Absence of Reverence

Absence of Reverence

“And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”  Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV)

^“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” and the serpent in the garden tries to level out the reverence for El Shaddai to commonality. We could say that the adversary uses the naivety of Eve to unravel the obedience of Adam but that takes the idea of freedom of choice outta the picture. Nadab and Abihu offer up an unauthorized fire to El Shaddai and are consumed by a fire that comes from the presence of The LORD. Then Moses has to pull Aaron aside and say to him, “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.”  

“And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.” Samson, under the Nazirite vow and complete with freedom of choice, allows an absence of reverence to creep into his ability to judge over the nation of Israel. But you gotta give it up for Samson, before his death he repents and takes more Philistine lives at that moment than he did while he was alive. King Saul waited seven days for Samuel to show up at Gilgal. But in his absence of reverence Saul offers up an unauthorized sacrifice and the end result is, “Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue.”

The Old Testament is full of stories of what happened to the nation, and the people, of Israel when the reverence of El Shaddai would fall by the wayside.  You would think those stories would have been a good deterrent against losing it again but even in the early stages of the Church it happened.  We all read about Ananis and Sapphira and what they did out of reverence for themselves and not God. “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Unfortunately this kind of heart condition is still in existence today. The name of it hasn't changed over the centuries. It's called idolatry and in this case WE (you and I) are the objects of discussion. That is if you agree that you have taken what you think is your rightful place on the throne of your heart. But praise the Lord it doesn't have to be. Turn, if you will, to 2 Corinthians 6 and starting at verse 16, “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”  

Now back at verse 14 it says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? “When we look at these questions in reflection of what we say we are living, The Victorious Christian Life, wickedness and darkness are what we are living in when we do not keep El Shaddai in reverence. There are three promises that El Shaddai gives us in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 and if we can receive them as such what Paul writes as instruction in 2 Corinthians 7:1 becomes quite clear, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the reverence of God.” Let’s not become too familiar with the presence of El Shaddai and reduce Him down to our level. The end results ain’t too good. Amen?  -- Chris Hughes is a grad of the Colony of Mercy and a regular contributor to Freedom Fighter

Team YOU: 1 Kings 8-9; Proverbs 30-31; Luke 21:20-38

Motivations: There are very few unqualified things in our lives, but I believe that the reverential fear of God mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and admiration and devotion is the most enjoyable state and the most purifying emotion the human soul can know.”---A.W.Tozer

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:5; Level 2: Ephesians 5:22-33

Powered Up:  God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things. Harry Emerson Fosdick

FROM SOBBING TO SINGING

“I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”  (Psalm 13:6)

            Psalm Thirteen ends with a song, but it began with a sob. David asked, how long?  How long?  How long? 

            John Phillips says when David wrote this Psalm he was exhausted and depressed.  His trouble with King Saul had gone for years and years.  The Psalm was wrung out of extremity of soul.  David simply could not go on- not another day-not another hour-not another minute.  He was at the end of himself.

            But here we are reminded that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.  It is often when we are wit’s end that we meet God.

            How long?  This was David’s question.  It may also be your question.  You may be wondering how long the sadness and sorrow of your life will last.  You may presently be in circumstances that appear to be hopeless.  David felt abandoned and alone.  He felt that his enemies exalted in his oppression.  He saw no end to his suffering until he trusted in the Lord and rejoiced in His salvation.

            David demonstrated the great fact that singing (praising and worshipping) to the Lord has liberating power.  Praise can deliver God’s children from the pit of despair.

            There is a dramatic demonstration of the power of praise and worship in Acts 16:25-26.  Paul and Silas were beaten, placed in the inner prison with their feet fastened in stocks because they had preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and cast a demon out of a young girl.  It was truly a dark moment for these two servants of God.  But notice what happened, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”  Talk about songs in the night!

            David looked past his circumstances and saw the God of his salvation.  He said, “I have trusted your mercy; and my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  (v.5)

            Your sobbing can be turned into singing if you will just praise the Lord! – Dr. Roger Willmore is a popular speaker at America’s Keswick and will be here again this summer: America’s Keswick 2012 Summer Line Up

Team YOU: 1 Kings 1-2; Proverbs 27; Luke 20:27-40

Motivations: I urge upon you communion with Christ; a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn aside in Christ that we never saw, and new foldings of love in him. I despair that I shall ever win to the far end of that love, there are so many aspects to it. Therefore dig deep, and sweat and labor and take pains for him, and set by as much time in the day for him as you can. We will be won in the labor. Samuel Rutherford

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  I have learned that God’s silence to my questions is not a door slammed in my face. I may not have the answers – but I do have him. Dave Dravecky

He is Everything!

