Are You Daring Enough to Trust God in 2012

Are You Daring Enough to Trust God in 2012

“Come on …! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over … God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing whatever.” Judges 18:9-10

This is the last Freedom Fighter for 2011 and I wanted to thank you for joining me on the journey this past year.

The past few days have been exciting because in my heart of hearts I feel like the Lord is about to do some incredible things. All of my devotional reading and even the books He has led me to read have all had this common theme about trusting God, walking by faith, and looking with expectancy to see what HE will do.

This morning I read these words from Streams In The Desert:  We have to have appropriating faith when it comes to God’s promises and should make His Word our OWN personal possession. A child was once asked what appropriating faith was, and he answered, “It is taking a pencil and underlining every ‘me,’ ‘my,’ and ‘mine’ in the Bible.

Pick any word you want that He has spoken and say, “That word is my word.” Put your finger on a promise and say, “It is mine!” How much of God’s Word have you received and endorsed, and how much have you been able to say, “This has been done in my life?” By how many of the promises have you signed your name and said, “This has been fulfilled to me?” Do not miss your inheritance through your own neglect.

I am thankful for the legacy left by my wife’s grandfather, George B. Toms and her Mom (Florence Toms). Pop taught us to mark our Bibles, claim the promises of God, and record the answers to prayer. Their Bibles are filled with dates, notations, underlinings when God spoke to them through His Word.

The question for you and me is this: are we bold enough, daring enough to trust God for this year? I trust you will join me with expectancy as we move into 2012. God bless you. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: When faith goes to market, it always takes a basket.

Compass Pointers: Revelation 12-18; Psalm 149; Proverbs 30

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:Malachi 4:5-6; Level 2: Malachi 4:5-6

Anchored to the Rock: No matter what prayer has secured, attained or achieved for us, BOUNDLESS possibilities still lie before us. It may be doubted where we have yet touched more than the fringe of the garment of a prayer-hearing God. We come timid and trembling when we ought to come BOLDY and CONFIDENTLY. We ask but little, where we should only honor God by making large demands. Arthur T. Pierson

For the New Year

For the New Year

My friend, Dr. Art Larson who spoke at America’s Keswick on many occasions put this in his 2011 Christmas letter. I thought it was worth sharing with you as we approach the end of 2011:

Click on picture to download the 2012 plan

Ten Rules for Happier Living

1. Give something away (no strings attached).

2. Do a kindness (and forget it).

3. Spend time with an older person (experience is priceless).

4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel).

5. Laugh often (it is life’s lubricant).

6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough).

7. Pray (or you will lose your way).

8. Work (with vim and vigor when possible).

9. Plan as though you will live forever (you will) and

10. Live as though you will die tomorrow (you will die on some tomorrow)

.

Good words for this 29^th day of December.  Thanks, Pastor Art for these 10 rules! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Revelation 6-11; Psalm 148; Proverbs 29

Compass Pointers: O let me never lose sight of my need of a Savior, or forget that apart from Him I am nothing and can do nothing. From The Valley of Vision – Prayers of the Puritans

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:Malachi 4:5-6; Level 2: Malachi 4:5-6

Anchored to the Rock: None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. Martin Luther

Neglect Forget Replace

Neglect, Forget, Replace. 

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.” Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV) 

As the year comes to close I reflect back to what I heard Dr. Harry Wood, Superintendent of the Penn-Jersey Wesleyan District, say in a sermon recently…”what is neglected is forgotten, what is forgotten is replaced, what is replaced becomes our god.” He came to this conclusion during a trip Oberlin College. While there, he went to the library to read the writings of its founder, Charles Finney. To his dismay, barely anyone could help him find any of Finney’s writings let alone know who he was. Anyway, they were eventually found in a spot where dust had accumulated and the lights were off. 

So let’s start off today with asking a few questions. Do you know where your Bible is? Do you keep it out in plain view or do you have a spot for it? I have to keep my Bible out in the open and in plain sight. It serves as a constant reminder for me not to neglect picking it up and reading it. I have found that some of the best “WOW” moments can come from a simple read. Even in those times where I either do not feel like read it or in those moments where I feel that I do not deserve to read it.  

