So It All Changed

04/20/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

So It All Changed

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
1John 2:15-17 (NKJV)

“And the world is passing away”, none truer a statement made in the Bible. I had to go to a friend’s business recently to acquire parts for our lawn mowers. And as I was driving by a part of a town that my wife and I use to live in I took notice on how much it had changed…but it did not look good. It looked as if it too was passing away. It once had held all three of those things that John has stated the world held, the lust of the flesh, the desire of the eyes and the pride of life. It was the Babylon of its time and now it is just a wasteland in an old American town. It’s sad… but for me it is true.

It was a fine example that what the “world” around us actually promises when you submit to those three vices that John was telling the people around him to avoid. One of the buildings had burned to the ground never to be rebuilt or have a “For Sale” sign placed upon the property. It’s not even fit for a parking lot. One old business establishment that has been closed for years still hasn’t found a buyer. And a home that once was the place to be has been left deserted to decay into a sheriff’s tax sale.

It would seem as if these places were not built on Gods eternal foundation and that would be true but the home once housed a family that needs to hear the Gospel message of the Cross. I met my wife in the one that is not being sold but we now have been given the chance to rebuild on the solid Rock of Christ. The other place was the Gomorrah of its time. So it was only a matter of time before God would intervene and turn that place into the dead corner that it is now. For those of us who saw the movie “Beetlejuice” would remember the scene with “Dante’s Inferno”…it was that kind of place.

You know there is nothing reconcilable between the love of the world and the love of God. John states that quite clearly. And he is reinforced in the book of James just as bluntly. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?” (James 4:3-5)

I believe that John, the Disciple whom Jesus loved, was chosen to be the Watchman of God’s people post-Crucifixion. He warns his readers of “antichrist”. He has explained that there has been made a propitiation for our sin and there being an advocate for us by being in Christ Jesus. That whatever this world tells us we are lacking pales in comparison to the truth found in the shed blood of Christ. That what this world offers is antichrist and can still be put on display in our local cities, towns and neighborhoods. What are you seeing in the area that surrounds you and your families this morning? Be mindful the spirit of antichrist just maybe hiding in the decay. — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 19; 2 Samuel 6-8; Luke 15:1-10

Dig This Quote: “The Christian who is too Christian doesn’t love the world enough to enter fully into it, and the Christian who is too pagan doesn’t love Jesus enough to make a difference while there. Yet as disciples we are supposed to live out our calling in the world because Jesus commanded us to go into the world as a loving and transforming presence. Those who are too Christian often argue that they avoid the world because God tells us not to love the world or the things of the world.” “Too Christian Too Pagan” Dick Staub

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 — Psalm 51:14-19

My Goal Is God Himself

04/18/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

My Goal is God Himself

” … so that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:28

Today is the Lord’s day. We gather together to worship Him. The goal today should not be for you and me to “get” something from HIM, though that is certainly a by-product of worship. Our goal should be to worship and adore HIM! That goal is easy to reach when we are doing that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

F. Brooks wrote these hymn words that express so clearly what our goal should be today and every day:

My goal is God Himself — not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.
‘Tis His to lead me there,
not mine, but His;
“At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!”

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there.
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard,
Till God has full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be often great,
Well does He know the path to reach the mark;
The way that leads me to Him must be straight.

One thing I know, I cannot turn away.
One thing I do, I press towards my Lord.
My God my glory here from day to day,
And in the glory there, my great reward.

Is your goal today God Himself? Maybe today is a good day to stop and rethink your goals. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 18; 2 Samuel 3-5; Luke 14:25-35

Dig This Quote: “There are two ways to get enough; one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.” How does this translate into our worship life as Christians? If thoughts of material things command the greater part of our attention and energy, can we really be serving and worshipping the Master as we should? I find that as I ascribe worth and honour to our loving and sovereign God, he allows me to desire less of the distractions, less of the other gods. But the struggle for the throne continues. C. K. Chesterton

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 — Psalm 51:14-19

How’s Your Faith Today

04/17/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

How’s Your Faith Today?

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal … We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:7

I find myself doing battle so often with this faith walk. Right now we are in one of those weeks were finances are very tight and the bills are piling up, and we are waiting on God for HIS supply. I would like to think that after 13 years of seeing God provide, that I would have learned the lesson of trust … I am obviously a very slow learner.