He is Everything!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. ~Colossians 3:1-11

I find in myself, beloved, the most horrible propensity to get my life from things other than Life Himself.

Do you ever do the same thing?

The very things I seem to have let go, seem to be the very things from which i am still trying to suck out the last little bit of life.   The old man of flesh screams for its positions.  It markets the propriety of fear.  It promotes the sanctity of self.

Somehow, though, we know this is a lie.  We know, rather, that that old man really is dead.  We do not need to listen to the voice.  It is but a phantom.  We no longer need to default over to the horrible shortcuts to comfort we took in the past.  We no longer need to have any tendency to fear be more important than trusting in the Author and Finisher of our faith. Said more simply:  He is our Life.  He does not enable our next breath.  He is our very breath.

So, even when those closest to us lash out and feel the need to mock and hurt us, we can realize and live in this deepest of truths... We are not bulletproof.  We are, however, aware that bullets are irrelevant.  Yeah, we bleed when wounded.  But even in our being wounded, the only thing that need pour out of us is the infinite Life of our Savior, for it is in Him that we Live and move and have our being.

So further, even in the hardest of the hardest times and places of life, we can simply stand in a state of profound righteousness, joy and peace - for this is all of and by Him.  He becomes the force and focus of our very existence.  He becomes our everything.  And as He becomes the all in all of our existence, an immense strength begins to build in us. 

It seems that in Him becoming everything that we might disappear.  But this is where the mysteries of the Kingdom abound.  It is in this nothingness, that we actually can take on our new identity.  With none of us in the way, we are freed to be more and more like Him every day.  And this is very good news. – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a new contributor to Freedom Fighter

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 23-24; Proverbs 25; Luke 20:20-26

Motivations: We become independent of our fear of social judgment and the disapproval of men in proportion to our dependence on God. ~Paul Tournier (1898-1986)

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  Prayers perplexities are most often camouflaged discoveries, there for the making. Donald Cranefield

Our Goodness in Inadequate

Our Goodness is Inadequate

You were “justified freely by HIS grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:24

Yesterday we looked at “mannerly pride.” Today we look at “self-applauding” pride. This is another “oucher!”

Another form of spiritual pride that shows you are depending on the worth of your own grace is self-applauding pride. This is when the heart is secretly lifted up and says of itself, "I may not be perfect, but I'm certainly better than most Christians I know"

Every such glance of the soul's eye is adulterous-in fact, idolatrous. Any time you give your own righteousness the inward worship of your confidence and truth, this is great iniquity indeed. You come to open heaven's gate with the old key, when God has put on a new lock.

If you are truly a Christian, you must acknowledge that your first entrance into your justified state was by pure mercy. You were "justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). Having been reconciled, to whom are you now indebted-to your own goodness, to your obedience, to yourself-or to Christ? If Christ does not lead in all you do, you are sure to find the door of grace shut to you.

"The righteousness of God [is] revealed from faith to faith... [for] the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). We are not only made alive by Christ, but we live by Christ. Heaven's way is paved with grace and mercy from beginning to end. Why is God so insistent that we use His grace instead of our own? Because He knows our grace is inadequate for the task.

The truth is this: Trusting in our own grace only brings trouble and heartache; trusting in God's grace brings lasting peace and joy In the first place, trusting in your own goodness will eventually destroy it. Inherent grace is weak. Force it to endure the yoke of the law, and sooner or later it will faint by the wayside, unequal to the task of pulling the heavy load of your old nature. What you need is Christ's yoke, but you cannot take it until you shed the one that harnesses you to works. William Gurnall. The Christian in Complete Armour (Kindle Locations 1506-1510). Kindle Edition.

Whether it is “mannerly” or “self-applauding” pride – God hates it! If the Holy Spirit has tapped on your shoulder today – confess your sin and allow Him to transform this place in your heart. – Bill Welte is President & CEO of America’s Keswick.