I have those days where the motion of my everyday living sometimes has me stumble over the pebbles on my daily path and I may not have been as Christ-like as I should have been. It’s those days where I know that if I pick that Book up there will be something there to convict me. But I also keep in mind this wonderful promise that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  The very thing to keep us from neglect is the grace of God…AMEN? 

And if we all were reminded about the grace of God as much as we are being reminded that the economy is in bad shape, we all would be able to quote Bible verses frontwards and back. I would venture to say that we all need to be reminded to maintain our walk with Christ. If we are reminded to practice the maintenance plan we find in God’s Word we walk a bit easier. The place we need to have that happen is in God’s Church. And I do not mean in a building that we call “Church” I mean in fellowship with the people of God.  

 As this year as gone by I have found that being with God’s people serves as that reminder that what is neglected is forgotten, what is forgotten is replaced and what has been replaced becomes a god in my life. In the ancients days the Hebrew households were told to talk “Torah” and in these days we need to do the same. But because of Jesus Christ we are beyond Torah. We need to not just talk Jesus Christ but to walk Jesus Christ. The best way to do this is with God’s people. If we neglect to surround ourselves with God’s people, we will forget God’s people and if we forget God’s people in our lives we will replace them. For all we know they may find us one day, alone, in the dark…accumulating dust. That shouldn’t be! – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter contributor 

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Revelation 1-5; Psalm 147; Proverbs 28

Compass Pointers: Where His saints are, His sanctuary is, and there He will dwell. He is in the midst of them, in their hearts. It is a spiritual presence, the presence of Christ’s Spirit with their spirits, that is intended here. Though only two or three meet together, Christ is among them. This is an encouragement to the meeting of a few. Grant Me Wisdom   Matthew Henry

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:Malachi 4:5-6; Level 2: Malachi 4:5-6

Anchored to the Rock: Prayer can change anything. The impossible doesn’t exist. His is the power. Ours is the prayer. Without Him, we cannot. Without us, He will not. Jack Hayford

The Spiritual Gift of Criticism

The Spiritual Gift of Criticism  

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”                                                                                                                        Romans 2:1-3 (ESV) 

“Criticism…1, The act of criticizing, esp adversely: censure. 2.a. The judgments of a critic. B. A review expressing such judgments.” This is how the Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary defines criticism and from a worldly viewpoint there isn’t anything too offensive in it. We all get criticized every now and again by those around us and our reaction to it is key to gaining an insight to ourselves. But there are those of us who get offended when we are criticized and instead of taking the rebuke and learning from it we forge this into a weapon in which we rage a war of emotional attrition. And we take no prisoners!!! 

The Pharisees didn’t take too kindly to Jesus when He called them a brood of vipers. They got really offended when He said to them, “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “ ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matt 15:7-9) Those money changers in the Temple must have had a time as Jesus dump their tables over as He yelled about His Father’s house becoming a den of thieves. Yeah sometimes it takes the spiritual gift of criticism for us to see that we may not be as planted in the Father as we thought we were.  

And if it isn’t those of us on the receiving end of this gift who have an issue with it, what about those who are on the giving end of it. If the Pharisees had only knew that the One who they were offended by was in the right to judge them they may have reconsidered their own position in passing judgments. John Gill says it like this…

“Some men may be so vain as to imagine, that though they do the same things which they condemn in others, they shall escape the judgment of God: but such will find themselves most sadly mistaken; there is no avoiding the general judgment; all men must come to it; there will be no eluding it through craftiness and deceit, through bribery and corruption; there will be no escaping condign punishment, through might in the criminal, or through the judge's ignorance of his crimes, or want of ability and power to punish.”

In essence no man has the spiritual gift to criticize anyone. It is like that old saying that goes on to say that when we are pointing a finger at someone we are really pointing the three back at us. But for those of us who suffer from “rebuke-o-intolerance” we are the ones that need the spiritual gift of discernment. Not every criticism is meant to bend us out of shape. We need to receive it, run it through the Cross and see if it tears down or edifies. If it edifies then let it do what it needs to do but if it tears down we must remember that it is not a good idea to return the gift. Chances are the person that gave you the gift doesn’t have the receipt anyway. They weren’t the One who paid the price. Chris Hughes contributes regularly to the Freedom Fighter blog and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

GPS – God’s Positioning System: 2 John; 3 John; Psalm 146; Proverbs 27

Compass Pointers: “Nothing will more effectively arrest the working of the Spirit in the heart than the spirit of criticism.”  Days of Heaven on Earth  A.B. Simpson

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Malachi 4:5-6; Level 2: Malachi 4:5-6

Anchored to the Rock: The Christian on his knees sees more than the philosopher on tiptoe.