I am thankful that I came across this reading today:

Faith looks to God as the Source – sights trusts in possessions, power, and people.
Faith focuses on “Who” — sight is limited to “how.”
Faith measures the SIZE of God — sight is controlled by the size of the problem.
Faith seeks God FIRST — sight takes matters into its own hands.
Faith waits on God — sight rushes ahead with self-solutions.
Faith is based on what GOD said –sight is based on how we feel.
Faith’s seeing-eye guide is the Bible — sight’s guide is only what is visible.
Faith looks beyond the circumstances to the possibilities — sight looks at how bad things are at the moment.
Faith believes God even when it seems NOTHING is happening — sight is controlled by senses and feelings.
Faith doesn’t require that it works out on paper — sight demands facts and figures first.
Faith leaves it in God’s hands — sight picks it back up and worries and frets about it.

Wow! I needed that this morning. How is your faith today? Are you walking by sight? Or are you walking by faith. Lord, help me to be a faith-walker. — Bill Welte is President of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 17; 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 14:1-24

Dig This Quote: Let us give up our work, our thoughts, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our all, right into HIS hands, and then, when we have given all over to Him, there will be NOTHING left for us to be troubled about or to make trouble about. Hudson Taylor

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

The Disciple Jesus Loved

04/16/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

THE DISCIPLE JESUS LOVED
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

Walking along the boardwalk in Ocean City, my family and I went by a Christian Book Store that was there. Hanging in the window was a T-shirt with the following statement, “Jesus loves you” and a little smaller directly beneath that it said, “but I’m His favorite.” At first I thought what an arrogant statement but then, on second thought …

John was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved. What?, did Jesus not love the other disciples? Of course our answer would be “No, Jesus loved all the disciples, even Judas”. This is true, and Jesus loves me and you as well. Who would then be brazen enough to make this statement? I admit I am a little slow sometimes but I came to realize that John made this statement about himself. He knew that Jesus loved him. A preacher by the name of Joseph Prince pointed this out in one of his sermons saying, “Peter said he loved Jesus, but John knew that Jesus loved him.”

When we compare Peter and John we find some interesting tidbits. Peter told the Lord that he loved Him and was willing to die for Him. John just knew that Jesus loved him. Peter boasted that he would never deny the Lord, John just knew that Jesus loved him. Peter cursed and spat and denied he had ever known the Lord, John watched the trial from the inside, and stayed with Jesus as well as he could throughout the night, and was there at the crucifixion. He also received the Lord’s mother into his care.Here then is the difference, Peter relied on his love for God to see him through.

Although Jesus commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbors as ourselves if we seek to do this in our own power, we will fail. But if we rest, like John in the power of God’s unchanging love for us then God will see us through. I can never generate enough love for my Lord or my neighbor to ever equal God’s love for us. Perhaps it is just like salvation. We cannot save ourselves, God awaits us to realize that and turn to Him.

Brothers, maybe we need to stop trying to generate love for God and others, but rest in God’s love for us. It is hard to hate another person when you know that God loves them also! The children’s song is so very true, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” But I think we need to get beyond that into the realm of experiencing God’s love for us. You are His beloved, look around you and you will see Him daily lavishing that love upon you. Jesus loves YOU! (But I still think I am His favoriteJ) So how about you? Are you the disciple whom Jesus loves? — Pastor Paul Ort is a new contributor to Freedom Fighter. He is a dear friend and is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Little Egg Harbor

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 16; 1 Samuel 30-31 ; Luke 13:23-35

Dig This Quote: Peace comes when there is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God’s removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him. The happy sequence culminating in fellowship with God is penitence, pardon, and peace – the first we offer, the second we accept, and the third we inherit. Charles H. Brent

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

What To Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

04/15/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

Join us tonight for our April Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor Glen Blossom is our speaker. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM followed by a time of worship, testimony and fun. Call today for reservations: 732-350-1187. Come and bring a friend!

What to Do When Your Burden is Overwhelming

“Cast your burden on the Lord …” Psalm 55:22

Good morning, brothers. For some of you the biggest burden of your life is today — filing your income tax! Seriously, we all have those days when our burdens seem beyond what we could ever bear.

