Heart is Where the Home Is

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good”
Luke 6:45a

Whenever I have to attach something and I want it to stick I use epoxy. Epoxy is a glue that when the two ingredients are mixed together they create an everlasting bond. But like any bonding agent the instructions are clear, make sure surface is clean and free of anything that would hinder the application.

Last week in church we heard a message on the Beatitudes. The main point of the message was to look at Jesus’ teachings as a way to evaluate your heart. Tom said we shouldn’t be confused that these saying are a wy to lead us to salvation but rather a way to validate our salvation and to view them as a barometer of our heart.

“The heart is where the home is” is more relevant to me than “The home is where the heart is” because our heart is where we “make our bed” as the old saying goes, and where we make our bed is where we sleep.

Where I live in my mind is going to spill out in my actions. If I look at the Beatitudes I can adjust my thinking to cleanse my heart. “Garbage in, garbage out” is a motto I live by.

Like the epoxy process, the heart should be the area we want to affix the Spirit of God. First we must prepare the surface and clean it before the application. For me this is my time in prayer and confession, acknowledging the greatness of God. Then since we have the Spirit of God within us it can only be useful when the second ingredient is added, the word of God.

The Spirit within us when mixed with the Word creates a bond that can adhere itself to our heart. When our heart is clean the words and actions that come from us are the way Jesus displays His life through ours. It’s when the Beatitudes are displayed.

I hope you can take some time periodically and digest he Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. The only difference is, unlike the epoxy, we have to do this on a regular basis, Amen!  Rob Russomano graduated from the Colony of Mercy, served on the Keswick full-time staff, and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 19-21

Think About This: Part of what it means to be God’s children is to accept that He knows, and that He will bring what is best into our lives – not what we want every time, but what is ultimately best for us. Charles Paul Conn

Verse to Memorize: For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 Amplified Bible

Bible Conference In Ephesus Day Six: Going Home

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:18-20 (ESV)

Ya can’t be saved without knowing the name of Jesus Christ and ya can’t be used by God without understanding the authority of that name. Yeah, what a way to start a Freedom Fighter but as I have been covering this “Bible Conference in Ephesus” through the words of Watchman Nee To-sheng it really has been a rediscovery of what the Word of God says in the Book of Ephesians. Nee To-sheng asks his reader, “When, therefore, and under what conditions are we justified in occupying territory that is outwardly the enemy’s and holding it in the name of the Lord Jesus?” In his book “Sit, Walk, Stand” Watchman Nee refers us to “take…the word of God” to help us here.

If you take the verses I am using today and look at them through the lens of “prayer and action” the authority of His name is made clear. We must be heavenly minded here on earth first and foremost, then we have to agree. Collectively we ask, through the action of prayer and then we watch as the Godhead comes together to answer. The key to all this is being gathered together under the authoritive name of Jesus Christ. His name isn’t just a name in this case…it’s a title. The Father bestows this upon The Son because of His absolute obedience, even unto death on a Roman Cross. His ascension to sit by the right hand of The Father assures that title is true.

The name of Jesus tells us that God gave all authority to His Son and I don’t think our adversary likes that too much. His rest in The Son has been denied because of his blatant disobedience and rebellion, what a shame for us to follow in that path. We were given the choice to “name the Name” that’s grants us salvation and to lord in our lives for His good purpose, why not choose today who you will follow. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Folks, His name has been given to you so that you can sit, walk and stand…if you don’t know your part in that you will suffer great loss.

The power of His name works in three ways. When you “preach” the Gospel message to someone so that in it your words express the need for people to confront their sin and accept the need for salvation. Next is in warfare because the might of His name stands against the prince of the air and lastly, when we go to the throne of grace with all our prayers and requests. In three of these distinctions His name will operate in such a way that we might join Watchman Nee as he say’s “Lord, your courage is very great!”