Living With Purpose

Living with Purpose ... Responding to God’s Call…Realizing Our Gifts…Rejoicing in the Victories!

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Merry the day after Christmas. I trust you had a great day with your family as you celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In 2012 the summer Olympics will be held in London. We decided that this year we would have some fun tying in our theme to the games. This will be the focus of our summer conference season.

To get you started in your training for the games, I want to encourage you to join us in reading through the Bible. Our 2012 Bible Reading plan is downloadable (click on picture) or you can email me your snail address and I will send it to you.

Besides my daily TEAM CAPTAIN CHALLEGE, you will receive the following:

Team YOU: Daily Scripture reading… because YOU, Lord, would like a word with me.

Motivations: Daily quotes…because they keep it- on point.

Practice to Remember: Memory Verses… because it’s not just a game.

Powered Up: Prayer…because it works.

I am looking forward to training with you in 2012. I trust you will join me and encourage others to join team KESWICK. God bless you. – Bill Welte is Team Captain/President and CEO

Merry Christmas and May God Bless You

Merry Christmas to my brothers and sisters who join me each weekday on the Freedom Fighter journey.


I love and appreciate each one of you. Thank you for the privilege of sharing God's Word with you.


From The Welte Family and the ministry of America's Keswick, God bless you.

God is a Very Present Help

GOD IS A VERY PRESENT HELP

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

I was planning to give you information today about our new Bible reading plan for 2012, but over the course of the past few days I have heard numerous reports of friends, co-workers and Keswick partners that are going through very deep waters. I can’t remember a Christmas season quite like this with people dying, serious illness, families splitting up, and a many more painful situations.

This morning’s reading from the pen of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and I felt led to share it with you. I pray that it will comfort your heart and if you know someone who is in the midst of a tough time, share it with them.

A help that is not present when need it is of small value. The anchor which is left at home is of no use to seaman in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of not worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him. Very few earthly helps could be called ‘very present’; they are usually seeking, far in the using, and farther still when once used.

BUT as for the Lord our God, HE IS PRESENT when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid.

He is MORE than present, He is VERY present. More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; MORE present then we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind. He is ALWAYS present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present!

He is present now if this is a gloomy season. Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He IS our refuge, let us hide in HIM; He IS our strength, let us array ourselves with HIM, He IS our help, let us repose in Him now.

We need not have a moment’s care, or an instant’s fear. The Lord of hosts IS with us: the God of Jacob IS our refuge! (From Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith)

I needed to hear this today. I needed to be reminded of this fantastic truth. I trust it will bring comfort and peace to YOUR heart today. Merry Christmas. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: 2 Timothy 1-4; Psalm 144; Proverbs 24

Compass Pointers: The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable. Ralph W. Sockman

Need Some Gift Suggestions

Need Some Gift Suggestions?

I realize that Christmas is just “3 sleeps” away, but I would like to recommend four special gifts for you this Christmas as 2011 is quickly coming to an end.

I have found these very helpful in my daily walk with the Lord and highly commend and recommend them to you. (I have provided the links to amazon.com.)

Daily Light on the Daily Path is a collection of Scriptures for each morning and evening. I have been using this for many years and my copy is marked up with pen, verses highlighted, and notations of significant events. I never cease to be amazed at how timely the verses are for each day.

The Book of Proverbs – Years ago, my Pastor friend, Matt Reed, challenged me to read a chapter of Proverbs every day. That was probably over 25 years ago. I have been doing it ever since. The link I have provided for you is for a new edition that has both the King James version and The Message side by side. You will be amazed at how God will speak to you each day from this book from His Word.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith is a collection of daily readings from the “prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. These have really spoken to my heart this year.

His Battle – God’s Plan for Victory is a collection of short prayers about living in victory. I am on my second year of reading this little book and I have been challenged, encouraged and exhorted.

