Calvary's Anthem

Calvary's Anthem

For the next several days, I want to share a few prayers and hymns to help prepare our hearts for Good Friday.

Here is a powerful prayer written by one of the Puritans and published in THE VALLEY OF VISION (Banner of Truth).

Think through the words as you reflect on what Christ did for YOU on the cross:

Heavenly Father,
You have led me singing to the cross where I fling down all my burdens and see them vanish,
where my mountains of guilt are leveled to a plain,
where my sin disappears, though they are the greatest that exist,
and are more in number than the grains of fine sand.

For there is power in the blood of Calvary
to destroy sins more than can be counted
even by one from the choir of heaven.
You have given me a hill-side spring that washes clear and white,
and I go as a sinner to its waters,
bathing without hindrance is its crystal streams.

At the Cross there is free forgiveness for poor and meek ones,
and ample blessings that last forever;
The blood of the Lamb is like a great river of infinite grace
with never any diminishing of its fullness
as thirsty ones without number drink of it.

O Lord, for ever will Your free forgiveness live
that was gained on the mount of blood;
In the midst of a world of pain
it is a subject for praise in every place,
a song on earth, an anthem in heaven,
its love and virtue knowing no end.

I have a longing for the world above
where multitudes sing the great song,
for my soul was never created to love the dust of the earth.
Though here my spiritual state is frail and poor,
I shall go on singing Calvary's anthem.
May I always know that a clean heart full of goodness
is more beautiful than the lily,
that only a clean heart can sing by night and day,
that such a heart is mine when I abide at Calvary.

Amen!

Take some time today to meditate on this prayer. Thank HIM for what He did for you at Calvary! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 31; Judges 11-12; Luke 6:1-26

Dig This Quote: He is always thinking about us. We are before His eyes. The Lord’s eye never sleeps, but is always watching out for our welfare. We are continually on his heart. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 91:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:1-4

An Inescapable Pattern

An Inescapable Pattern

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." -- Psalm 33:10-11

The news these days is really troubling. The economy still remains a major issues, the recent disasters: earthquakes, tsunami's, floods, and then there is the growing concerns with intensified trouble in the Middle East and the fear that either Israel or Iran could push us into a major world war.

I recently read this devotional in HOW GREAT THOU ART (Multnomah) which was a great reminder and brought peace to my heart ...

World events take on a new dimension when viewed in the light of the Person who controls. Out of the confusion and blunders of men emerges an inescapable pattern of divine direction.

First, EVERYTHING FITS INTO A DESIGN. Looking upward and forward, we may say, "For what purpose was this? What good will come from this that will completely justify our present disappointment and grief?" Viewed negatively and judged by our limited insight, the answer is never satisfactory. Viewed positively, however, things tend to fall into place and reveal a marvelous long-range plan.

Second, GOD SEES WHAT MEN DO NOT SEE. Astronauts on a space journey are confined to cramped quarters. Even when they can look out through tiny windows, what they see tells them little about where they are going. They depend upon their instruments and their contact with Mission Control. Only God knows history from the beginning to end. The only logical attitude is to trust His judgment and let Him lead.

Third, GOD GUIDES HIS PEOPLE, NOT ONLY BY THE SPIRIT AND THE WRITTEN WORD, BUT ALSO THROUGH WHAT GOES ON AROUND THEM. Instead of making the best of unfortunate circumstances, He actually CONTROLS circumstances and brings VICTORY out of what men might have intended as defeat.

Fourth, THE LORD IS ALWAYS PRESENT WITH HIS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO VENTURE OUT IN OBEDIENCE TO THE GREAT COMMISSION. Following His command, "Go," He says, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

God is still in command. He has no need to consult the news media to see what is good news or bad, important or trivial. For Him there are no accidents, no tragedies -- ALL THINGS are under the control of HIS sovereign hand.

That is a good reminder and helps us to interpret what is going on around us. We do not have to fear, fret or worry -- HE IS IN CONTROL! Praise the Lord. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 30; Judges 9-10; Luke 5:17-39

Dig This Quote: When God measures the greatness of an individual, He puts the tape measure around the heart, not the head. – Dr. Bruce Wilkinson

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 91:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:1-4

Life’s Marathon

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (King James Version)

Today folk seem to feel that we must all win the race. Our children should all be above average. Or Founding Fathers said we were all created equal not that we all ended our lives equally.

In a Marathon only one wins but all who reach the finish line can wear the Tee Shirt. “I ran in the Marathon” Can we wear the the shirt that says “I ran in Heaven’s Marathon!”

In a Marathon many have fallen but got up and ran again. Some have even come in the next day. So when you stumble and fall, get up, run on. Trust God who is able to keep you from falling to get you to the finished line. Jude 1:24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..." -- Dr. George Van Sandt is a friend of America's KESWICK and contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 29; Judges 7-8; Luke 5:1-16

Dig This Quote: The word 'christian' means different things to different people. To one person it means a stiff, upright, inflexible way of life, colourless and unbending. To another it means a risky, surprised-filled adventure, lived tiptoe at the edge of expectation...If we get our information from the biblical material, there is no doubt that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life. Eugene Peterson

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 91:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:1-4

All Creatures of Our God and King

All Creatures of Our God and King

"Sing unto the Lord a new song, and praise Him in His congregation." Psalm 149:1

Good morning, brothers (and sisters)! Today is HIS day -- it is day of celebration and praise as well remember the events that took place on Palm Sunday!

I love this hymn and encourage your to bless HIS holy name today, worshipping Him:

All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise HIM! O praise HIM! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that are so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise HIM! O praise HIM!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise HIM! O praise HIM! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warm and light,
O praise HIM! O praise HIM! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things your Creator bless,
And worship HIM in humbleness,
O praise HIM! O praise HIM!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him! O praise HIM! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This morning as you gather together to worship HIM, your AUDIENCE OF ONE -- Let your heart be filled with praise and adoration: HE IS KING of kings and LORD of lords! Alleluia! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 28; Judges 4-6; Luke 4:31-44

Dig This Quote: Give up the struggle and the fight; relax in the omnipotence of the Lord Jesus; look up into His lovely face and as you behold Him, He will transform you into His likeness. You do the beholding - He does the transforming. There is no short-cut to holiness. Alan Redpath

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 91:1; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:1-4

UPCOMING EVENT
May is fast approaching and we will be hosting our 2nd annual Family Freedom Walk on Saturday, May 8th. You can help in two ways. 1. walk – call guest services to obtain a walk package, solicit sponsors and come to the walk. 2. (this is a fun one) Sponsor Freedom Fighters for the walk. We are having a friendly competition between the 2 groups of devotional readers (Freedom Fighters and Victory Call). Our goal is to raise more funds for the Freedom Fighters team than the women raise for the Victory Call team.