There is so much more to “Sit, Walk, Stand” that I could go on about but I believe you should get this 67 page book for yourself and find those hidden nuggets that I didn’t cover. I also want to thank Brother John Weaver from Tennessee for going out of his way to insure that I got my copy. I would also like to mention that while I worked on this series, Brother John shared moments with some us (through Facebook) as his father went home to be with Jesus. I consider it a privilege to have been given the words of Watchman Nee from this brother. In contrast, there is much to be said of how finding rest in Jesus Christ is paramount to us all…so that when we get to our final destination we may be able to hear, “Well done, enter in and I will give you rest.”

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 16-18

Think About This: The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Him and standing in Him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus.”—Watchman Nee To-sheng

Verse to Memorize: For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 Amplified Bible

Bible Conference In Ephesus — Day Five: STAND

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”   Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV)

And so Watchman Nee To-sheng continued on with this statement, “Christian experience begins with sitting and leads to walking, but it does not end with these. Every Christian must learn to stand.” It seems like forever and a day that mankind has done nothing but do battle with the other side that he is on. I believe (by way of example) that the Philadelphia Eagles are on the side of good and that the Dallas Cowboys are on the side of evil. And twice a year, on a gridiron, these two opponents do battle with the intent of beating each other, by way of touchdowns and field goals, over an item known as the football.

When it comes to this world around us, there are also two teams, or better said, two thrones at war with each other. And (yeah I’m gonna say it) we are the football they are fighting over. We have God on His throne claiming the earth and the fullness thereof for His dominion and you got Satan on his throne looking to undermine the absolute authority of God. Nee To-sheng poses this situation to us, “The Church is called to displace Satan from his present realm and to make Christ Head over all. What are we doing about it?” Time to get a little personal…

This becomes of matter of “spiritual warfare” doesn’t it? And to clear up the confusion, yes we do have those times where, like Job, we get direct assaults from Satan but we can’t give him all the credit when things go bad. Remember his primary job is not to get us to sin but to get you stray away from the level ground of Calvary. It’s his hope that when you do this he can go to God and accuse then go to you and say, “Told you weren’t good enough.” When this moment of battle comes up we need to stand, in full armor, covered by the blood of Christ, and say, “I don’t need to fight to get the victory, Jesus already won!! The LORD rebuke you!!” (Or something like that, you get my drift)

Keep in mind Christian that if YOU choose to fight this battle ALONE to get victory you have already lost. The word is “stand” not “pick up thy sword and smite thine enemy into little itty-bitty pieces.” In football the defense makes a stand against the offensive so that they don’t score…that’s YOU Christian. If you do get an interception and score a touchdown (maybe like leading someone to Christ) well “Amen” but remember Jesus Christ is the offense. It’s through The Cross we get victory anything else is futility to say the least.

Nee To-sheng wraps up this day by saying, “Only those who sit can stand. Our power for standing, as for walking, lies in our having first been made to sit together with Christ.” And so it is about being able to rest in Him and finding peace there to be able to stand against the wiles of our adversary. But the more I listen to words of Watchman Nee the more I find this battle within myself, that battle is why do I NOT go to Jesus each and every time a fiery dart hits it mark? Pride? Shame? Stubbornness? Stupidity? All of the above? Well there is one more day to this conference better get some rest. Think I’ll have a seat, wanna join me? Maybe Jesus will…amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 14-15

Think About This: : “We must know how to sit with Christ in heavenly places and we must know to how to walk worthy of Him down here, but we must also know how to stand before the foe.”—Watchman Nee

Verse to Memorize: For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 Amplified Bible

Bible Conference In Ephesus  Day Four: Redeeming The Time

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)

“No Christian believer will be “half-saved” at the end, even if now that might be said of us in any sense. God will perfect every man who has faith in Him.” This is what Watchman Nee says when he has his dialog about another aspect of the Christian walk. There is a part of this conference where Nee To-sheng feels the need to discuss how we are to “proceed” towards a goal and it falls into the idea of redeeming the time. I am using the verses today (as Nee To-sheng did) so that we can also see the association between the idea of time and the difference between wisdom and foolishness.