I get nothing from Amazon for recommending their materials, but if you decide to join me in reading any of the above, I’d love to hear from you. Tomorrow I will share information about our 2011 Keswick Bible Reading Plan. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 11-13; Psalm 143; Proverbs 23

Compass Pointers: There was a day when I died, died to George Muller: to his tastes, his opinions, his preferences and his will; died to the world-it's approval and censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends; since then I have only studied to show my self-approved unto God. George Muller

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: Thou art coming to a King; large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much!!! John Newton

Jesus: A Gift of Humility

JESUS: A GIFT OF HUMILITY

“He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

(Luke 2:5-7)

            Oftentimes we’re attracted by things that glitter. That’s what stands out when we look at Christmas presents. So much so, we often overlook that which is meek, yet mighty. It’s important for us to remember that the first Christmas gift came wrapped quite simply in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. God came to this earth to a peasant people and spent His first night on earth in an obscure village. Most kings are on a throne in a palace, but not that first Christmas. Jesus was born in a stable and He ruled from an animal’s feeding trough.

            We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ and yet, the greater miracle is the fact that He’s God at the same time. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5-6) You see, He was equal with God; Jesus wasn’t vice-president. He wasn’t the associate. He was equal with God. The verse goes on to say that He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. Even though it’s years later, it’s tough for us to look at a manger without looking ahead to see a wooden cross because that’s why Jesus came in the first place.

Jesus was born in a manger but came to bear the cross. Not only did He enter this life in humility, but He lived, died, and arose with humility. The Bible calls us to humility as well in 1 Peter 5:5c “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” We are most like Christ when we humble ourselves before God. A life of obedience is truly a life of humility. Dr. Glen Martin is Pastor of Journey of Faith in California and has been a speaker at America’s Keswick. Today’s devotional is from Real Victory for Real Life – our Keswick Devotional

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 7-10; Psalm 142; Proverbs 22

Compass Pointers: Christ veiled His deity but He did not void it!

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: The power of prayer consists in the knowledge of God. Friedrich Tholuck

A Prayer about the Perfect Birthing Experience

A Prayer About the Perfect Birthing Experience

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child, and since you are His child, God has also made you an heir.” – Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)

I have been working through a wonderful book of prayers this year written by Pastor Scotty Smith, pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. May of the contemporary artists attend his church.

The book is called EVERYDAY PRAYER – 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (Multnomah). These words today captivated my heart:

Dear Lord Jesus, the details surrounding your birth seem quite happenstance, even tragic. It’s easy to criticize innkeepers for gross inhospitality, pity Mary for the birthing room she had to endure, and judge Jerusalem for missing their moment. Yet everything happened just as you, our Father, and the Holy Spirit planned.

“Doing all things well” (Mark 7:37) didn’t start happening after your resurrection. “Working all things after the counsel of your will” (Eph. 1:11) includes the delightful and the most difficult things in life. Just as you could have called down 12 legions of angels to rescue you at your arrest (Matt. 26:53), so you could have arranged a palatial circumstance for your birth. Lord, please give me greater grace and faith to accept this liberating, if complex truth. You reign… you rule over all things.

“When the time had fully come” you came, Lord Jesus, not a day early and not a day late. And as humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was a far greater burden. Yet that’s exactly why you came into the world—to be born under God’s law to redeem us from our sin and rebellion… to rescue me from my unwillingness and inability to love God as he deserves.

There’s no way I could have ever fulfilled the demands of God’s righteous, perfect, and holy law. Only you could do so and only you did so. I worship, praise, and adore you, Lord Jesus. I must not see the manger without seeing your cross.

Jesus, because you lived in my place and died in my place, I’m no longer a slave to sin but a son of God. This self-indulgent prodigal and self-righteous man, has been robed in your perfect righteousness. And as surely as he sent you into the world, so God has sent his Spirit to live in my heart—by whom I cry with glee, “Abba, Father!” My future looks quite amazing as well, for I will co-inherit the new heaven and new earth with you, Lord Jesus. How can I possibly keep from singing and shouting, “Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!” I will not judge innkeepers, but I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. So very Amen I pray, in your merciful and matchless name.

