Join us this Thursday night, February 12^th for our Men’s Fellowship Night with Pastor Willy Winborne. Check out this link for details!!! Come bring a friend!!!

Know Your Enemy

Well, well, well.  Here we are another week has come upon us and 2015 has gotten off to a fast start as we are already one month done.  Happy  February.  This week, I want to discuss something that is very familiar to all of us, and as we think about our lives, we need to understand that we have three enemies who are seeking constantly for our fall, destruction, and even our death.  So, I do not know if you have given these three any thought lately, but I do know that when I was asking the LORD what is it that I should write about this week, this is where he lead me.  Someone out there in our circle needs to hear what the LORD has to say today about this subject.

As we consider our three enemies, we all need to understand that each of us has these same three enemies.  Two of them are external enemies (outside of ourselves), and the other lives in us.  We will quickly look at each one and see how they operate in our lives and how we are to gain victory over them.

Satan – we start with him because every one of us knows that he is an enemy.  We even at times only give him the credit for the work of sin in our lives without even acknowledging the work of the other two.  So, just what does he do in our lives. The very first thing we need to understand about this foe, is that he does not have any authority in our lives if we are believers in Jesus Christ.  Many Christians that I have come into contact with over the years have been deceived into thinking that he exercises power of them.  This just is not the truth.  The issue for the Christ follower is that he needs to exercise James 4.7 and submit to the truth of God for their life.  We usually asked God for his power over our temptation but we do not resist the devil.  Just how do we do this?  We do this by replacing the lies of Satan with the truth of God.  We have to acknowledge that what Satan has planted in our mind is a lie and we must not only acknowledge it with must replace it with God’s truth.  We do this by faith.  Satan operates and attacks us in our minds.  When we draw near to God and resist the devil, God promises us that the devil will flee from us.  Do you believe that?  If not, you are holding onto the lie, that Satan has more power over you then the devil has.

The world – this is the world’s system, its philosophy, its mindset.  Listen to some of the thoughts of our present world system.

Alcohol use is fun (commercials on TV).  Did you ever notice that the advertisers never show the destruction that alcohol causes.  The Super Bowl just passed this weekend and the beer commercials never showed once the harm it causes.

Drinking alcohol is a private choice.

It’s ok to relax and drink.

Drinking helps us cope with the horrible things that has happened in our lives.

Alcohol helps us to have fun with other people.  It loosens us up, makes us more social.

Some of the things that I have heard people say that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus go something like this.

You do not need the help of Jesus to overcome your addiction, you just need to decide to stop using and you will stop.

God is here to make you happy and he does that by helping you and serving you.

God helps those who help themselves.

Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps; you are going to be fine you just got to keep yourself pure.

This world system operates in our lives in the same way that the devil does, in that, it attacks our minds.  Listen to Solomon in the book of Proverbs:

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.  Proverbs 23:7King James Version (KJV)

It is natural for us to think about what our heart desires.  Our heart always desires that which it sees.  Think about those TV commercials that come on that show that big juicy burger, once we see it, we start to fantasize about it, then our hearts want it.  This is the way the world catches us in its system.  When we are being tempted by the world we should keep these things in mind.

Change the channel on the TV if you see something that is beginning to catch your attention and promotes sinfulness or lies to us.  My wife and I have made a habit of talking about the lies that the commercial is trying to get us to believe.

Do not entertain the worldly thoughts in your mind.  Replace the lie with the truth.

Be active and resists the lies that this present world is telling you.  Remember Satan is the ruler of this world and he is the father of lies.

Stay away from people, places and things that will promote the lies of this world as much as you can.

Be very selective in the things that you allow into your mind.  You heard the old saying, GIGO (garbage in, garbage out).

Our last enemy is our flesh.  This enemy is internal, it lives in us.  Unlike, Satan and this world, which influence our thinking, this enemy lives in us and it refers to not only our thinking but our speaking and acting as well.  This is also known to us and our sin nature. We are born with this nature.  We sin because we are sinners.  Did you know, that no one had to teach you how to sin, sin comes naturally to us.  It is part of being human.  That is why Paul could say with confidence, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Why, because Paul knew that all mankind has been born into sin.