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 21-22; Proverbs 25; Luke 20:1-19

Motivations: “We must believe the God of the Gospel in all areas of our lives.  When we find our identity in Jesus, we become “image-bearers” (mirror images) of the life-giving God of the Bible. Bearing his image means taking the opportunity to image God with our surrendered wills. We do this by being renewed daily in the image of Christ (Col. 3:10) and reflecting back in praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who they are, and in thanks for what all three have done.  We image God when we reflect/image or mirror God’s thinking, when we love what God loves, when we grieve over the things that grieve God, when we mirror the mercy and comfort God has shown us.  We are called to reflect the light of Jesus. Man was created in God’s image so that he or she might represent God, like an ambassador from a foreign country”. (Tom Wood & Scott Thomas, Gospel Coach)

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  God can never be expected to undertake a cause which is unworthy of defense. John Calvin

Pride -- Justification Assaulted

Pride – Justification Assaulted

These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [Ps. 120:2, 3.] 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 16:16-19

The Bible doesn’t beat around the bush. One of the seven things that the Lord hates, and is the number one thing on the list is PRIDE.

Now before you start thinking of someone who needs to hear this – this isn’t about them. It’s about YOU and ME!

Listen to what Puritan writer, William Gurnall wrote about pride in his masterful work, The Christian Armor:

This doctrine of justification by faith has had more assaults made against it than any other teaching in Scripture. Indeed, many other errors were but the enemy's sly approaches to get nearer to undermine this one. When Satan cannot hide the truth, he works to hinder the practical application of it. Thus you see Christians who speak in defense of justification by faith, yet their attitude and actions contradict their profession. Like Abraham, when he went in to Hagar, they try to accomplish God's purpose by a carnal plan. All these efforts that seem so noble are really baseborn, for they are rooted in pride.

At bottom, pride in your own abilities is what keeps you working for righteousness. You keep trying to pray harder, working to be a better Christian, laboring to have more faith. You keep telling yourself, "I can do it!"

But you will soon find your own grace insufficient for even the smallest task, and your joy will run out at the crannies of your imperfect duties and weak graces.

The language of pride hankers after the covenant of works. The only way out of this trap is to let the new covenant cut the cord of the old one, and acknowledge that the grace of Christ supersedes the works of the law.

Satan uses two types of pride to keep us trusting in the worth of our own grace. One I call a mannerly pride; the other, a self-applauding pride. Mannerly pride tiptoes in, disguised as humility. This is a soul that weeps and mourns for its vile condition, yet refuses to be comforted. It is true-not one of us can paint our sins black enough to do them justice. But think how you discredit God's mercy and Christ's merit when you say they are not enough to buy your pardon! Can you find no better way to show your sense of sin than to malign the Savior? Are you unwilling to be in Christ's debt for your salvation, or too proud to beg His forgiveness? William Gurnall. The Christian in Complete Armour (Kindle Locations 1491-1498). Kindle Edition.

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Take some time to evaluate your own heart today. If the Holy Spirit is knocking – let Him search your heart. I am doing that today too! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 19-20; Proverbs 24; Luke 19

Motivations:  Grace infused in the sweet fragrances of suffering and brokenness for Christ's sake results in a concentrated, undefiled extract of heaven. Katherine Walden

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  In reality, the denial of prayer is a denial of God himself. E. M. Bounds

Sittin' Under Joshua's Tree

Sittin’ Under Joshua’s Tree 

 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:6-8 (ESV) 

As some of you may have read I am the kinda guy that enjoys a good meal. There is a deli down the street from where I work that makes a slamming turkey breast sub. The meat and cheese are Dietz and Watson brand and the crisp lettuce, tomatoes, onions, banana peppers on a soft sub roll are only set-off just right with the brand of mayo they use. And as I am enjoying this I am re-acquainting myself with a book that I read some time ago. Pastor Mike Woods, who at the time was the Director of the Colony of Mercy, recommended it for my reading. The title is “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge and it also comes as a study that our Friday night men’s Bible study will be starting.  

The book was recently updated in 2010 but as I have begun to re-read it I stumble onto page six…the very reason why I really dug into this book during my Colony stay. To borrow John’s words, “The wilderness trial of Christ is, at its core, a test of his identity. “If you are who you think you are…” If a man is ever to find out who he is and what he’s here for, he has got to take that journey for himself. He has got to get his heart back.” I needed to hear that back then. As I looked back at that time period in my life this whole ‘New Creation” stuff was flat out hard. I really thought that I was supposed to be this obedient, subdued walking bowl of Jello who would let anyone slap one check while I joyfully offered the other.  