May that be the prayer of YOUR heart and MINE today. Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

 GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 1-6; Psalm 141; Proverbs 21

Compass Pointers: The Son of God … came to seek us where we are in order that he might bring us to be with him where he is. J. I. Packer

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not, they do not! William Temple

If Jesus Came Today

If Jesus Came Today

“We will not have this man to reign over us.” Luke 19:14

I read this devotional by the late A. W. Tozer.  I thought it was right on for where we are in our world right now:

People have asked me if our present generation would gladly accept Jesus if He came at this time, instead of 2000 years ago. I have to believe that history does repeat itself!

In our own day, many who want to follow the Christian tradition still balk and reject a thorough going spiritual housecleaning within their own lives.

When Jesus came, many realized that it would mean probable financial loss for them to step out and follow Christ. Also, many of those men and women who considered the claims of Christ in His day knew that following Him would call for abrupt and drastic changes in their patterns of living. The proud and selfish aspects of their lives would have been disturbed.

Beyond that, there was an almost complete disdain for the inward spiritual life which Jesus taught as a necessity for mankind; that is the pure in heart will see God!

I am afraid that humanity’s choice would still be the same today. People are still more in love with money and pride and pleasure than they are with God and His salvation!

If Jesus came today, how would you respond? Something to think about today. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: 1 Peter 1-5; Psalm 140; Proverbs 20

Compass Pointers: The Christian story is precisely the story of one grand miracle. C. S. Lewis

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: Time spent on the knees in prayer will do more to remedy heart strain and nerve worry than anything else. George D. Stewart

The Joy in Vertical Concentration

The Joy in Vertical Concentration  

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” Psalms 32:1-4 (ESV) 

Blessed are the Forgiven. Not exactly what we would find Jesus saying during His Sermon on the Mount but David gives us that sense in Psalm 32. This maskil of David begins with the uplifting of verse one and it doesn’t look back. In The Message (take it easy with this theologians) Peterson wrote verse’s one and two like this, “Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be-you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Count yourself lucky-GOD holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from Him.” Praise God in this very idea of forgiveness indeed. 

But with this forgiveness comes a confession and David tells us how he felt with his un-confessed sin. The NLT puts verse three of Psalm 32 like this, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” David examined his heart when he wasn’t experiencing that vertical joy in the Lord. Maybe, just like you and I, he knew holding on to some sort of sinful attitude or holding on to a critical spirit kept him from enjoying the fruit of godly joy. In Psalm 51 David says to God to, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Quite a bold request coming from a murderer and an adulterer, huh?  

David understands that with the discipline of Gods hand as he expressed it in verse four of Psalm 32. “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me” it lead to his strength “evaporating like water in the summer heat.”(NLT) And once there was acknowledgement of sin in his life David cranks up the volume in Psalm 32. Check out the contrast in verse eight of Psalm 32, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” to that of Psalm 51:13, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.” Now that’s good stuff. 

For me, this all can fall back on what we read in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You see there has to be a vertical concentration in Kingdom worthy things. The Holy Spirit uses this very cool promise of God to promote joy in our hearts and if we are not steeping ourselves in God’s Word we can lose track of our steps in everyday living. It will be a burden for us to carry and if the everyday is a burden to us then what of our carrying our Cross daily?

We need to trust God in order for Him to fill us with joy and peace “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) We need to take a long view of things “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18) We need to be thankful with everything “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess 5:16-18)

Good verses to ponder as you concentrate vertically. Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Titus 1-3; Psalm 139; Proverbs 19

Compass Pointers: “To be joyless is to dishonor God and to deny His love and His control over our lives. It is practical atheism. To be joyful is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit within us and to say to a watching world, “Our God Reigns.” The Practice of Godliness Jerry Bridges

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1 Luke 4:18; Level 2: John 17:20-26

Anchored to the Rock: I know no blessing so small as to be reasonably expected without prayer, nor any so great but may be obtained by it. Robert South

Where Does Sin Begin

WHERE DOES SIN BEGIN?

“And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’  So he divided to them his livelihood.”  (Luke 15:12)

            This morning’s devotional was written by our good friend, Dr. Roger Willmore:

The parable of the Prodigal Son is probably one of the best known portions of our Lord’s teaching.  Down through the ages many have identified with this young rebel.  

            The question that always comes to my mind when I read the parable is, “Where did his sin begin?”  When his rebellion surfaced and expressed itself, it seemed to come forth full grown.  Surely what was articulated had its beginning somewhere else.