Watchman feels it is important to be reminded of two other passages in which ideas are brought together…Matthew 25:1-13 and Revelation 14:1-5. These are a few of the many passages of Scripture where we assured that what God has begun He will finish. We get clarity when we read Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” When we look at those verses from Matthew and Revelation it’s the idea of those who have done well at an early hour and not so much at those who done better, keeping in mind that the Lamb is seeking firstfruits.

So taking this Christian walk isn’t always about how well we are doing but how we are using the time in unison. Those virgins with the lamps that had no reserve were foolish to say the least but they weren’t lost. And so it can get with us, we walk the narrow path but when does the idea of resting in Him (sit) enter our thought pattern? By taking the time to rest in Him, this rest fills us up with His spirit and this helps us “ripen”. Watchman Nee uses this clever analogy concerning the orange groves in his native Fukien province. He says if you were to look out you could see an instant of green but if you take time you’ll see “flecks of gold dotted among the dark green trees.” There will still be a harvest but among it will be firstfruits.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We can read that verse, we can understand that verse but unless we are watchful disciples we just learn the verse and not apply the verse. We can’t just be disciples simply by walking that path because we knew Scripture says His word is our guide. If we don’t take the time to notice the lamp and it’s light we just walk. How do we notice the lamp and its light…have a seat and rest. Watchful disciples will keep extra oil in the lamp because it’s not so much about the light but as the light being sustained. Our Hebrews friends celebrate this action at Chanukah don’t they?

“Those who are wise redeem the time” writes Nee To-sheng and sound advice is in such a simple statement. I use to hear Pastor Bill Raws say these two verses a lot…

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.” (1 Cor 9:26) and “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14) and at that those times I tied it with not quitting with being a new creation in Christ Jesus, but if I take the idea a bit further I can hear the apostle Paul say,  “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (Phil 3:15) The days are getting evil folks and The LORD needs ready instruments that can sit, walk, and as I will cover next time…stand!! Are You Ready? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 11-13

Today’s Quote: “God may have to do something in us swiftly, compressing it into a short space: but He has to do that much. May the eyes of our heart be enlightened to know what is “the hope of His calling,” and then may we walk—nay run—as those who “understand what the will of the Lord is.”—Watchman Nee

Verse to Memorize: For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 Amplified Bible

The Olympics Are Coming

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1-2

We’ve just finished up the Super Bowl (and since this was written on Sunday afternoon, congrats to the Bronco fans!) and the Winter Olympics are right around the corner.

Listening to the news in preparation for both events, there has been a growing concern about the safety surrounding both events. If one really dwells on the fact that there is grave concern for a terror attack and the safety of both the athletes and the fans, one’s heart could easily be filled with fear.

There is much fear in our country today: fears about our jobs, our financial portfolios, our health, our health insurance, just to name a few.

Someone described fear this way: “False evidence appearing real.” Each one of those four words is a letter of the word fear.

But what do we do when we go through those seasons of life when fear seems to trump faith?

Might I suggest this is when we need to go back to the Bible and meditate on what God has to say about fear. There are 300+ times where the Bible says: FEAR NOT!

Here are just a few verses from the Psalms to meditate upon if you are facing the giant of fear in your life right now:

Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they will comfort me.

Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from ALL my fears.

Psalm 46:2 – Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea …

Psalm 91:5 – You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day …

Psalm 118:6 – The Lord is in my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

What are you afraid of today? Have you reached that level of fear in your life where you are overwhelmed and held hostage by that fear? If so, cry out to God and ask Him to move you from fear to faith = FORSAKING ALL I TRUST HIM!

He already knows what concerns are on your heart and mind. So take some time this morning to share your heart with Him. Open His Word and claim His promises.

What are you fearing today? He can help you overcome that fear today. Trust Him!