If you would like to join the fun, simply go to this link on our website https://01.secure.elexio.com/donations.aspx?id=366346&websiteurl=http://www.americaskeswick.org&siteid=2184 fill out the information and indicate in the “DESIGNATION” area : Family Freedom Walk: Freedom Fighters or if you prefer make your check out to America’s KESWICK and put in the memo line: FFW/Freedom Fighters and mail to : America’s KESWICK 601 Route 530 Whiting, NJ 08759. ALL DONATIONS MUST ARRIVE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH in order to be counted for our TEAM. Come on men, we can do it!!!

Be Strong in the Lord

Be Strong in the Lord

"Finally, be strong in the Lord." Ephesians 6:10

I am not telling you anything new, brothers. We are in a battle. There's no way of getting around it. We can chose to bury our heads in the sand and try to ignore it, hoping it goes away, or to what Paul says, and BE STRONG IN THE LORD.

Puritan Preacher, John Gibbon, penned these powerful and straight forward words:

What methods should a Christian use in the battle of spiritual warfare to defy the enemy and vanquish him? Bring your lusts under the rule of your reason. Will you let your silly lust abuse and become a traitor to your own soul? Will you allow your passion to rise in arms and grow unruly?

Let your reason arise and take its place as master. What a silly thing is man in a passion. Nothing is more ridiculous and contemptible. If your must overcomes reason, bid your conscience to do its work, and look to SCRIPTURE for support. If the love of God's commands will not restrain you, let the terrors and the thunders of His threats persuade you.

Draw the curtain of your heart open, and show it God's majesty and ask if it realizes that He is looking on. Tell your heart again and again that God will not be mocked. Seek to draw the stream of your lusts in a different direction. If it is vain-glory in the applause of men, think how ridiculous it would be for a criminal to please himself in the esteem of his fellow prisoners, and forget how guilty he is before the judge.

If these means do not help, fall instantly to prayer. Throw yourself at His feet. Tell Him you will not rise until He has given you a token for good. Perhaps sometimes you might add fasting with your prayer. When you have done this, rise up and buckle on the shield of faith. Clothe your soul with a heroic confidence in the power and faithfulness of your God, and in the name and majesty of the Lord of hosts to make battle with your lusts.

God never fails the eyes of them that look to Him. His people will never be ashamed to hope in Him. His name a strong tower. Cast your care upon Him and expect the same pity that Jabesh-Gilead found from Saul: "Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance." (1 Samuel 11:9) -- Voices From the Past -- Puritan Devotional Readings (Banner of Truth)

Are you battling an area in your life that is out of control? Are you tired of battling this sin pattern in your life? Then take the steps and do business with HIM today. Don't wait -- today is the day!!! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 27; Judges 1-3; Luke 4:1-30

Dig This Quote: Our hearts beat excitedly over stories of people like Abraham and Moses, yet we fail to recognize that they were as frail and nervous as we are. We stand in awe of Moses at the burning bush: Now there is a bush that burns, we say. I would like to be a bush like that, but I'm just a heap of ashes. And that's as far as we get. We discuss the phenomenon of what God can do in a life, tell amazing stories about it, praise it - but then resign ourselves to being nothing more than what we think we are, a mere bystander, resigned to sitting in the balcony among the spectators. But it is not the bush that sustains the flame. It is God in the bush, and so, any old bush will do! Tim Hansel

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 78:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

Lay Aside the Sin That So Easily Entangles You

Lay Aside the Sin That So Easily Entangles You

"Lay aside ... sin which clings so closely." Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Many of you have come to love the book, THE VALLEY OF VISION (The Banner of Truth) which contains prayers of the Puritans. I just received a brand new devotional book from Banner of Truth, VOICES FROM THE PAST -- PURITAN DEVOTIONAL READINGS, and brothers, this is a must get for your devotional readings!!! I will make i available on the Keswick On-Line Bookstore.

The Puritan preachers did not beat around the bush! They spoke the truth, and we need more preachers today who will not be afraid to declare the truth of God's Word. Here was the reading from Preacher John Gibbons (1659-1689) which I believe is one of great importance for us:

At times temptation presses in with violent demands. To combat the power and force of these we must prepare our hearts with strong antidotes beforehand. Fix your heart upon your true treasure, your fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

Flee to God to hide you. Here the tempter cannot reach you. Be much in communion with God, and the devil will have little communication with you. If he does try, he will have little effect. The soul is secure under the deep, warm, and constant sense of God's being your all in all.

What powerful ammunition this is against the assaults and incursions of the tempter. Take up your wings, O Christian, and fly away that you may be at rest (Isaiah 40:31). When the soul has taken its flight, O how easily does it soar above the smoke and the dust of fleshly lusts! Rusty spots on cold metal disappear when it is heated and burns red hot.

Get your heart on fire and you will be Elijah-like in a flaming chariot of longings after God. Love your dear Master, and you will not find a love for sin. Consider also that things morally good or evil are not so just because one is commanded and the other forbidden, but it is what they are essentially and unalterably. They are fixed in their natures.

Bathe your soul with the everlasting beauty of holiness, and the horror of ugliness of all iniquity. Also, understand your own self. Do not be a stranger to yourself. Unlock your bosom, and ransack every corner of your heart. Make a diligent search. Feel the pulse of your own soul. Don't let any region of your mind be undiscovered. Watch how the tempter has taken advantage of you in the past. Make these searches daily and compare them to the eternal law of God. These considerations will greatly help in the prevention and cure for the sins which so easily best us.

That last paragraph is one that should be burned on the hard drive of our minds today. Take a piece of paper or a 3X5 card and turn that paragraph into a prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to work that into your soul today. Are we willing to let Him ransack every corner of our heart today? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 26; Psalm 40-42; Acts 27:1-26

Dig This Quote: The blessed, fruitful, victorious experiences of yesterday are not only of no value to me today, but they will actually be eaten up or reversed by today's failures, unless they serve as incentives to still better, richer experiences today. S. D. Gordon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 73:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

To Be or Not to Be a Titus

To Be or Not to Be A Titus

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.” Titus 2:1-2 (NASB)

So how old do you think you have to be before you are called an “Older Man”? Well older man translates the single Greek word “presbutes” and was used by Paul to describe himself and he was in his sixties when he used the term but in Greek literature the term was sometimes for men as young as 50. However the Romans said you were an older man after 40. I’m 47 and my body has its aches and pains as it should for a guy at my age but I have my times when I think a lot younger than I am.

Paul left Titus on Crete telling him help is on the way but until then you got a lot to do on your own. In the first chapter (vv 5-9) of Titus he gets told to go into the towns and appoint elders and then he is given the ground rules for these “Elders”. These qualifications are so hardcore that they are used to qualify Pastor’s. But in reality aren’t they really are good guidelines for all of God’s men? And if we say we are men of God and doers of the Gospel, part of our job is to speak out on the things that make for sound doctrine anytime, anyplace, anywhere.