            The answer to my inquiry is critical to our understanding of the nature of sin.  It is equally critical to our defense against it.  Solomon, in Proverbs 4:23 said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  Sin begins in the heart.  Its seed is a thought and it’s fruit results from contemplation of that thought.  Sin is committed in the heart, before it ever committed in deed.

            When you look into the heart of the prodigal the first thing you see is greed.  His first words to his father were, “give me the portion of goods…”   He was consumed with his own self interests.  His primary drive at this point is his own personal desire for things.

            His greed was followed by his pride. His greedy request of his father financed his rebellion.  He quickly left home with his pockets filled with his father’s money.  The prodigal’s desire was for a life of freedom from authority and a freedom to do as he pleased.  Pride, the mother of all sin, told him to live his own life, there was no need to yield to the wishes of his father.

            The prodigal’s greed and pride produced a life of carelessness.  We are told that he wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  With greed and pride at the helm of his life he threw morals and money to the wind. Would you take a moment to consider the devastating results of careless living?

            Lastly, we find the prodigal feeding the swine and eating with them.  He hit bottom and he was all alone.  What began as dream has turned into a nightmare.

            Deal with sin where it begins…in the heart.  Dr. Roger Willmore

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Ephesians 1-6; Psalm 136; Proverbs 16

Compass Pointers: Let your condition be ever so extreme; human friendship disappointing you, earthly supplies failing you, human sympathy refused you, and dark despair enthroned grimly and coldly upon your heart; there yet is hope in God! Octavius Winslow

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: John Knox was a man famous for his power in prayer, so that Queen Mary of England used to say that she feared his prayer more than all the armies of Europe. – Charles Finney

Knowing The Unknowable

Knowing the Unknowable

Ephesians 3:19, “…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (NKJV)

In another of the Apostle Paul’s prayers in this book concerning the walk of the believer he now offers a paradox of intercession. His request is that they may know a love that “…passes knowledge;...” He has prayed for strength in their inner man based upon the Spirit of God dwelling in their hearts through faith to produce a foundation based in love (vv. 14 – 17). This foundation allows them to further “comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and height…” of that love (v. 18).

The emphasis of the prayer is that the disciple be strengthened in the Spirit (v. 16), indwelt by Christ (v. 17), and experience the fullness of God (v. 19). In doing so, the believer will gain a greater understanding of the love of God. Paul relates that as Christ becomes more at home in the heart of the disciple (v. 17) there will be spiritual strength (v. 16) and the development of a greater love in response to that love of God since, “We love him because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). This is a circular movement spiraling to a greater depth of spiritual transformation. 

As we grow closer to God He reveals more of Himself to us causing us to desire to grow even closer to Him. The practice of the biblical spiritual disciplines moves us beyond where we are to even greater depths of faith and understanding. This is the “abundant” life that Jesus offers to us (John 10:10).

The potential of the disciple’s life is that of moving from a “servant” to a “friend” of Jesus (John 15:14 & 15). God’s desire is that we might have intimacy with Him and He has made that possible. Our love for Him motivates us to obedience which allows Him to reveal more of Himself to us increasing our desire to love and obey Him. Jesus stated this very truth in John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” We will gain a greater knowledge of, “…the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” Is God manifesting Himself in my life today? That will be based on my loving obedience to Him and His Word. – Dr. Joe is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of America’s Keswick
    

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Colossians 1-4; Philemon; Psalm 135; Proverbs 15

Compass Pointers: God’s capacity to meet his people’s spiritual needs far exceeds anything they can either request in prayer or conceive by way of anticipation (Phil. 4:7). It is actualized through his power, which continually operates within the lives of believers.  A. Skevington Wood

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: There is no power like that of prevailing prayer. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power.

Serving God in the Midst of Godlessness

Serving God in the Midst of Godlessness

“Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.”   Isaiah 8:16 (NKJV)

Isaiah served God at a most difficult time. The Lord revealed that, as a prophet, he would see his audience, outside of a small remnant, reject the word from God (6:10 – 13). Even so, Isaiah remained faithful preaching the message of His God over several decades under different earthly kings. How does one remain so faithful in such a God—rejecting culture?