Going the distance with Jesus,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 8-10

Quote of the day: “History is a record of decisions, good and bad. Our lives are the sum total of our decisions and their consequences. Character is the finished product of our choices, crystallized, set, hardened into a pattern.” Vance Havner

Verse to Memorize: For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! Romans 8:15 Amplified Bible

 

Bible Conference In Ephesus DAY THREE: WALK

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

So all of sudden, Matt Henry takes the pulpit for this Bible conference and lets loose with this… “Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ’s kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive.” And with that we are into why we need to walk.

Eight times in Ephesians the word “walk” is used by the apostle Paul. It may mean to “walk around” but Paul figuratively uses it to mean “to deport oneself” and “to order one’s behavior.” And the real test of “walk” is in the arena of our relations with others and for some of us this test can bring up our faults as Christians. It’s where “the rubber meets the road” and for most of us those tires aren’t filled to the proper pressures. Unfortunately for the “some of us” our heavenly calling is to be challenged in field of our relationships. Be they domestic or public, being yourself to the neighbors, being a husband to the wife, a father to the children and even between employer and employees. As Nee To-sheng puts it, “all in a most realistic way.”

We have to get ourselves to understand that ever since Adam took of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, man has been engaged in deciding what is right and what is wrong and that has hindered our walk with YHVH. Watchman Nee has boldly put into print that “Christ is for us the Tree of Life” and it sounds as if we eat from the wrong tree now, thanks to a simple little “Did God really say…” doubt place into the right ear to hear it. When we watch the news we can see that the natural man struggles with his own standards of right and wrong, justice and injustice and finding a peaceful “Co-existence” to live by. For the Christian, our starting point is not an ethical one but a wooden one…The Cross!!

Now maybe you’re saying to yourself that the Cross shows us how to come to an absolute surrender and I would agree with you but it also shows what it will look like when we following the Master’s instructions. We can find all of our walking instructions in a very famous sermon. The Sermon on the Mount is not only the Law put into grace terms for us to understand but it is direction to walk the narrow road. If we allow the Master to wash our feet as we walk on the narrow road we share in the “Sonship” we are adopted into through Christ.

There is so much more to cover with our Biblical “walking” but I am running outta space today.  However…We are faced with a challenge and Matthew 5 sets that standard. WE may feel it is too high for us to reach but Paul endorsed it (thanks dudeJ)!! Our problem is that we can’t see the potential in us but if we take a look at Colossians 1:29, “For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” I think we can toil right along with Paul because the secret to finding the strength to carry on forward is to be able to “sit” and find “rest”. Oh boy is this some conference or what? Has anyone seen Matt Henry? I thought we were doing lunch…or at least find a Sabretts or two? I like the onion sauce…oh well!! Until next time, then? – Chris Huhges is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 39-40

Quote of the day: “So, my brethren, don’t stand on your right. Don’t feel that because you have gone the second mile you have done what is just. The second mile is only typical of the third and the fourth. The principle is that of conformity to Christ.”—Watchman Nee

Verse to Memorize: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Bible Conference In Ephesus  DAY TWO: SIT

“And raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:6-9 (ESV)

How many of us would think that Christianity does begin with walking? Yeah I know, we are told to walk worthy, to walk circumspectly and to walk uprightly but as Watchman Nee observed it begins with sitting. “God…made Him to sit…and made us to sit with Him”, said Nee To-sheng.  Ain’t nothing in there about walking but a lot of will ask “How do we reach our goal if we don’t walk?” Yeah, I’m a little vexed with the sitting first and then walking, unless we have to tie our shoes. Which would mean preparation first then standing up, but with the ‘Sit, Walk, Stand” thinking of Nee To-sheng to walk first represents works and standing puts the entirety of our body weight on our feet. Sitting is about resting. Oohh…

We are told to find rest in Him so this means…rest in Him who is seated at the right hand of the Father? (Hebrews 1:3) AH-HA!! Ya see it’s like this, when the Christian life begins in us we become “in Christ” and when, by faith, we understand we are now a part of Christ we, therefore, can see ourselves seated with Him in heaven. The being redeemed in Jesus Christ isn’t something that we get to DO but rather have to understand it has already been DONE.  So…If we try to do anything, we get nothing and if we try to attain anything, we’ll miss everything. Basically we need to accept God’s invitation to sit down and enjoy what has been done for us and stop trying to hurry up to the local soup kitchen and serve the needy.