None of us escapes the reality of sin in our lives.  Once we become believers in Jesus Christ, our sin nature does not go away, as a matter of speaking we bring it right into our walk with Jesus Christ.  What we need to learn to do here is to practice putting on the new nature (since we were born again, God gave us this new nature) and put off the old nature.  Another way of saying this is stop the old sinful practices and put on the new practices.  We do this by surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

I am going to close this and next week, we will pick up and discuss a number of issues concerning these things.  Have a great week. Doug Barger is the Director of Men’s Ministry at Bethesda Mission. You can email him at dbarger2030 @comcast.net

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 47-49; Mark 12:1-27

Think About This: If God can bring blessing from the broken body of Jesus and glory from something that’s as obscene as the cross, He can bring blessing from my problems and my pain and my unanswered prayer. I just have to trust Him.
Anne Graham Lotz

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Join us this Thursday night, February 12^th for our Men’s Fellowship Night with Pastor Willy Winborne. Check out this link for details!!! Come bring a friend!!!

There’s Something Different About You

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

We are a different bunch, aren’t we? If we are doing the right things and living life as God intended, to the world we act differently. There’s something about us that stands out. Hopefully we are different in the right ways so that people around us are compelled to ask the question: What’s different about … ?

Ray Lessin in his daily devotional Meet Me in the Meadow reminds us of some of the ways we are different:

In certain times we are secure

While others walk in fear, we walk by faith

In a world that is like sand, our feet stand upon a rock

With worry all around is, we have peace beyond understanding

In the midst of heaviness and discouragement, we have joy unspeakable

In troubled times, we have comfort and consolation

When the world wonders what will happen next, we have hope strongly planted in our hearts

And the reason we are different?

Your heart has been toward the Lord, and His heart has been toward you

You have taken care of the things that concern Him, and He has taken care of the things that concern you

You have given Him all that is yours, and He given you all that is His

You have waited up Him, and He will not disappoint you

Your plans are not His purposes; your commitments are based on His leading

Your desires fit into His design

You have sought for His highest and He has given you HIS best.

Good reminder, brothers (and some sisters) as we begin this new week. Is there something different about you? – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 45-46; Mark 11:19-33

Think About This: Any Christian who believes they can flourish in their walk while choosing to walk that walk independent from other believers has one hand on the door that leads to deception. Anonymous

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

How Thirsty Are They?

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. Matthew 5:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

My journey in the Christian life has had many joys, sorrow, hard times, easy times, good times and bad one too and the above verse was read to me just yesterday and I realized a few things that I have not realized in the past 26 years of being a believer.

The first thing that I want to do for us is give us the context of this passage.  This is part of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus is the speaker.  He is telling those who are listening the ways of the kingdom and of kingdom people.  This verse in particular is really speaking about our identity as kingdom people and how who we are influences the world around us.

In my early days as a Christian, I got involved in everything that I could get involved in.  I remember one time being involved in training at my church that had to do with evangelism.  I learned the techniques of sharing the gospel with those who did not know the gospel.  Now, if you know me at all, you know that I am not a salesman and I do not have the personality of someone who can just go up to someone and start talking to them about spiritual things.  This was even truer in my earlier days that it is now, although I still am not one who would just start a conversation with someone I do not know.

So, as I heard this verse read yesterday, I noticed something that I never noticed before.  It shows up in the first few words of the verse, “You are the salt of the earth”.  Notice that it does not say, you are becoming, you will be, it states, “you are…”.  This speaks of my identity as a kingdom person and as a kingdom person, I have a responsibility to act like the person I am.  If I act contrary to my identity, that is what Jesus calls hypocrisy, which he also addresses in the Sermon on the Mount.

I would like to take a minute or two more of your time to think about the benefits of salt.  Do you know any benefits?  Think about that for a minute, because it is significant that Jesus uses the word, salt for our identity.  Salt has a preservative factor in it.  Look at the verse again; you Are the Salt of the Earth.  As a kingdom person, we are to live our life in a way that preserves those around us.  How are you doing with preserving those around you?

Salt is also a flavor enhancer.  This is an interesting thought to me because I am not one who puts salt on his food but recognizes when something has been enhanced with salt.  I like unsalted peanuts, but I like even more those peanuts that have salt all over them.  I do not care for a pretzel without the salt, I think that if you are going to make a pretzel you should have salt on it.  Those are two examples of enhancement of flavor that I go with.  This is an area of my life that I need to work on because when it comes to enhancing flavor, I may have lost my saltiness.  When I write that, immediately the Holy Spirit just said to me, “what are you going to do about that?”  Repent.  Now, repentance is a whole other topic that I can not go into now, but you know where I just went there.