There is a family at Keswick that have been through the mill this past year. Challenges with their kids, their health, the health of their grandchild. It seems that every day is a new adventure and an even greater trial. For this family, the burdens have been OVERWHELMING.

What can we do when the burdens overwhelm us? The Bible says we need to unload them on the BURDEN-BEARER — Cast your burden on the LORD!

Oswald Chambers in his devotional book, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST, shares his insight on the principle of casting our cares on Him:

We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally “cast your burden,” which He has given you, “on the Lord . . . .”

If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.

Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, “What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!”

“Cast your burden on the Lord . . . .” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “. . . the government will be upon His shoulder” ( Isaiah 9:6 ). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.

The interesting thing is that Isaiah 9:6 appeared in three different devotionals this morning. I guess the Lord is trying to remind me that He is in charge and that HE wants to be my burden bearer. How about you? Are you ready to cast YOUR burden on Him? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 15; 1 Samuel 27-29; Luke 13:1-22

Dig This Quote: Abraham’s steps of faith – He left all for God, left all with God, found all in God and yielded all to God. Anonymous

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

Check out this week’s STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT FROM GEORGE: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

Destestable Pride

04/14/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

Join us this Thursday evening for our April Men’s Fellowship Night with Pastor Glen Blossom. Dinner is at 6:15 PM followed by an evening of worship, testimonies, a challenge from God’s Word, and a fun time in our Activity Center. Call for reservations: 732-350-1187.

Detestable Pride

The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished. — Proverbs 16:5

It isn’t one of those words that we want or like to think of — Pride! But the fact is, we need to reminded what God thinks of it — He detests it! He hates it! He wants us to be free from bondage to it.

Think about some of the areas of pride that we struggle with:

** We are looked over for that promotion or new job — we are much more qualified than the person chosen

** I didn’t get the “Staff Member of the Year Award” — can you believe that they picked …

** I forgive you, but you better believe I am not going to forget what you did!

** I would never be stupid to do something like that!

** My agenda is more important that yours!

Those are just a few — right now you could add to the list from your own life. Walk Thru the Bible instructor, Chris Tiegreen says this about pride: Pride is repulsive. It directs the glory INWARD instead of UPWARD. It seeks the honor of the gifted rather than the honor of the GIVER. It is far too impressed with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of human abilities. In its very essence, it ignores God. If we want to avoid it, we must always honor Him.

That’s hard to do. Pride is the foundation of self-will which is the ultimate foundation behind every sin. It is deeply ingrained in us. We hate it in others, but we wallow in it when we’re allowed too. Whenever a little glory comes our way, we drink it in as though it’s the sweetest thirst-quencher.

But like other sweets, it has little substance. Eventually, no amount of honor will cover the fact that we’re needy inside. Something deep within us craves glory, but something deeper reminds us that we aren’t worthy of it. The depth of our soul knows that God is the ONLY worthy recipient of praise.

Let every hint of pride be repulsive to you. Let God deal with those who seek their own glory; it is not our job to humble anyone. But the Bible repeatedly tells us to humble ourselves. Hate the pride that you are prone to love. Agree with God that it is a detestable thing. Send it away and seek HIS glory. His honor comes to those who do. — from OUR DAILY WALK (Zondervan)

Is the Holy Spirit tapping on your heart today, my brother? What area of pride is He wanting to expose? Do business with Him today on this issue and allow Him to set you free! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 14; 1 Samuel 25-26; Luke 12:32-59

Dig This Quote: In radio or TV terms we are receivers. If we do occasionally transmit signals, we transmit only what we have first received. Everything has been given to us from life in the womb to life in the Spirit. We are beneficiaries, totally blessed because totally loved by God. Sanctity after all is only letting the love of God loose, letting him rampage through our lives. Cyril Brooks

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/

I Wonder What is Worthy

04/13/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

I Wonder What Is Worthy

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV)

I spent at least nine years coaching in some aspect of youth baseball. This is the first season that I am not. My son has started high school and tried out for the baseball team. They have their own coaching staff and really do not need any help. But this year will not happen for my son either. He got cut. He is handling this well too. He is looking forward to the possibility of working this summer with the summer staff at Keswick. One day Bill Welte told him it was going to happen anyway so he took him seriously. I guess we’ll see what happens there.