As men of God we need to know what things have the greatest importance. To discern the value of things that needs to be in the right order. To be able to say such things in a way that is neither undignified nor ungodly. Not to be trivial, superficial, or as I like to say being “plastic”, like wearing a mask at a costume party. And to “walk” with a sense of sound judgment that exhibits you are in step with the Lord. And I don’t mean the one foot in front of the other kind of walking but the walking on the illuminated path kind of walking.

The second part of verse two tells us that the “Elder” needs to be sound in a few areas. The use of the word “sound” refers to that which is as it ought to be. When our faith is sound we don’t question His wisdom, power or love. We don’t lose trust in His grace or divine plan. When our love in Him is sound we don’t mind carrying the burdens of one another. We forgive and serve one another with a healthy sense of love. How about to be sound in perseverance? Do we have the ability to exhibit the graciousness others need to see when we have had to accept those times of disappointment and failure? Are we able to stand and say we believe “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called to His purpose”?

So can I safely sit here and tell you I fall right in line with everything I just put down? Nope!! I would be a liar. What I can tell you is that there are times when God sets the bar a little higher for me. I really didn’t think I would get the maintenance free kind of salvation when I came to the foot of the Cross anyway so it is better to be challenged every step of the way rather than being left alone with my fire insurance plan. History doesn’t know what happened to Titus and the Bible doesn’t tell us either but I can tell that this… I thought Titus was only three chapters long. I was wrong.

To be or not to be a Titus that is the question. Which is nobler in your mind this morning? -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 25; Joshua 19-21; Luke 2:25-52

Dig This Quote: (On older believers) “They have learned the value of time and opportunity. They better accept and comprehend their own morality, the imperfections of this present world, and the inability of material things to give lasting, deep satisfaction. They have seen Utopian ideas fail and have learned how short-lived and disappointing euphoric emotional experiences can be, even those---or perhaps especially those---that purport to be of a higher spiritual order.” The MacArthur NT Commentary: Titus John MacArthur

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 73:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

God's Provision Brings Glory

God's Provision Brings Glory

"Call unto Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:15

Yesterday I shared our experience driving to New Hampshire. The next day I was having my quiet time and this was the reading from Henry Blackaby's EXPERIENCING GOD, THE DEVOTIONAL (Broadman/Holman). It couldn't have been more timely:

Did you know that you bring glory to God by calling upon Him when you are in distress? God promised He would deliver you if you turned to Him. [We] deny the Lord the honor that is rightfully His every time you find yourself in difficulty and you fail to call upon Him for help!

There may be times when God allows you to reach a point of need so that you can call upon Him, and thus let Him demonstrate to a watching world the difference He makes in the lives of His children. If God never allowed [us] to experience need, people around [us] might never have the opportunity to witness God's provision in the life of a Christian. If [we] never faced a shortfall, [we] might be tempted to feel self-sufficient and without any need of God in [our] daily life.

Pride will tempt [us] to think that [we] do not need to seek God's assistance. Self-regard will seek to convince [us] that [we] can handle our dilemma through our own wisdom, resources, and hard work. Pride will also rob glory from God and seek to give it to me. Don't allow your pride to take what rightfully belongs to the Lord. Call upon your Lord and wait exclusively upon Him to rescue you,

Self-sufficiency can greatly hinder [our] ability to experience God and bring Him honor. The next time you are in distress, turn to Him!

Wow! That could not have been more appropriate for our situation! What are you facing today, my dear brothers? Rather than fear and fret, turn and run to HIM! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 24; Joshua 16-18; Luke 2:1-24

Dig This Quote: Learn to put your hand on all spiritual blessings in Christ and say, “Mine!” – Dr. Bruce Wilkinson

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 78:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

Same Song, Second Verse

SAME SONG, SECOND VERSE

"Call upon ME in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:15

Last Tuesday I spoke for our monthly Breakfast Network at America's KESWICK. I am the one who invites the speakers and assigns the topics, so I actually assigned myself the topic: Gratefulness vs. Murmuring. Little did I know that in several hours of delivering my message, I would have to apply the truth that I challenged our folks to live out.

After the breakfast we left for New Hampshire where to spend some time with our kids, and then to also do two ministry engagements. In June we made the same trek, and outside of Hartford, CT, our timing belt went on our PT Cruiser.

Jan and I were discussing the fact that the PT was getting very tight for our son, Zach, who is now taller than both of us. Time to start looking. Right outside of Hartford, the engine coolant light came on and the car began to overheat. We were at a place where we could pull off and called AAA.

My normal, fleshly reaction: panic and frustration. But God gave an incredible amount of peace. The two truck driver arrived within 15 minutes of our call, but could only take Zach and I. We left Jan at Wendy's and headed to the unknown. The garage diagnosed our problem as a blown head gasket = $1100 +.

We checked in with our son-in-law and he said, "We'll come and get you." AAA towed us 100 miles to Greenfield, MA, and the kids met us. The bottom line is that it turned out not to be a head gasket but a bad thermostat!!!

All morning the Holy Spirit was tapping me on the shoulder: Are you going to be grateful or complain about the situation? It was my choice. We chose to thank the Lord for His goodness, for His timing, and that He knew the outcome. We could have complained! Why us? Why another breakdown in Hartford? But we chose to thank Him that we were not stuck in rain or snow. We were thankful for a son-in-law (thanks, Jon!) who was willing to drive almost 1.5 hours to come and rescue us. We were thankful that we weren't in a accident.

I would be lying if I said I was always grateful, but on this day, it was good to be grateful rather than complain. What are you facing today? Will you be grateful or complain? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 23; Joshua 13-15; Luke 1:57-80

Dig This Quote: God said He would make Abram’s name great so that He could make him a blessing to future generations. Then over the next twenty-five years, God developed Abraham’s character to match the name He had given him. – Dr. Henry Blackaby

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 73:28 ; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

The Master Will Judge

THE MASTER WILL JUDGE

"We must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ ..." 2 Corinthians 5:10

We don't hear messages on this topic anymore. But it is something that should be burned of the hard drive of our minds. I believe it is a truth that will help us to think about the way we live our lives, how we walk, and the decisions we make. One day we will ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Listen to what Oswald Chambers writes in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST:

Paul says that we must all, preachers and other people alike, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ." But if you will learn here and now to live under the scrutiny of Christ’s pure light, your final judgment will bring you only delight in seeing the work God has done in you. Live constantly reminding yourself of the judgment seat of Christ, and walk in the knowledge of the holiness He has given you.

Tolerating a wrong attitude toward another person causes you to follow the spirit of the devil, no matter how saintly you are. One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purposes of hell in you. Bring it immediately into the light and confess, "Oh, Lord, I have been guilty there." If you don’t, your heart will become hardened through and through. One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it.

It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No power, except the power that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherent consequences of sin. -"If we walk in the light as He is in the light. . ." ( 1 John 1:7 ). For many of us, walking in the light means walking according to the standard we have set up for another person.