The key to remaining strong spiritually is found in verse 11 of our chapter, “For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people…” To walk God’s narrow way in opposition to the broad way of the surrounding culture demands the resolve to love and obey our God. In his obedience Isaiah was mentoring others to walk the same path as he states, “…among my disciples.” As the Word from God had gone forth and been rejected by the majority, God’s man determines that his mind would be staid on the revelation of God declaring further that he would go, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, It is because there is no light in them” (v. 20). 

   

To walk godly in a godless culture requires unwavering faith in the revelation of God as the Truth to be accepted and acted upon each and every day. Isaiah was able to remain faithful in the face of great opposition because he had been allowed a glimpse of God which revealed his own sinful and needy condition (chapter 6). Such an ongoing revelation is necessary for the disciple to understand the need of total reliance upon God. Jesus would state it this way, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). 

Our revelation is God speaking to us through His word. Our daily time in the word and in prayer is our “conversation” with a God Who reveals His love to us in such a way that we grow in love toward Him. The outworking of this is a life of loving obedience lived out as light in the midst of the cultural darkness around us.  Dr. Joe Olachea is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of Trustees of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 27-28; Psalm 134; Proverbs 14

Compass Pointers: “…from the moment we receive Christ into our lives as Savior and Lord, Life becomes a ministry. No longer is it an aimless existence to satisfy ourselves; it becomes a ministry for the blessing of other people.”  Alan Redpath 

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: Jesus didn’t pray about things, He brought this about by prayer. Armin Gesswein

A Work in Progress

A Work in Progress

Romans 1:7, To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:…(NKJV)

The wording of the Spirit—inspired Scriptures is very important. God has chosen to give us a library of 66 books in one book – the Bible. Even so, much concerning this life and spiritual things is left unsaid. God has chosen to give His message for us as we have it.

In the Gospels and Acts we find the word most often used of believers is from the root for disciple (mathētēs). It is used over 265 times in Matthew through Acts. In the book of Acts the word disciple is interchangeable with the word believer. “Christian” in singular or plural form is used only three times in the whole of the New Testament.

When we come to the remainder of the New Testament, Romans to Revelation, a new word appears for the believer, the word saint. Several of the books open with the words “To the saints of…” and then references the location of the recipients. God is revealing what we are positionally as His followers. However, practically we are not there yet as this will take place only when we are in His presence.

A disciple can be defined as “a disciplined one.” This description used most often of believers carries with it the idea of one who practices the biblical spiritual disciplines. As disciples we are in the process of moving from where we are practically: disciples, toward what we are positionally: saints. Spiritual transformation is moving toward sainthood as we have been admonished to “…exercise yourself toward godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). The word “exercise” has also been translated as “train” in some of our English versions.

So often I hear believers say, “I try to live the Christian life” or “I try to do what is right.” Scripture admonishes us that we don’t just try to be Christlike, we must train to be so! The Apostle Paul reminds us that the transformation in our lives is directly related to   our contemplation of “…the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 3:18 – 4:6). This is only accomplished through the implementation of the spiritual disciplines in our lives as a result of our love for Him. Dr. Joe Olachea is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 24-26; Psalm 133; Proverbs 13

Compass Pointers: The church is the only organization in the world which exists entirely for the sake of those who are not members of it. Alan Redpath

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Sir Alfred Tennyson

What's Real

WHAT’S REAL!

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”  (Proverbs 20:7)

            The Lord taught me a great message while going through an ordeal of paralysis.  I had felt as though I had nothing left that was real.  I could not breathe on my own, eat, scratch an itch, or wipe a tear.  What did I have that was real?  Spell the word REAL and discover what God showed me.

            Relationships: 1) Friends and relatives (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).  Real friends and relatives loving and supporting me via cards and calls from everywhere in the world, all praying for me.  2) Children (Psalm 127:3).   My sons prayed with me, held me, exercised me, red me, cried with me.  They were my heritage and reward from the Lord.  Now, that’s real!  3) Spouse (Proverbs 18:22).  Though suffering with a muscle disease herself, she was always there for me: visiting, praying, helping.  Her relationship was real!  4) God and Jesus.  Most important!  A relationship with God?  Really!  (Leviticus 26:12).  He kept His promise: He was with me, and I was His (John 10).  Jesus shepherded me constantly (Romans 8:14-71).  I was His.  For real!

            Eternal Life: I was reminded that I had nothing to fear – I had eternal life (John 10:28-29).  It was just me and God…and where I would spend eternity.  Countless verses in the Gospel of John instruct to believe and have eternal life.  That was real to me that no on could take from me.