The last thing that I want to say about this whole idea of being salt is that salt makes one thirsty.  Let me asked you one thing those that you are living life with, are you leaving them thirsty for the things of the kingdom?  This is really the heart of what Jesus was talking about.  He says, You are the salt?  We are it…. He also says that we should be concerned about the condition of our saltiness.  If we lose our preserving, flavor enhancing, and thirst making abilities we are putting ourselves in a horrible situation.  Jesus says, we would not be any good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled upon.  Doesn’t sound real good to me.  If you have, then repent and follow Jesus.  He has already forgiving you of your sin, repent and get on with living out who you already are.  You are the salt of the earth.  Have a great week. Doug Barger serves as Director of Men’s Ministry at Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, PA. You can contact him at dbarger2030@comcast.net

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 39-40; Mark 10:1-31

Think About This: The frightening thing is that, to enter hell, all one has to do is nothing. —Jared Wilson

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

The Fruit and The Vine: LONG SUFFERING II

“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it’s to his glory to overlook a transgression.” Proverbs 19:11 (NASB)

As I continue on with my in-depth look at how long suffering/patience is or isn’t ripening in my life I would like to see what the benefits are. So as I started I found that one of those benefits is having an understanding that I need to be deeply grafted into the very sap of the True Vine which is Christ Jesus. The quality of my devoted time and broadening of that time is a must when moving from a moment to an all-day attentiveness to His presence. Folk’s, even if I get this far along in my walk I would be content but that’s not how YHVH works. He doesn’t want to bear some of the fruit—oh no—He wants us to bear it all and to His Glory. So let’s get to it…

There is a lot to learn about how patience has its benefits by taking a look at Proverbs. If we could summarize the qualities that Proverbs talk about it seems that smart, strong and calm folks seem to have it better than stupid, weak and rash folks. One of my personal favorites has always been Proverbs 27:12, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.” Or perhaps this sounds a little more in tune to what I am trying to say, “A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.” In either case Proverbs definitely leans towards being one with wisdom is being one with patience. Agreed?

Proverbs 26:21 reads, “As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” That contentious man is just someone who cares only about a victory for themselves, a hot-headed man who will say just about anything to be right. The Message would it like this, “A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire.” Bickering and back-biting are the true markings of someone who is suffering from the disease of Alacolonsuffing (a-lack-of-long-suffering). Isn’t it ironic that the word content makes up part of the word contention? It is as if this person isn’t wise or content enough to understand that a harsh word stirs up anger in someone else who is also looking to win the argument.

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) Alexander the Great was a mighty conqueror back in the day and he pretty much got what he invaded to get…except Jerusalem. But his temper got him no respect. In contrast a man that is slow to anger is esteemed by the Lord, respected by men, is happy in himself and is considered to be the strongest man. A man that has the command of his temper can govern himself, and not suffer in his passions but it requires the grace of God, and the assistance of His spirit. Maybe Alexander the Great shouldn’t have understood that “Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power.”

Sometimes long suffering can be a question of what is the difference between patience, passiveness and powerlessness. Patience says one has the confidence to conqueror with in a calm spirit where passiveness and powerlessness is kinda like putting the cart in front of the donkey and then yelling at the donkey because it can’t tow the load. Basically displaying your frustration in yourself because you have realized you ain’t so wise in your own eyes. And that’s where I’ll leave it for today but until next time ask yourself what changes do you need to make in the way you act and think in order to become more patient. As for where I’ll be picking up this discussion next time…it will be at something I never thought went together, patience and forgiveness. Quite a challenge to ponder, Amen? – Chris Hughes is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. You can write him at cphughes515@verizon.net

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 37-38; Mark 9:30-50

Think About This: “As long as you live by your old nature you will be open to all of the injustices of men. Your temper will get you into fights, your passions will clash with your neighbors, your desires will be like tender spots open to your enemies’ arrows.”—Fenelon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

Free at Last!

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Abraham Lincoln. There were many lives sacrificed in the name of freedom. Most of those brave individuals are nameless and forgotten. However, their actions are the reasons why we have such a diverse cultural.

Freedom is not free!

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1, 2)

Free from some earthly situations are great, and we ought to thank the brave men and women for their sacrifice, because we couldn’t do what we do, if they didn’t do, and continue to do, what they are called to do. Moreover, Christ has set us free from eternal death and granted his children with eternal life. Now what are we doing in the name of being free?