The deadliest attitude of the Pharisees that we exhibit today is not hypocrisy but that which comes from unconsciously living a lie.

Very powerful reminder today, my brothers. Allow this truth to burn into your heart and mind. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 22; Joshua 10-12; Luke 1:39-56

Dig This Quote: “The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths” (Psalm 135:6). Such is the imperial Monarch revealed in Holy Scripture – unrivaled in majesty, unlimited in power, undirected by anything outside Himself.” – Arthur W. Pink

Determined Digging -- Level 1 --Psalm 73:28; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:8-11

HIS MATCHLESS WORTH

HIS MATCHLESS WORTH

"This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:23

Today is the Lord's Day! I came across this old hymn that is not in most hymnals, but the words are so powerful. Allow the words to fill your soul as you prepare to worship HIM today:

O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound glories forth
Which in my Savior shine!
I'd sing His perfect righteousness,
And magnify the wondrous grace
Which made salvation mine,
Which made salvation mine.

I'd sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt
Of sin, and wrath divine;
I'd sing His glorious holiness,
In which all-perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine,
My soul shall ever shine.

I'd sing the character He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears,
Exalted on His throne;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known,
Make all His glories known.

Soon the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see His face;
Then with my Savior, brother, friend,
A blest eternity I'll spend,
Triumphant in His grace,
Triumphant in His grace.

May your heart be filled with praise and adoration as you worship HIM -- your audience of One! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 21; Joshua 7-9; Luke 1:21-38

Dig This Quote:It should be a constant theme of prayer that in our day the reign of the Lord may be conspicuous and His power displayed in His church and on her behalf. YOUR KINGDOM COME should be our daily prayer. That the Lord Jesus DOES reign should be our daily praise. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 73:28; Level 2 --Psalm 46:8-11

God Is Sovereign

God Is Sovereign

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." 1 Chronicles 29:11

The sovereignty of God is something that each of us must come to understand. God is in control of all things! The late preacher and author, Arthur W. Pink, helps us to understand this most often confused doctrine:

The sovereignty of God is an expression that once was generally understood. It was a phrase commonly used in religious literature. It was a theme frequently expounded in the pulpit. It was a truth which brought comfort to many hearts and gave strength and stability to Christian character.
But it many quarters today, to make mention of God's sovereignty is to speak in an unknown tongue. Were we to announce from the average pulpit that the sermon topic would be the sovereignty of God, it would sound very much as though we had borrowed a phrase from one of the dead languages. How sad that the doctrine which is key to history, the interpreter of providence, the warp and woof of Scripture, the foundation of Christian theology, should be so sadly neglected and so little understood!

When we speak of the sovereignty of God, we mean the SUPREMACY of God, the KINGSHIP of God, the GODHEAD of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that GOD IS GOD. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the MOST HIGH, who does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of earth, so that no one can hold back His hand or say to Him: "What have You done?" (Daniel 4:35).

To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the ALMIGHTY, the possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that NO ONE can defeat HIS plans, thwart HIS purposes, or resist HIS will (Psalm 115:3). To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is "the blessed and ONLY Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:15) Such is the God of the Bible. -- from HOW GREAT THOU ART -- Multnomah


By the way, Arthur W. Pink was a Bible teacher and commentator who lived from 1886 - 1952! Today, you and I can rest in the fact that we have a God who is sovereign, not just in some things, but in ALL things. All this truth to burn in your heart as you prepare for the Lord's day. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 20; Joshua 4-6; Luke 1:1-20

Dig This Quote: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Christians is a God of love and comfort, a God who fills the soul and heart of those whom he possesses, a God who makes them conscious of their inward wretchedness, and his infinite mercy; who unites himself to their inmost soul, who fills it with humility and joy, with confidence and love, who renders them incapable of any other end than himself. Blaise Pascal

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Psalm 46:1-7

Israel -- Nothing Like It in History

ISRAEL -- NOTHING LIKE IT IN HISTORY

"I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people." Micah 2:12

I read this article several weeks ago and thought it was a good reminder to all of us as to why God has such a heart for Israel:

In all the records of kings and nations, is there anything to match the history of the Jews? Never was there any other such high calling with such deep sinning; never such unique privilege with such big responsibility.

Never has any race or nation suffered such recurrent slaughterings and scatterings without disintegrating into extinction. If the Jewish people could have retained at least some small territorial foothold somewhere on earth, there might have been some explanation for their continual survival. But for over two thousand years they have had no throne, no kingdom, no colony, no land, no city, no laws of their own. YET THEY ARE STILL HERE!

From the time of Xerxes about 500 B.C., down to the demon-possessed Adolph Hitler, they have been hounded, tortured, burned alive, or buried alive together in hundreds or thousands by maddened Jew haters determined to stamp them out completely. YET THEY ARE STILL HERE!

Today they are back in their own land -- "Eretz Yizrael" -- with their own government, their own laws, their own legal system, their own coins, their own language and their own institutions. After an historical hiatus of 2,300 years, they are again acknowledged by the nations as a self-governing state. There has never been anything like it in all of history.

What does this say to you and me? It says that God is sovereign in history. Is says that whatever God may allow to happen in His present, permissive will, He overrules all so as ultimately to fulfill His purposive will. It says that God does not violate the free will of men and nations, while at the same time He overrules all to a final, righteous outcome. NOTHING can ultimately defeat God. His purpose ALWAYS triumphs in the end! -- J. Sidlow Baxter -- from HOW GREAT THOU ART -- Multnomah

Brothers, God is sovereign. As He loves Israel, HE LOVES YOU! A good reminder on this 19th day of March! Pray for peace in Jerusalem. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 19; Joshua 1-3; Mark 16

Dig This Quote: There is always time to look up to Him for His smile. -- F. B. Meyer

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7

From Futility to Forgiveness

From Futility to Forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-11)

An early church father, Cassiodorus, said, “foolish people believe that God remains ignorant of their actions.” One of David’s psalms helps us understand that God does know all that we do. Further, he teaches us that what we do will bring either consequences or blessings to our lives. Let’s think about it.

David speaks of the futility of trying to avoid his sin, to try to keep his failures undercover so God wouldn’t know about them. Read Ps. 32:3&4, and you will see what that got David. You will also see what it gets us, when we try to hide our deeds from God. It was an awful way to live, and he felt the heavy hand of God on his life.

How did he get from futility to forgiveness? David describes a process that includes recognition of his sins (vss. 3&4), acknowledgement of those sins (vs. 5a), confession of his sins (vs. 5b), and forgiveness of his sins (vs. 5c). We don’t know how long the process took, but it brought him to his senses and moved him from futility to forgiveness.

Once past the process, the psalmist makes some encouraging discoveries. When we live forgiven, God takes care of us in some specific and special ways. David discovered that God protects those He has forgiven. (vss. 6&7) God’s powerful presence surrounds and sustains those He has forgiven. He also provides instruction for those He has forgiven. (vs. 8a) We don’t have to live by our own devices because God promises that He will give us all the instruction and teaching we need to walk in “the way.”