Well pretty soon I will be reaching an anniversary date that I take more seriously than my wedding anniversary.  Now don’t misunderstand things that date has its special meaning to me but the day I said I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and that I needed a Savior is a big day. As that day comes up I have been reflecting back on my journey down this Christian road. It ain’t been easy!! When my buddy Bill Jahns asks me “So how goes the battle?” my reply has always been, “It still goes.” But God in His infinite wisdom, grace and mercy has seen fit to use me as a Ministry Servant wherever I may roam. And the roaming isn’t as aimless as “wherever” may sound. 

As I continued to read “Wild at Heart” during my lunch time I found myself re-reading the part titled, “Westward Expansion Against The Soul” on pages 6-8 and my reflection turned from yesterday into today. The words leaped off the page in the same way they had before. Except this time I used them to measure the man I have become instead of the man I once was. I didn’t know what to look for back then, all I knew was that I was exhausted. But time has taught me that what I read in Micah 6:6-8 is a “FOR LIFE” promise I need to work on keeping. I pondered on this the rest of my afternoon of work. 

It was on my way home that it hits me just a little harder. I popped U2’s “The Joshua Tree” into my car’s CD player on my way home. As the song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” played the following lyrics I began to weep,

“You broke the bonds

And you loosed the chains

Carried the Cross of my shame

Oh, my shame, you know I believe it!

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”

Maybe I still haven’t found what I’m looking for but what found me will always be. When my time in the wilderness was coming to its end Jesus found me, forgave me and still lets me stay the man His Father created me to be. It is in that where I am content to be His servant but maintain my “Wild at Heart” attitude. And what does that cost me? To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with my God.”  -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and member of the Freedom Fighter team

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 16-18; Proverbs 23; Luke 18

Motivations:  “Corporate policies and procedures are designed with one aim: to harness a man to the plow and make him produce. But the soul refuses to be harnessed; it knows nothing of day Timers and deadlines and P&L statements. The soul longs for passion, for freedom, for life.”---John Eldredge

Practice to Remember: Level 1: Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15

Powered Up:  We ask for silver and God sometimes send his denials wrapped in gold.

Search the Scriptures

Search the Scriptures

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Acts 17:11

I love reading the writings of the Puritan preachers. They didn’t beat around the bush! They spoke the truth and very direct. Today’s devotional is from the pen of William Gurnall from his writings from The Christian Armor. If you don’t have this resource in your library, it would be a wise investment.

The Word of God is called a light unto our feet-not to our tongues, merely to speak about-but to our feet, to walk by. Getting knowledge is your work; opening your heart to understand is the work of the Holy Spirit. But you must ask Him for wisdom and believe He will give it to you. God has promised wisdom to those who "ask in faith, nothing wavering" (James 1:6).

Strive for wisdom, not so that men will respect and admire you, but so that they will celebrate God's greatness. The end of every human effort should be to magnify His name. Go to God with David's prayer on your lips: "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27). Do not give up when the lessons are long or hard to understand. Scripture promises, "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3).

The mysteries of Christ are not learned in a day. Too many read a chapter or two in the Bible, then for lack of interest put it down for weeks at a time and never look at it. Bernard compares the study of the Word and the mere reading of it to the difference between a close friendship and a casual acquaintance. If you want genuine knowledge, he says, you will have to do more than greet the Word politely on Sundays or nod reverently when you chance to meet it on the street.

You must walk with it and talk with it every day of the week. You must invite it into your private chambers, and forego other pleasures and worldly duties to spend time in its company. Do you long for greater intimacy with your heavenly Father? Then meditate often and long on His Word. David likens the Word for sweetness to honey and the honeycomb. Like the honeycomb, the Bible is so rich and full that at first reading some wisdom will now and then drop from it. But unless you press it by meditation, you leave the most behind. William Gurnall. The Christian in Complete Armour (Kindle Locations 1246-1251). Kindle Edition.

As we bring this week to a close, I want to remind you that if you want to be a godly example, one of the disciplines we need to practice is searching the Scriptures. If you want to be a godly man, and you’re not already doing it, at least start by reading a chapter from Proverbs every day. It will be a big help to you. Have a great weekend. Keep pressing on. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 9-11; Proverbs 20; Luke 15:11-32

Motivations:  They that know God will be humble and they that know themselves cannot be proud. John Flavel

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 5:17-18; Level 2: Ephesians 5:8-14

Powered Up:  You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but cannot do more than pray until you have prayed! – John Bunyan

One Last Day of Godly Example …

The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

I certainly am not implying you are dumb – really, I’m not. But just in case you haven’t thought about this yet  …

The past few days we have dialoged about Paul’s charge to the church in Philippi about being a godly example: LEARNED, RECEIVED, HEARD and SEEN. All four of those things can make a POSITIVE impact on the people you and I rub shoulders with as well as with our kids.