The more we understand that this freedom is a gift that cost Christ his life. The quicker we can grasp that His love freed, and continue to free us from the bondage, and the yoke that the dark principalities and sinful nature has imposed on us. The more God can work His will through us, without sharing the glory.

Our job is to reflect the freedom that has already been done. Sadly, I have been incarcerated for poor decisions. I ate when they told me to eat, I went to bed when they told me to go to bed, they controlled my food selection etc… However, the day they released me I didn’t live under the umbrellas of the Penitentiary system.

Likewise in Christ, I’m free from my past, free from others opinions of me, free from my old “stinkin thinkin,”  but I should not use this freedom for opportunity for my own personal gain. Christians, we are free to love are neighbors, free to love our enemies, but even more we are free to love and serve God for eternity.

“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.” MLK – Chaplain Juan serves full-time at America’s Keswick and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. You can write Juan at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 34-36; Mark 9:1-29

Think About This: Sin will usher in the greatest and the saddest losses that can be upon our souls. —Thomas Brooks

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

My Confession

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ~ 2 Timothy 1:9-10 

The Confession

Today I was thinking back to my days working at Target. I worked on the overnight crew for over two years with a group of men, which you could say, weren’t the most spiritual.

This was a time in my life that truly was a stretch for my faith because I was being forced to accurately live it out in front people who didn’t believe the same things I did.

Now, I’ll be honest. I wasn’t perfect. I can remember numerous times finding myself at the end of a conversation asking myself “how did I get from point a to point b?” and “Man, I blew my testimony again!”

All that being said, everyone there knew I was a Christian. I always tried to find ways of bringing Christ, the Bible and all kinds of Christian topics into the conversation, which usually resulted in some interesting debates.

Proclaiming

I can remember one night, one of the guys asking me why I felt I needed Jesus… I thought about the question for a few moments and I said, “Because I know without Him, I’d be a pretty horrible person.” He looked very puzzled and followed up with asking, “You’re way too nice… You really think you’d be that bad of a guy?” which I responded “yes”.

You see, even with my testimony slip-ups I had set a tone with my life that I was different, and that I was, “the nice Christian boy.” I went on to tell him about how weak I felt and that if I didn’t have Christ; where I thought I’d be in my life and the “niceness” they all saw in me wasn’t of my own doing, it was Christ living and working in my life.

The next morning that conversation really hit me. I was thinking about my day-to-day behavior, responses or actions where I let my flesh push through into my life. I’m learning more and more that I need to keep an attitude of daily reliance and repentance on God for everything and anything. Without Him I wouldn’t have my heavenly blessings like salvation or my earthly ones like my wife and family.

Encouragement

I hope you take this morning’s confession as an encouragement for yourself for two reasons…

1. That even when we create a daily mess of our testimony, God can still use our hearts and conversations for His gospel. That he is able to restore us and use us.

2. As believers, whatever we have that is pure and beautiful is from Him and for Him. That if I am able to show kindness or a loving heart, it’s from Him that I am able. Not because of anything I’ve done. Always be humble and give daily credit to Him. 

My Prayer

Dear, Heavenly Father. I hope this morning you’ll continually work in my life and help me to give more of myself to you. Help me peel away the layers of myself so you can shine brighter and brighter through me. Help me be a greater testimony of who you are and how beautiful you truly are. AMEN Graeme M. Wilson is Director of Marketing at America’s Keswick. You can write him at graemew@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 32-33; Mark 8 

Think About This: Let the Bible fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Henrietta C Mears

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

God’s Arithmetic

I just finished reading a power book this week writing by Pastor Robert J. Morgan. I heard about it from one of Dr. David Jeremiah’s broadcasts. The book is entitled: Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late: 10 Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose. It ranks up there in one of the top influential books I’ve read.

I want to share with you the story of John Song which I trust will encourage your heart on this Monday morning:

We might think we’re influencing people one by one and little by little, but God knows how to turn our addition into His multiplication, and His calculus is incalculable. Consider the great revival now sweeping China— millions upon millions of people are streaming into the kingdom. Much of what’s happening is the by-product of a few words by a fifteen-year-old girl, whose name we don’t know and who probably never knew what she had wrought.

I want to tell you the story of the influence she exerted on John Sung, who was born in 1901 into a Methodist preacher’s family in China. As a boy, John helped his father in the ministry and earned the nickname Little Pastor. But John’s main interests were intellectual, not spiritual. He was brilliant, always at the top of his class.