Finally, the psalmist learns of an intimate, personal kind of relationship he has with God since being forgiven: I will guide you with my eye. (vs. 8b) This forgiving God chooses to live close enough to us that it is as though we can see His eyes and know how to stay in “the way” by watching His eyes move one way or another.

Whether a follower of Jesus or one considering becoming a follower, these words ring true for all of us. We who follow Jesus can allow sin to creep into our lives. We try to ignore it, and we discover the same futility David experienced. Only in living out the process of Psalm 32 can we move to forgiveness and the promises that are ours when we walk in “the way” with our Savior. May God help us move from futility to forgiveness! -- Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River, New Jersey

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 15:26-47

Dig This Quote: We are God’s own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed towards Him as our only legitimate goal. – John Calvin

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7

Yielding

Yielding

" ... you are the one's slaves whom you obey ... " Romans 6:16

Yesterday we talked about giving Him your ALL. This is a great follow-up to yesterday's devotional. It comes from the writings of Oswald Chambers in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST ...

The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.

If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth. There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding. For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing. (Remember what lust is— "I must have it now," whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.) No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power in your life, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ. ". . . He has anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives . . ." ( Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 61:1 ).

When you yield to something, you will soon realize the tremendous control it has over you. Even though you say, "Oh, I can give up that habit whenever I like," you will know you can’t. You will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you willingly yielded to it. It is easy to sing, "He will break every fetter," while at the same time living a life of obvious slavery to yourself. But yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.

Brothers, what are you yielding to today? Is the Holy Spirit tapping you gently about an area of your life that you need to yield to Him? If He is, purpose to do it right now! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 17; Deuteronomy 30-31; Mark 15:1-25

Dig This Quote: Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. John Ortberg

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7

Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

Lord of All

LORD OF ALL

"In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." 1 Peter 3:15

At a recent hymnsing, we sang several songs written by Southern Gospel (I confess it was in a weak moment) artist, Audrey Mieir. One of her songs is entitled, ALL HE WANTS IS YOU. One phrase in that songs reads: "Not just a part, He wants ALL of your heart ..."

One of the reasons that so many of us struggle is because we struggle with complete surrender. We will give God 75% or maybe even 95% of our lives. But He doesn't settle for partial surrender -- He wants to be Lord of All!

Listen to the words of Chris Tiegreen: When we became Christians, we confessed Jesus as Lord. When we pray, we call Him Lord. But as we live, is He really Lord in our hearts? The words of our mouths do not tell the whole story. There is a depth in most of our hearts to which Jesus' Lordship does not go. As much as we call Him Lord, most of us have held back a corner of our heart to ourselves. His Lordship extends only so far.

The work of the Holy Spirit is bringing us to maturity in Christ to extent the Lordship of Jesus to EVERY INCH OF OUR LIVES. It is a contentious process. We want the benefits of being a Christian -- such as salvation, peace, joy and the like -- but we want to retain a little autonomy as well. We have internal struggles that our friends and family do not see. There are places in our hearts that we guard, holding the Holy Spirit at a distance. We like to control the tempo of our discipleship.

To the extent that we do this, we base our lives on a false supposition -- that we have the RIGHT to govern ourselves, even after we've supposedly laid our all on the altar. It is an unwise position to try to manage Jesus' Lordship over us. In fact, it isn't His Lordship at all when we control even a portion of our lives.

The question is this: Is Jesus Lord of 100 percent of your heart? Your thoughts, your behaviors, your dreams? What corners of your being have you retained for yourself? Whatever they are, they are footholds for the enemy and shelters for the sinful flesh.

Jesus desires more of you that you have given to him at this point. HE WANTS IT ALL! This seems like painful surrender to us, but from HIS perspective, it is a happy day when one of His people lays it all on the altar. Blessing is the result. He is trustworthy with EVERYTHING we give to Him, and HE will manage our lives better than we ever have. At no point resist Him; set Him apart as Lord. -- from ONE YEAR DEVOTIONAL -- WALK WITH GOD --Tyndale House

Well brothers ... have we surrendered some, most or all? Remember: not just a part -- He wants all of OUR hearts! How about it? -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; Deuteronomy 28-29; Mark 14:54-72

Dig This Quote: Christ is either Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. -- Hudson Taylor

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7

Blessed Beyond Measure

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE

"I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore ..." Genesis 22:17

Well my brothers, spring is just around the corner. It has been a long, hard winter. But it is almost over. And we survived. Some of you are a little bleary eyed this morning because you lost and hour of sleep, thanks for Daylight Savings time.

Today is a good day to be reminded of how blessed we are. In fact, if we really took the time to do an assessment, we would all end up coming to the same conclusion: WE ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

The great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon said this about God's blessing: The greatest blessing God gives us is His presence. If I could choose any of life's blessings, I certainly would not ask for wealth, because wealth cannot bring freedom from pain, concern, or anxiety. I certainly would not ask for popularity, because there is no rest for the world's leaders. My choice, my highest honor, would be to have God always with me!

When God is with us, there is no difference between Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19) and a comfortable bed. It does not matter! We will be happy in either. If God is for us, if His divine love surrounds us, then we carry our own atmosphere and residence wherever we travel, and we can say with Moses, "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations." (Psalm 40:1)

The individual who can say this is full of heaven, full of God, and blessed beyond measure. The is the privilege of all who truly believe in Jesus, of all who come out from the world, and of all who like Abraham, life a life of faith (Genesis 12:4). Bow your head, believer, and let the Lord God pronounce His blessing: "I will bless you!"

If you are sorrowing, suffering, weary or burdened, receive this blessing from God's own mouth, "I will bless you!" If you are poor, despised, or slandered, this blessing is not shortened. Take it with you, and go on your way rejoicing! -- from BESIDE STILL WATERS -- Words of Comfort for the Soul --Thomas Nelson (Thanks, Eddie, for giving me this book!)

Brothers .... rejoice! You have been blessed BEYOND MEASURE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; Deuteronomy 25-27; Mark 14:27-53

Dig This Quote: Bad will be the day for every man when he becomes absolutely contented with the life he is leading, with the thoughts he is thinking, with the deeds he is doing; when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger, which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is still, in spite of all, the child of God.
Phillips Brooks

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 --Psalm 46:1-7

A Prayer for Unity

Prayer for Unity

"But you are ... a people set apart to sing the praises of God." 1 Peter 2:9

Good morning, brothers. Today is the Lord's Day! A day to celebrate and worship Him. All across the globe the body of Christ will be gathering together to worship HIM -- our Audience of One!

For the past two weekends we have had several hundreds of our Hispanic brothers and sisters here for our annual Hispanic Weekends. The fellowship has been sweet -- and what is amazing -- everything is in Spanish. I have no clue what they are saying. And the singing -- oh my! What a sweetness as they worship the Lord.