I remember the night I graduated the Colony. Wasn’t too sure what was going to happen but I had faith that somehow God would see me through. I got a job working for ten dollars an hour. At least I had a job. Then I got laid-off. At least I was able to collect unemployment. Then went back to work a month later and I haven’t looked back since. And God has brought me through those times where I would wonder if I was even this worthy to be blessed the way I was being blessed.

Paul wrote to the Colossians while he was in prison. He was so encouraged to hear about what they had begun in their hearts. Their faith in Christ, the love they had for the saints and the hope they were laying up in heaven. His prayer for them is that the Colossians “may walk worthy of the Lord.” It was important to Paul they live in a manner that could reflect what God had been doing for them and in them. Funny thing to note here is that the pagans who worshipped rocks and logs knew that they had to walk worthy in accordance with their false gods.

I often wonder if I walk worthy of the Lord. You never can tell if you are walking worthy until someone else notices. You never know if you are not unless someone else notices for that matter. My wife and I had recently been approached about an opportunity to serve in ministry. The folks that asked us if we consider serving are people that we both look at as people who are at a level of walking we would like to get be in step with. And at times I know I’ve personally made them both scratch their heads and wonder.

So like I said you can never tell who is watching you walk or even hearing about it. Paul heard about the Colossians walking worthy of the Lord while in prison. I drive to work every morning listening to the latest downloaded sermon (lately it has been John MacArthur) and hear things that bring conviction to my heart. And yet I still walk. You know, I feel there does come a point in mans walk where he can say in his heart that he doesn’t care about what other people think, say or offer. There is nothing like looking down and seeing only one set of footprints in the sand and you know that they are not yours. Santo!! — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on the leadership team of Families for Christ. He is a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 13; 1 Samuel 22-24; Luke 12:1-31

Dig This Quote: “Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power.” —Matthew Henry Concise

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

Complete and Effective Decision About Sin

04/12/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

COMPLETE AND EFFECTIVE DECISION ABOUT SIN

” … our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin”” —Romans 6:6

This is a devotional I shared in 2006! It comes from the pen of Oswald Chambers, MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. It is one that I believe we should go back to often:

Co-Crucifixion. Have you made the following decision about sin— that it must be completely killed in you? It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you-not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified— just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to do in this passage.

Pull yourself up, take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.

This was not some divine future expectation on the part of Paul, but was a very radical and definite experience in his life. Are you prepared to let the Spirit of God search you until you know what the level and nature of sin is in your life— to see the very things that struggle against God’s Spirit in you? If so, will you then agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin— that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? You cannot “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” ( Romans 6:11 ) unless you have radically dealt with the issue of your will before God.

Have you entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, until all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” ( Galatians 2:20 ).

What areas of sin in your life that you are holding onto? Christ died for that area of sin, and wants us to put it to death in our lives. Talk to Him about it today. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 12; 1 Samuel 19-21; Luke 11:29-54

Dig This Quote: Get acquainted with your heart. If it is deep, search it out. If it is dark, inquire into it. If your heart seeks to deceive you or to throw you off by mislabeling its sinful tendencies, do not believe it. Some seek to justify, conceal, or excuse the evils of their own hearts instead of seeking to destroy them. — John Owen

Determined Digging: Level 1 — Psalm 127:1; Level 2 — Psalm 51:10-13

Our God Reigns

04/11/201006/05/2012Leave a comment

OUR GOD REIGNS

Yesterday I reminded us of the fact that despite everything go on around us, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL of ALL THINGS.

What a difference a week can make! Two weeks ago, we remembered the events of the Triumphant Entry. Last week we focused in on the Cross, the burial and the glorious Resurrection of our Savior.

During the days and weeks after the resurrection, Jesus was seen alive and well to many before He ascended into heaven. It wasn’t just a rumor that He was alive — Peter say Him! The Twelve saw Him, and over 500 at one time saw Him!

He is alive, my brothers. Our God reigns. Be reminded of these words today as you gather together to worship HIM!

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
Who bring good news, good news:
Announcing peace, Proclaiming news of happiness.
Our God reigns, our God reigns!