As a young man he came to America in pursuit of degrees. He earned a PhD at Ohio State University , where you can still find his chemistry essays and research documents in the university library. He is reportedly the first national Chinese to earn a PhD in America. Along the way, John got away from the Lord and lost his way in life.

In the course of time, trying to regain his bearings, he enrolled in New York’s Union Theological Seminary, which espouses a very liberal theology. This was the modernist world of Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin and Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick. In this faithless environment, John Sung became so confused he no longer knew what he believed or why. He grew depressed and was unable to eat or sleep.

One day during the Christmas season, a friend invited him to an evangelistic meeting where Dr. I. M. Haldeman, a brilliant New York City pastor, was scheduled to speak. Arriving at the meeting, John was disappointed to learn the program had changed. Dr. Haldeman wasn’t there. Instead, a fifteen-year-old girl, dressed in white and clasping a small Bible, rose to say a few words. John lost interest in the meeting but, unable to exit gracefully, he stayed. The girl read a few verses about the power of the Cross and gave a few words of testimony. That’s all, but that was enough. Her few sentences fell into John’s heart like seeds ready to burst into life. Shortly thereafter, John embraced Christ as his Lord and Savior and began sharing the news with everyone.

The administration of Union Theological Seminary, thinking him mad, committed him to an insane asylum. He spent six months there, read the Bible cover to cover forty times, and considered the asylum a better seminary than Union. He was finally released on the condition he would return to China, and he arrived in Shanghai in the fall of 1927. He started preaching the moment he arrived, and more than 100,000 people were saved during his ministry. He was called the “John Wesley of China.” He preached for fifteen years until he died at age forty-three from tuberculosis, but he paved the way for the explosive growth that China is experiencing today.

Morgan, Robert  J. (2015-01-06). Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late: 10 Biblical Strategies for a Lifetime of Purpose (pp. 255-256). Howard Books. Kindle Edition.

That story was too good to not share with you. God’s arithmetic is far different than ours. Make your life count today. – Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 30-31; Mark 7:14-37

Think About This: Our failures are never big enough to interrupt God’s plans for us. —Dave Harvey

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

“Uncle!”

“Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:9

I remember as a kid being tortured by my older brothers and them applying pain till I would give up. The word that was used to alleviate the pressure was uncle, “say uncle” was the command.

Now I realize my brothers are no comparison to God nor are their motives but I do think it’s a good reference to my point. In Psalm 32 David is sharing with us that his Heavenly Father was applying the pressure that comes from unrepented sin in our lives but instead of saying uncle He wants us to say ask forgiveness and repent.

I know I’m not the only one who’s been tortured by a stronger foe, and I myself at times was that bully who arrogantly demanded surrender. But there was always the guy who would never say uncle and there were times I thought I’d hear a bone crack or a limb be torn off before they would submit.

I don’t know your story but what pressure is God allowing in your life that He wants you to say “uncle”? Sometimes it’s painful to watch other believers continue to walk in the flesh and thinking to myself “this could get ugly” and I myself can relate to the heavy hand of God upon me to turn from my way and walk in His.

David says “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding”. He reminds us that they “must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.”  I may have never had a bit in my mouth or was guided by a bridle but I have certainly felt like I was.

So as the writer of Hebrews pleads with his readers as he compares them to the ones Moses led out of Egypt and captivity, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

So if God is allowing circumstances to bring you to your knees it’s not to humiliate you but to bring you into a right relationship with Him. Just say “uncle”. Rob Russomano serves full-time at America’s Keswick and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. You can write to him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 23-25; Mark 6:1-29

Think About This: A good sermon helps people to two ways: Some rise from it greatly strengthened; others wake from it greatly refreshed. E. C. McKenzie

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight. 2 Samuel 10:12

The Fruit and The Vine:

LONGSUFFERING I

“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29 (ESV)

One of my major struggles has always been that long suffering stuff. Better put when it comes to patience I ain’t got’em too good!! I’ve never been too sure what happened along the journey that had been taking place before I came to the foot of The Cross that I could zone in on and say, “There’s the reason I have no patience”.  All I know is now that I try walking the narrow road and the art of long suffering needs to be in place. I have to zone in on the here and now to bring it into focus. To become a person who understands themselves and human nature, and can have great command over their passions so that I can be someone who shows themselves to be a person of great wisdom and understanding…and therefore someone who could possibly write the Book of Proverbs? (That’s a stretch ain’t it?)