But just in case you haven’t thought about it  -- think about this: MODEL BAD BEHAVIOR and that impacts too. If you haven’t thought about that, you need to.

I have a friend that was really sold out for the Lord. He made a number of bad choices and ended up leaving the ministry. He refused to make godly choices and yet wants to still be in ministry. Lots of people have watched his life and now some of the people that have loved, respected and supported him have justified making the same mistakes because this was what was modeled for them.

I shared this before – as Charles Swindoll has said, “We should so live our lives that we wouldn’t be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” J

Think about the INFLUENCE you can have – will it be godly? Or will it be done foolishly. You choose – I hope it will be for godly examples. Keep pressing on! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 6-8; Proverbs 19; Luke 15:1-10

Motivations:  A 'real Christian' is an odd one anyway. They feel supreme love for ONE whom they have never seen, talk familiarly everyday to SOMEONE they cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of ANOTHER, empties themself in order to be full, admits they are wrong so they can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when they are weakest, richest when they are poorest, and happiest when they feel the worst. They die so they can live, forsake in order to have, give away so they can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passes knowledge. A. W. Tozer

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 5:17-18; Level 2: Ephesians 5:8-14

Powered Up:  Clearly we must not pray for any end towards which it is wrong to labor, but likewise we must not labor towards any end for which it is wrong to pray. John Baillie

Godly Examples -- Part 3

Godly Examples – Part 3

The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

I’ve shared the last two days lessons that Dr. Charles Stanley has learned during his life. If you haven’t done so, a good exercise for you would be to sit down and make your own list.

Whether you like it or not, someone is ALWAYS watching you. From your kids to your staff, someone is always observing you.

I noted in Philippians 4:9 that Paul said: what you LEARNED, RECEIVED, HEARD and SEEN in me – practice those things.

My lifelong mentor, Neil Fichthorn did that for me – has done so all my life. From my early teens to now in my late 50’s, I am still LEARNING from him. Over the years I RECEIVED tons of valuable lessons from him sitting under his musical leadership as well as working for him when he was Vice President and later President of Sandy Cove ministries.

As I observed his life – I  HEARD AND SAW so many amazing things. In fact, what is so scary is that even now I hear myself saying things he would say, and I even more frightening, I find myself using my hands to direct music or placing my hands on the pulpit just like he did.

You my friend have the privilege of being an example to other men and young men that God may bring into your life. It is a wonderful privilege. Don’t miss the opportunity. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 3-5; Proverbs 18; Luke 14:25-35

Motivations:  The last days are upon us. You didn't ask to be born when you were. God chose you to be alive now. With that choosing comes all the grace you need to stand and be a hero of faith in these awesome days. Embrace His grace, embrace the tremendous privilege that is yours. Like the three young men in the fiery furnace, say boldly and courageously, "Our God is able to deliver us, but even if He doesn't, we will not bow." Barbara Richmond

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 5:17-18; Level 2: Ephesians 5:8-14

Powered Up:  The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament. – Brother Lawrence

Godly Examples Part 2

Godly Examples -- Part 2

The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

Here’s part 2 of Dr. Charles Stanley’s list of lessons he has learned:

16. Whatever you acquire outside of God’s will eventually turns to ashes. 

17. We stand tallest and strongest on our knees. 

18. As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances. 

19. Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose. 

20. Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. 

21. Obedience always brings blessing. 

22. To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. 

23. You can never out-give God. 

24. To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us. 

25. God blesses us so that we might bless others. 

26. Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God. 

27. Prayer is life’s greatest time saver. 

28. No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith. 

29. We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops. 

30. An eager anticipation of the Lord’s return keeps us living productively. 

Good stuff. Now why don’t you make your own list! J Blessings. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 2 Samuel 1-2; Proverbs 17; Luke 14:1-24

Motivations: When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do; when we rely upon education, we get what education can do; when we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do, and so on. Nor am I disposed to undervalue any of these things in their proper place, but when we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do. A. C. Dixon

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  As a rain-cloud brings the shower, so prayer brings the blessing. As spring scatters flowers, so supplication ensures mercies. In all labor there is profit, but most of all in the work of intercession I am sure of this, for I have reaped it. C. H. Spurgeon

Learn from Godly Examples

Learn from Godly Examples

The things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

I’ve been a people watcher for years. I love to watch people and learn from them. Over the years I have been blessed to be in the company of some very humble servants of God and have learned from them.

