.  All because I choose to stray from the power source.

God's Word, (the Bible) is my power source.  I have the choice to stay plugged into it each and everyday of my life.

If I choose to walk away from it, whether for several days, several weeks or several years, the result is always the same.  I have broken the communications link with the Father.  It is not always easy re-establishing that link.

Too often, we have gotten ourselves in spiritual hot water, and we want an answer right away.  We want immediate results.  Yet, we can no longer hear Father's voice as clear, since we had been disconnected from "the" power source.

Faith, my ability to believe Father, is maintained by hearing Father's Word.  "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."  I have to maintain clear reception on my radio, so I can always hear Father's instructions and guidance clearly.  Staying in His Word, maintains the power source.

In our society, we have so many distractions that try to disconnect us from our power source.  We have television, which tells us everything, but what we need to know.   It gives us all kinds of visions of things that satisfy the flesh, but little of what nourishes the spirit man.

The radio has many stations that will tell us many things that sound good to us.  It will give us entertainment.  But, it will take real fine-tuning to find the station that will give us what we need to hear.  It too, senses mostly signals that satisfy the flesh.

So, how do we stayed tuned, in a world that is programmed to lead us astray?  How do we stay focused?  How do we stay tuned?

Just as with the radio, where we have the tuner positioned, will determine what kind of message we will receive.  Likewise, in our spiritual walk, where we have ourselves hanging out will be indicative of our spiritual health.  If we have ourselves around loose lips, the evil communications will have an effect on us.  (I Cor 15:33, Matt 12:36).  This is why we have to keep ourselves fine tuned. Eliminating the interference gives us clearer reception of the signal.  This makes the message more understandable.

As radio's developed, they learned to design filters for the radios that would filter out a good portion of the background noise, thus giving us a much better signal, with less static at the speaker.

As Christian's, as we learn and become effective at hearing and applying God's Word, it in effect is similar to a filter.  As our knowledge of the "Word" grows, it sheds light on the darkness.  It is love, overcoming fear.  God has not given us the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7).  Perfect love casts out fear.  (I John 4:18).  We have the ability as Christians, to set up filter systems for our reception.  We are able to filter out everything that is not from above (James 1:17).  But, the choice is ours.  No one can force anything on you.

Also, with our old tube type radios, reception at times was a little bit perturbing.  You would have to turn the radio a little one way or the other, to get better reception. Or, even where it was located in the room would raise havoc with the incoming signal.

Sound real similar to our Christian walk?  Where are we facing?  Which direction are we headed?  If you are seeking the wealth of the world, which direction are you headed?  How clear will the message of salvation be received?

If all we are seeking, are signs and wonders, and not a working knowledge of the Word, which direction are we headed?  It says  (the Bible), that the Lord confirmed the Word, with signs following (Mark 16:20).  We need to seek the Lord while He may be found.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Faith comes from the message heard.  Which station you are tuned to, will determine what kind of a message you will hear.

As for me and my house, we will stay tuned to the Lord!

​
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka

Next issue: Heed the call!

Word Corner

Fortune:  1)  the supposed cause of that which befalls in a sudden or unexpected manner:  chance or luck 2) That which fall to one:  good or ill success or luck

I thought that God blesses His people, not leaving them open to good or evil.

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God."  Deut. 28:2 KJV

"God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent.  Hath He said, and shall He not do it?  Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make good?  Behold, I have received commandment to bless; and He hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."  Numbers 23:19-20 KJV

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:19. KJV