Sometime before my good friend, James Getz, went home to sing, dance and play guitar for Jesus I promised him I would take the time to examine my ways through the nine fruits of The Spirit and share what I find out about myself with all of you. He also recommended that I read a book by Bruce Wilkinson titled “The Secrets of The Vine”.  Even though that was back in the summer of 2014 I am still digging in and finding out there is no way to avoid the topic of long suffering. There are some who would dare to say that because I suffer from Alacolonsuffing (a-lack-of-long-suffering) and that I may not truly be saved as deeply as I would like to believe. That I’ve really only purchased “fire insurance” and that at least I avoid the lake of fire…hogwash I say!!

With all that outta the way let’s examine my spiritual condition jokingly known as Alacolonsuffing…

I think it is reasonable to say that there are benefits that come from long suffering but I think that comes from understanding the principles of abiding in the LORD (YHVH) and putting them into practice first. You can read your Bible and Oswald Chamber devotions all day long and still miss the attachment that’s needed to The Vine. The very life force that maintains our attachment to Jesus is in the sap of the Vine and not the externals that we show people when they hear us pray before eat our happy meals at McDonalds. I always have to keep in mind that I am no more a hallowed man when I pray for the offering I help collect on Sunday than I am that same no-more-a-hallowed man when I give my offering. Understand?

In Wilkinson’s book he gives two principles to break through in abiding, one is to deepen the quality of devoted time to God and the second is to broaden it. This means taking it from morning devotions to an all-day attentiveness to His presence. If I am attentive to His presence more often than I have been then I realize I must decrease and He must increase…following me so far? Decreasing for one of us doesn’t happen at the same pace that it does for another of us and therefore the fruit of long suffering ripens faster for some of us than it does for the rest of us. (That’s very Watchman Nee there) This tells me that the spiritual fruit of patience happens when I become deeply grafted into The Vine, so there is hope that it will ripen in my life.

I am going to stop here for today and I will hope that you’ll be joining me in my next Freedom Fighter as I continue on my examination of my spiritual condition of Alacolonsuffing. Until then why not join me and take a patience inventory for yourself. At what times and in what circumstances do you show symptoms of Alacolonsuffing? For me it can start at the coffee pot first thing in the morning or it can be that last straw in a moment that snaps as loud as comb that breaks in your hair while you are trying to look your best. It is funny how the writer of Proverbs tells us that “He who is slow to anger better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Pro 16:32) I pray you remember that tidbit of wisdom for your day…Amen?  Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger. You can write Chris at cphughes515@comcast.net

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 20-22; Mark 5:21-43

Think About This: “Brethren, God knows what is best for each of us in His desire to make us the kind of saints that will glorify and honor Him in all things! …God has said He will exalt you in due time, but remember, He is referring to His time and not yours!”—A.W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight. 2 Samuel 10:12

What’s the difference between being content and settling?

Arnold Palmer is one my favorite drinks, only to find later that he is a famous golfer. I heard that once he did a tour assisting a Saudi Arabian king in helping with some golfing. The king offered to send him a gift, but Arnold refused. The king insisted, and Arnold settles for a simple golf club. When he returned to the states, to his surprise, Mr. Palmer received a deed and title to one of the most beautiful Golf Clubs in Pennsylvania.

Adam and Eve settled, over God, for knowledge in the garden. The Israelites settled for less and other idols that hindered them from an intimate relationship with the great Creator of all.

On the other hand, Paul consistently encouraged the early church to continue in the work of the Lord. He himself had learned the art of being content or in a state of peaceful happiness, in the midst of the busyness of the ministry. Nevertheless, he never settled for being a mediocre Christian.

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore.” Sir Francis Drake. Sir Frances Drake never settled for being an ordinary shipmate, actually, Sir Frances Drake is known for how he lived, died, and was buried at sea.

Settling, though is not always evil, is having resolve or unwillingness to be challenged to do more, to be more, to serve more, to be a part something greater than ourselves. God is the goal, and like Arnold Palmer, many times in my life, I settled for less than what my King is offering.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

Are you settling or being content? Chaplain Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time as at the Colony. You can write to Juan at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 17-19; Mark 5:1-20 

Think About This: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” ~Corrie Ten Boom

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight. 2 Samuel 10:12