Even though I cannot understand what they are saying or singing, we are one in Christ. Unity was important to our Savior. There is a big need for unity in the body of Christ. Here is a powerful prayer for unity.

Our Father, we thank You for the privilege of being together at this time and in this place.

As Your people, we pray that Your love will unite us into a fellowship of discovery.

Cleanse us from everything that would sap our strength for togetherness.

Unravel the knots in our spirits.
Cleanse the errors of our minds.
Free us from the bondage of our negative imaginations.
Break down the barriers that sometimes keep us apart and cause us to drift along without a dream.

As we go from here --
Explode in us new possibilities for service.
Kindle within us the fires of Your compassion so that we may not wait too long to learn to love.

May we be a people of loving purposes --
Reaching out ...
Breaking walls ...
Building bridges ...
Let us be Your alleluia in a joyless, fragmented world.

In the name of Jesus, our Lord, we pray. Amen -- Champ Traylor

May it be the prayer of our hearts as we gather today to worship Him. May we put aside the pettiness that so often affects our worship. Make us one, Lord. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; Deuteronomy 22-24; Mark 14:1-26

Dig This Quote: When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself. Neil T. Anderson

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 46:10; Level 2 -- Psalm 46:1-7

God's Honor Roll

God's Honor Roll

"The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd." Hebrews 11:2 -- The Message

God is looking for men who are willing live life above the average. Men that are willing to forsake all and follow Him no matter the costs. Men who are willing to trust HIM even when life doesn't make sense.

Thankfully, the Bible is filled with examples of men and women who rose above the average to trust Him and live for Him. Think about these examples:

ABEL rose above the average by giving God His best, instead of his leftovers.

ENOCH rose above the average by living a "Yes, God, yes! Anything for You" life.

NOAH rose above the average by building a boat at God's command even though there was no water.

ABRAHAM rose above the average by going without knowing and trusting God to provide.

SARAH rose above the average by believing God would do the impossible.
ISAAC rose above the average by determining what was right rather than doing what he wanted.
JACOB rose above the average by passing the faith of his fathers along to his family.

JOSEPH rose above the average by living victoriously even in the face of temptation and death.

MOSES rose above the average by choosing commitment over convenience.

RAHAB rose above the average by risking personal harm to protect the people of God.

How about us, brothers? Could our names be added to God's honor roll because we were willing to rise above the average? Let's purpose by His grace to break with mediocrity and impact our world. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; Deuteronomy 19-21; Mark 13:21-27

Dig This Quote: What then are we afraid of? Can we have too much of God? Is it a misfortune to be freed from the heavy yoke of the world, and to bear the light burden of Jesus Christ? Do we fear to be too happy, too much delivered from ourselves, from the caprices of our pride, the violence of our passions, and the tyranny of this deceitful world? -- Francois Fenelon

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 37:23; Level 2 - Psalm 40:1-5

HOW HONEST ARE YOU?

HOW HONEST ARE YOU?

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 12:22

I am at the point where I don't even like to watch the news anymore. It has nothing to do with the important stuff going on in our world. I am tired of hearing all the pundits talking about who's lying and not telling the truth. We live in a political world were lying and dishonesty abound, and it is on both sides of the aisle!

Listening to our grand kids talk at age 3, you realize how quickly we learn to lie and not tell the truth. It's a habit that starts when we are very young, and if we don't see lying from God's point of view, it can become a besetting sin that will eventually reap havoc in our lives.

Listen to what commentator, Dr. Jerry Bridges, says about lying in his book, THE FRUITFUL LIFE:

On Christmas Eve, our doorbell rang. Answering it, I found a little four-year old neighbor girl holding out a plate of cookies. "My mommy sent you some cookies," she said with a big smile. I thanked her and put them down someplace -- and promptly forgot about them for we were just leaving fro a church service.

A few days later as I was walking out to my car, the little girl came down the sidewalk on her tricycle and asked how I liked the cookies. "Oh, they were fine," I said, though I hadn't even tasted them.
As I drove away, I began thinking about this. I had lied. Why? Because it was expedient; it saved me embarrassment and the little girl's disappointment (though mostly I was concerned about myself). Sure, it was of little or no consequence. But God says without qualification that He detests lying.

Thinking further, I realized this wasn't an isolated incident. The Holy Spirit reminded me of other occasions of exaggeration and manipulating a story's facts just a bit. I had to face the fact that I wasn't quite as honest as I considered myself to be. God taught me a valuable, though humbling lesson.

As I've told the story of the cookies to some audiences, I've gotten a troubled reaction from a few people. Some sincere Christians think I am nit-picking. But consider Daniel. The record states that his enemies could find NO corruption in him (Daniel 6:4). It seems clear they would have seized upon any inconsistency. regardless of how small or insignificant, to bring Daniel into disrepute. But they could find NONE! Daniel had evidently mastered this matter of absolute integrity. We should have the same goal.

Wow! Would my enemies be able to say the same thing about me -- "They could find no corruption in him?" How about you? Lord, take control of my tongue! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 12; Deuteronomy 16-18; Mark 13:1-20

Dig This Quote: The holiness of God must cause us to walk continually in the fear of the Lord and to take careful inventory of all the complex desires of our hearts – and even to how we behave when we come near to Him in holy worship. – Richard Baxter

Determined Digging: Psalm 37:23; Psalm 40:1-5

HE IS ABLE

HE IS ABLE

"I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He IS ABLE!" -- 2 Timothy 1:12

When I woke up this morning to the birds singing and the sun shining brightly, my heart was overwhelmed with praise. I love spring -- and I know it is just around the corner.

As I opened the Word and worked through my daily devotionals, my heart jumped for joy because I needed to be reminded of this truth today: HE IS ABLE.

I have so many dates listed on March 8th of my copy of THE DAILY LIGHT (remember I write a couple of days ahead! :) ). I once again needed to be reminded that I serve a God WHO IS ABLE:

1. Able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

2. Able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

3. Able to aid those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

4. Able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).

5. Able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude 24).

6. Able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day (2 Timothy 1:12).

7. Able to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:21).

And the reading closes with these verses: "Do you believe that I AM ABLE to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." "According to your faith let it be to you."

Wow! It doesn't matter WHAT circumstances we might be facing -- HE IS ABLE! We are facing a HUGE financial need in the next week. We have been there before. Five of my devotionals this morning, all written years ago, all have the same message -- HE IS ABLE! I think God is trying to tell me something! How about you? Are you facing a mountain in your life? Be reminded this morning, my brother -- HE IS ABLE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 11; Deuteronomy 13-15; Mark 12:28-44

Dig This Quote: God doesn’t make suggestions. He speaks with the full determination to see that what He has said will come to fruition. – Henry Blackaby

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 37:23; Level 2 -- Psalm 40:1-5

Sealed With a Strap

Join us this Thursday evening for our March Men's Fellowship Night. Pastor Randy Smith (Grace Tabernacle, Belmar, NJ) will be our speaker. Dinner at 6:15 PM followed by the program and fun and fellowship in the Activity Center. Call for details and reservations: 732-350-1187

Sealed With a Strap

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself." But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich- except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion." Genesis 14:17-24(NKJV)

As I was going over my Tabernacle workbook I came across this passage in Scripture. I got this idea to go and take a peek at my wife’s notes from the same study. She has gone through this before me and has been a great “bounce back” for me as I work out what I am discovering in God’s Word.