Many of you have listened to one of my media mentors, Dr. Charles Stanley. I recently read this off his website and thought it would be good for us. This is a list of 30 lessons he has learned. Here are the first 15:

1. Our intimacy with God – His highest priority for our lives – determines the impact of our lives. 

2. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. 
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3. God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm. 

4. The awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work. 

5. God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. 

6. You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow. 

7. The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. 

8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time. 

9. Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. 

10. If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will. 

11. God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him. 

12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God. 

13. Listening to God is essential to walking with God. 

14. God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. 

15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.  Adapted from In Touch website – Dr. Charles Stanley

Team YOU: 1 Samuel 30-31; Proverbs 16; Luke 13:23-35

Motivations:  There is neither encouragement nor room in Bible religion for feeble desires, listless efforts, lazy attitudes; all must be strenuous, urgent, ardent. Inflamed desires, impassioned, unwearied insistence delight heaven. God would have His children incorrigibly in earnest and persistently bold in their efforts. Heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers or to respond to pop-calls. Our whole being must be in our praying.  (E. M.) Bounds

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 6:2-3; Level 2: Ephesians 5:15-21

Powered Up:  If you do not get all you ask, it is because the Savior intends to give you something better.

I Want to Know Christ (Part 3)

I Want To Know Christ (Part 3)

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. –
Philippians 3:10-11

Another one of my friends crashed and burned. He had it all together but made compromises in his life and now is in the throes of downward spiral.

As I was thinking through what happened, I was reminded of WHY I need to stay connected to the vine = abiding in Christ. A friend of mine sent this note to me a number of years ago, and I went on a hunt to find it.

You are the weakest link in the Keswick ministry, Bill.   Even though you have experienced a lot of overhaul in your Christian life, especially in recent years, you are STILL the one, most needy of further overhaul, the one most needy of greater FAITH.   In my not-so-humble opinion, all Christian leaders are the weakest links in their organizations: the ones most needy of further growth, no matter HOW much God has grown them, to date.  

You don't have the luxury of a healthy devotional life, Bill: you need extraordinary devotional life, or you will be chewed up and spit out, by the enemy.   And you don't have the luxury of healthy prayer mobilization: you need extraordinary prayer mobilization.  And you're doing a great job of that, especially when you ask prayer for your FAITH, in light of the extreme faith-needy, prayer-needy circumstances, the ministry of Keswick faces, not just financially, but in every other way.    

So Bill needs to be on the list of people he's concerned about, so that Bill is maximally healthy, physically, emotionally and spiritually.   If I were Satan, I'd do everything I could, to undermine Bill's health, physically and emotionally, so it would be much, much harder for him to simply BELIEVE.   NURTURE yourself, Bill, physically, emotionally and spiritually: it's not a selfish thing, but a strategic investment for the Kingdom.  In my not-so-humble opinion.   Satan wants you neutralized, rendered impotent, so you and the ministry of Keswick will not be such a threat to him.  YOU, Bill Welte, are the weakest link at Keswick. 

I don’t have to stay connected to the Lord to earn more of His love! I don’t have to stay connected because if I don’t I will lose my salvation. I stay connected because HE wants to live His life through me. I need to stay connected because I AM the weakest link! Thank You, Lord, for the reminder! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Team YOU: 1 Samuel 22-24; Proverbs 13; Luke 12:1-31

Motivations:  I liken God's use of adversity to walking a dog. If the dog gets its leash wrapped around a pole and tries to continue running forward, he will only tighten the leash more. Both the dog and the owner are after the same end, forward motion, but the owner must resist the dog by pulling him opposite the direction he wants to go. The master, sharing the same intention but understanding better than the dog where he really wants to go, takes an action precisely opposite to that of the dog's will. It is in this way that God uses adversity. C. S. Lewis

Practice to Remember: Level 1:Ephesians 4:25; Level 2: Ephesians 4:11-16

Powered Up:  Prayer should never be an excuse for inaction. Nehemiah prayed, but he also set watches for protection – he used common sense. As a result, what had not been done in a hundred years’ time was finished in fifty-two days. Corrie ten Boom