            Activity: I thought about the greatest times in my life when I was doing things with others for the Lord.  I thought I might lose it all.  But I was becoming aware that all the activity in my life up to that point could not be taken away from me.  Every activity had been real! 

            Legacy: What would I leave behind?  What impact have I made on others?  My life – had it been real? Proverbs 20:7 says that a righteous man blessed those after him.  My legacy was for real – not even the enemy could steal that from me.

            God has restored all back to me.  Real things cannot be taken from you.  What is real for you today?  Relationships, Eternal life, Activity, Legacy – they can be yours!

Call today for your copy.
732-350-1187

Chaplain Jack Noel served at America’s Keswick for 18 years. He is now retired and living in Lancaster, PA.

Today’s devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. Great devotional for you to begin next year. Call today for you today -- $10 plus shipping and handling (732-350-1197)

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 20:4-23:35; Psalm 132; Proverbs 12

Compass Pointers: The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it. A. W. Tozer

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: Restraining prayer we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian’ armor bright; and Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knee. William Cowper

The Danger of Social Media

The Danger of Social Media

Being in leadership at age 57 is interesting. I am finding that I need to work really hard at understanding the various generations that we are serving. Each group are unique and the opportunities for ministry are endless.

A part of understanding our “world” and how we communicate is grappling with the whole concept of Social Media. Facebook has become one of the world’s fastest growing means of communication. It has been said that right now Facebook is the 5^th largest country in the world.

What started out as a mean for college kids to communicate has turned into a diverse group of users from all walks of life. There are many good uses for Facebook. I now a place to see all my grandkids pictures and sharing pictures is really convenient. I have been able to connect with kids I went to school with and hear their stories. That has been fun.

One of the dangers is that we have begun to use Facebook to freely comment about anything and everything for the world to see. If I am happy, I broadcast it. If I am frustrated about something, I broadcast it. If I am disgruntled about work, or if I am ticked off at someone, I can voice my opinion for the whole world to see.

The problem is that we have replaced face-to-face communication with the ability to say what we want, how we want, when we want. Like email, Facebook can be the means to say things to people that we would never have the courage to say to someone’s face. Maybe that confirms what someone said: “the pen is mightier than the sword.”

We need to be reminded that we ARE accountable for our words whether they are spoken or written. Spoken or written words are never easy to pull back once uttered. And how damaging our words can be.

I find myself mostly posting Scripture. The good news about those words are that they will NEVER return void! Lord, let the words of my mouth, the words that I write, be acceptable in Your sight – O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Romans 8-10; Psalm 129; Proverbs 9

Compass Pointers: There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in the [Christian] life. Because it is so natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But its outworking’s are tragic. A. W. Tozer

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: Intercession is the link between man’s impotence and God’s omnipotence. Andrew Murray

Don't Miss the Obvious

Don’t Miss the Obvious

I am a book-a-holic! Some of you already knew that. But there – I said it! And I love books about the Word of God. And I am a sucker for a good commentary. One of the regrets I have is that I didn’t get to finish my education at PBU back in the 70’s. I think I would have loved to learn Greek and Hebrew to better understand the texts of Scripture.

BUT I am very thankful for the way God still speaks to my heart even without that piece of paper that says I’ve completed a degree.

Today in my Bible reading I was reading through the little one chapter book of Jude. The last verses really jumped off the page – and I laughed to myself and said, “It can’t get any more obvious.” So here it is – just the text – no commentary. Allow God to speak to your heart today from the ESV. I am leaving the notes in the event that the links will take you there for further study:

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They6said to you, u“In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, vdevoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, wbuilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and xpraying in the Holy Spirit, 21 ykeep yourselves in the love of God, zwaiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt;23 save others by asnatching them out of bthe fire; to others show mercy cwith fear, hating even dthe garment7 stained by the flesh.

Doxology

24 eNow to him who is able fto keep you from stumbling and gto present you hblameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to ithe only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, jbe glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Romans 4-7; Psalm 128; Proverbs 8

Compass Pointers: We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility, contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country. C. S. Lewis

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5

Anchored to the Rock: A sinning man will stop praying. A praying man will stop sinning. Leonard Ravenhill