After I looked at Kathy’s notes I noticed that she had some other verses that tied in something very interesting. So after we talked about how these other verses tied in I got to digging in. So here it goes…

We all know this as the moment where Abram meets Melchizedek. They met in the valley of Shaveh and this where the king of Salem brings Abram wine and bread and blesses him and his God. If we look into the Book of Hebrews we see that Jesus is compared to Melchizedek and what is going on here can be looked at as the, if you will, first communion with “El-Elyon” or God Most High. What gets shared here has an everlasting value. There is acknowledgement that God has given Abram victory and that He will be his Procter. AMEN.

But we have the part of the king of Sodom to look at now. He wants to deal with the spoils and the people or as in some translations “the souls”. The part here about the souls almost sounds like this king might as well be the Prince of the power of the air, huh? And Abram rebukes this king by stating quite simply, “I have raised my hand to the Lord” and then he says something that I want to dig into a little further. The part where he says, “that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap”. I will be going to Ruth 4:7 for this nugget. “Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was a confirmation in Israel.”

When you look at this from “Deuteronomical” viewpoint, the removing of sandal was seen as a legal transaction in ancient Israel. In one sense to give up a sandal was like surrendering the keys to your house. I think Abram was letting the king of Sodom know he didn’t need the keys to his house. Not to even want the sandal strap? Which leads me to this in Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry? He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Are you looking at your sandals a little differently? I don’t wear them)

As my study on the Tabernacle continues on, I am blown away about how much there was going on with what those tribes were being directed to do by God. It seems as if everything leads to Jesus Christ and the Cross. Well, alright…everything God does in our lives leads to Jesus Christ and the Cross. God made a promise back there in Genesis 3:15 and in the 14th chapter of the same book the King of Kings show up to give us an example of worship. And God also shows us that we don’t need the sandal strap of the unrighteous. This morning say AMEN to “EL-ELYON”!! -- Chris Huhges is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 10; Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27

Dig This Quote: “We ought, therefore, daily to practice this article, impress it upon our mind, and to remember it in all that meets our eyes, and in all good that falls to our lot, and wherever we escape from calamity or danger, that it is God who gives and does all these things, that therein we sense and see His paternal heart and His transcendent love toward us. Thereby the heart would be warmed and kindled to be thankful, and to employ all such good things to the honor and praise of God.” Luther's Larger Catechism-Article One-Of the Creed Martin Luther

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 37:32; Level 2 -- Psalm 40:1-5

A New Kind of R & R

A New Kind of “R and R” (Luke 15:11-32 & Isaiah 55:1-9)

If you are a sports enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of those athletes who “revived” or “resurrected” their careers after a serious injury or a year of very poor performance. Those kinds of stories aren’t uncommon to any of us.

If you have been a follower of Jesus very long, you probably know someone who has been away from the Lord and come back to Him. It is the story of a Christian who has seen his walk with the Lord “revived” or “resurrected.” Again, those kinds of stories aren’t uncommon. We hear more of them than we should!

Most, if not all of us who try to live for the Lord will need, at some time in our journey, revival, if not resurrection. At the very least, we are sometimes in need of a spiritual tune up. It is far too easy to get our spiritual engines plugged up with neglect, busyness, and sin. How do we come back? How do we see that renewal come into our lives?

I first remember hearing of the “R&R” concept during the Viet Nam war. The Armed Forces would rotate their men out of Viet Nam to somewhere else in the region, often Thailand, for “rest and recreation.” It is not uncommon these days to hear people say, “I need some R&R.” We know exactly what they mean, and we often feel the same way.

May I ask you to think about a different kind of “R&R” this morning? It’s the kind of “R&R” that will bring renewal and resurrection to your spiritual life. It can restore you to a place of victory if you’re living without victory. I’m not thinking about “rest and recreation,” however.

The first “R” in my “R&R” is REPENTANCE. Let me share a little with you about it’s meaning. It means to “turn around” or to “change one’s mind.” When the prodigal son “came to himself” (See Luke 15:17) while feeding the pigs, he experienced “repentance” or a “change of mind.” He changed his mind about himself and his situation and decided to go a different direction.

He also changed his mind about his father. He had shown little or no respect for his father when he left with his inheritance. He heads for home expecting to become a servant, but you know what happens. The ring on the finger, the robe, the feast tells him of a loving father who has never stopped caring about him. The prodigal son experienced a change of direction that set him on the road to renewal and resurrection.

The second “R” is RIGHTEOUSNESS. This word defines a way of living that adheres to a standard. For Christians, that standard is the instruction God gives us in His Word. The pursuit of righteousness is choosing to reject that which is of lesser value to go after that which is of greater value. Isaiah challenged the children of Israel to live with righteousness when asking them why they spent all their resources on that which cannot satisfy. (See Isaiah 55:1-9) Choosing righteousness will keep us on the road to renewal and resurrection.

Do you need some “R&R” today? -- John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist Toms River

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 9; Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-13

Dig This Quote: Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read or hear of to be gone to heaven, went there because they were so good and holy...Yet not one of them, not any one that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted), did ever come there any other way but by forgiveness of sins. John Owen

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 37:23; Level 2 -- Psalm 40:1-5

Personal Sin

Personal Sin

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Psalm 139:23-34

Yesterday was the Lord's day, and many of us celebrated the Lord's Table -- a time to remember what Christ did for us on the Cross. How easy we forget that He paid the full penalty for our sins.

We need to be reminded of sin and what it can do in our lives. We don't hear messages about sin anymore -- and if we do, we have joined the ranks of the culture and try to make the words that scripture uses for sin politically correct.

Glynn Evans words about personal sin were powerful in my reading today. Listen to what he writes in his daily devotional, DAILY WITH THE KING (Moody Press):

I can never be a true disciple of Jesus Christ until I adequately despise sin. It is not enough for me to abandon sin; I must loathe it. God refers to sin in terms of beastliness, the stubborn horse, the wily snake, the mud-loving pig. That is not accidental. The beast does what is natural to it; his behavior is instinctive, and it is not redeemable. The beastliness of sin represents sin in its farthest distance from God, not merely that which is DIFFERENT form God, but that which is OPPOSITE!

My true feeling about sin is never reflected about sin in general; it is always sin in ME! God never redeems abstractions or principles; He redeems people. UNTIL I LOATHE THE SIN THAT I COMMIT, the "darling sin: as George Whitefield once called it, I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD MY SIN AND HIS UNDYING DETERMINATION TO REDEEM ME FROM IT.

My true attitude toward a SPECIFIC sin seldom is formed BEFORE I commit it; that occurs afterward. It is difficult to see sin in its true light when it approaches me to tempt me. Then sin may often appear as "good" to the taste, "a delight to the eyes," and "desirable to make one wise" (Genesis 3:6). But once it has done its work, I see its viciousness, I feel defiled, I mourn my actions, and I turn to God in pitiful humiliation for His cleansing power.

To be a true disciple of Christ I must see the beastliness of sin before it works its devastation upon me. I must hate it everlastingly. I must never lose my grip on the fact that is was my very own sin that drove Jesus to tears, to loud outcries, to moaning and groaning, and to bloody nails. When I feel this way about my sin, I will understand Isaiah's "Woe is me" (Isaiah 6:5) and what it means to be cleansed with a coal from the altar.

I need to be reminded of this daily!!! I must view sin just like my Heavenly Father -- He hates it and so must I. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 8; Deuteronomy 4-6; Mark 11:1-18

Dig This Quote: God will lead you to no waters He cannot part, no brink He cannot cross, no pain He cannot bear. – Bruce Wilkinson

Determined Digging -- Level 1 -- Psalm 37:23; Level 2 -- Psalm 40:1-5

How Deep the Father's Love For Us

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US

"Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God's children." 1 John 3:1

Today is the Lord's Day, and for many of us, we will be celebrating the Lord's Supper. It is a time for us to once again be reminded of the love that the Father has lavished upon us in sending Jesus to be our Savior.

There are so many wonderful new hymns being written today. Here is one of my favorites:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give his only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss;

The Father turns His face away,

As wounds which marr the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life --

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,

No gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain His reward?

I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart;

His wounds have paid my ransom.

Words and Music -- Stuart Towsend
1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music

Worship Him! Thank Him for His great love. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 7; Deuteronomy 1-3; Mark 10:32-52

Dig This Quote: It does not matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies - whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer His heart.James Hudson Taylor

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 37:23; Level 2 -- Psalm 40:1-5

What Are You Thinking About?

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

Question for you -- what are the things that occupy your mind? You know what I mean -- what are you thinking about throughout the day? What are those random thoughts that get stuck in your head?

The Bible makes it very clear that what we think about impacts and effects our behavior. The battle with sin begins in our thoughts, in our minds. Our thoughts define who we are. Our minds are powerful tools, so it is important to think and meditate on the RIGHT things.

Henry Blackaby in his daily devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD (Broadman and Holman) hits that nail right on the head when he writes:

What you and I think about in our unguarded moments reflects what our minds dwell upon. What you speak about when your guard is down is a good gauge of what is in your heart (Matthew 12:34). Your mind needs exercise just as your physical body does. To keep your body healthy, you must be careful what you put into it, and you must exercise regularly.

To keep your thoughts pure, you must guard what goes into your mind. To exercise your mind, you must contemplate things that are noble and truths that stretch your mind.

Some Christians allow the world to fill their minds with ungodly thinking. Some people seem drawn to concentrate on the negative, choosing to be pessimistic about everything. Some remain satisfied with thinking of the mundane. Others fail to intentionally place Scripture in their thoughts, choosing instead to adopt human reasoning. Others, however, choose to expose their minds to the truths of God -- to that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good.

The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed by the way you live. If you focus on negative things, you will inevitably be a negative person. If you allow unholy thoughts to fill your mind, ungodliness will become common in your life. If you fill your mind with thoughts of Christ, you will become Christlike.

What you fill your mind with is a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magnificent truths of God, and they will create in you a noble character that brings glory to God.

So my brother, if I walk up to you today and said, "What are you thinking about right now?" -- What would your answer be? You are what you think! Paul gives us some great things to think about. Why not commit Philippians 4:8 to memory and start thinking about the RIGHT things. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 6; Numbers 35-36; Mark 10:1-31

Dig This Quote: I believe the Body of Christ must evaluate every resource available and think in a different way. The adult brain encodes knowledge and skills, joys and regrets, plans for the future. It makes us aware of ourselves by producing thoughts linked with our hearts’ desires and our belief system. The brain reflects our emotions by producing thoughts that will cause self-preservation after we have been hurt. The brain is constantly changing the landscape of how we see the world. – Chuck D. Pierce

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 30:5; Level 2 -- Psalm 37:23-26

Out of the Zone

OUT OF THE ZONE

"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus, the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before we know it, he brings us alongside of someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us." -- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (The Message)

I have come to the conclusion that God does have an amazing sense of humor. One of the things that I have noticed is that He loves to take His kids out of their comfort zones so that He can display His power and glory. God's Word is filled with illustrations of this truth.

This week I received a call from a partner asking if I would take a dear friend to the local hospital. This dear friend, at age 93, had been caring for her friend (age 89), and the 89 year old had fallen in the bathroom and was being transported to the hospital by ambulance.

When I arrived at the house, the 93 year old saint was really emotionally distraught over her friend needing to go the hospital. We prayed and made our way to the hospital. I took her into the ER, and told her to call me when she had an update. By the time I made it back to America's KESWICK the call came in that the 89 year old friend had gone home to be with Jesus in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

I spoke with my 93 year old friend and told her I would meet her at the same place where I dropped her off. I parked the car and realized she wasn't there. I went into the waiting room and there was a huge line waiting to be helped, so I went to the security guard to see if he could tell me where this dear lady was waiting.

He immediately knew who I was talking about and said, "Follow me!" What I wasn't prepared for was where he was taking me -- the morgue! This dear woman was there saying goodbye to her life-long friend.

Standing there I began to chuckle! Most of my family and friends know that I first of all don't do hospitals, and second of all, I don't do dead people. My first reaction was, "No, Lord, I can't do this," but then I was amazed at the sense of His presence and peace in having to step out of my comfort zone in order to comfort this dear lady.

We often go through experiences of life that shake us to the core only to discover that at some point, God uses those painful experiences in our lives so that we can come along others who are going through similar circumstances.

Years ago, Jan and I went through a very painful experience when our small Christian bookstore business went bankrupt. It was a horrible experience for us and our kids. But I am amazed at how often we have sat with people who were facing a similar experiencing, and have had them say, "Well, you will never understand this ... " Then we share how God worked in our lives during those dark days, and we can comfort others with the comfort He provided for us.

Is God asking YOU to step out of YOUR comfort zone to come alongside of someone else? Don't resist it! You will be amazed at the blessing of getting out of the zone to comfort someone else with the same comfort that HE has provided for you. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 5; Numbers 32-34; Mark 9:30-50

Dig This Quote: No revolution that has taken place in society can be compared to that which has been produced by the words of Jesus Christ.Mark Hopkins

Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 30:5; Level 2 -- Psalm 37:23-26