Now the question Nee To-sheng raises is “What does it really mean to sit down?” Well that begins with not wrestling with the question “How do we reach our goal if we don’t walk?” and accepting that sitting is an attitude of rest. You have to admit that when we walk or stand we spend our energy and eventually will become weary. Jesus is quite clear when He says to all of us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” So in the Spiritual sense to sit down is basically taking time to rest our whole weight—casting the whole load, ourselves, our future, our everything’s—upon Jesus Christ. What a privilege to carry everything to God…in prayerful obedience!!

Can you imagine how the prodigal son felt when, after all that standing over the pig pen and the humiliating walk all the way back to his father’s house resulted in him being given rest? But what of the older brother…all that doing going on, only leading to jealousy because he couldn’t find that rest in the father’s home. You see the younger brother had to come home first then find that rest, the older brother was already in the house. What we see in the parable it that no matter how hard you work or wayward you become, it is the father that gives rest and gives it generously.

And so as it should be. As we read in the 2^nd chapter of Ephesians, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, it is by grace you have been saved” has never a truer statement made for those “in Christ” right? Nee To-sheng says to this “Just you stop “giving” and you will prove what a Giver God is! Stop “working” and you will discover what a Worker He is!” So this day let’s find that rest for our souls and enjoy who He is and who we are in Him. Amen? — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 36-38

Quote of the day: “Whereas God worked six days and then enjoyed His Sabbath rest, Adam began his life with the Sabbath; for God works before He rests, while man must enter into God’s rest, and then He can work alone.”—Watchman Nee

Verse to Memorize: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Bible Conference in Ephesus

DAY ONE: GETTING REGISTERED

^“And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.”  Acts 19:1 (ESV)

The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesian’s is like reading the cliff notes from a really good Bible conference. And the city known for the Temple of Artemis (Diana) and a community that made a living by making statues of her, Ephesus has its place in Christianity. A stand took place there by a man named Paul that started a riot, then later on in history, a man named Timothy made a stand in the streets of Ephesus and it cost him his life. When we get to the second chapter of Revelation The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands has something to say to the church in this Asia Minor city.

So what is it that makes this Epistle stand out? Well a lot of it can be found in a little 67 page book written by Watchman Nee simply titled, “Sit, Walk, Stand”. I received this book by way of Tennessee through a brother who faithfully reads the Freedom Fighter e-devotionals. I met John Weaver via Summer Staff 2013, when his daughter, Sarah, and my two kids arrived at Keswick to begin their tour of Christian duty. As the summer went on, I enjoyed the conversations I would occasionally have with John, then one day he mentions this book and the next thing I know I have it in my possession. Thank you Brother John…

In his introduction, Watchman Nee starts off with this statement, “If the life of a Christian is to be pleasing to God, it must be properly adjusted to Him in all things.” Now I’ve heard surrendered to, submitted to, but I have not heard properly adjusted to, so my mechanical mind churn’s and comes this to a conclusion…the application of the Gospel is not just a spiritual mindset but, in essence, it is a physical mindset. This means that not only do we hold our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ but the very action that twist’s and turn’s the nuts and bolts by us also becomes held captive as well. Can I get a Righty-tightie, leftie-loosie…umm I mean AMEN?

Another statement Nee To-sheng makes is a tough one, “But God measures everything, from start to finish, by the perfections of His Son.” Anyone who is a carpenter knows that measuring twice and cutting once is the rule, there is no “board stretcher” for a short cut. So with this in mind, the perfect plan of redemption in the Cross of Christ has no short cuts, no plan B, measured once and for all by the perfect sacrifice of The Savior. Simply put, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory.”(Eph 1:11-12 )

I hope you will be joining me as I continue to attend this conference with featured speaker Watchman Nee as he sits, walks, and stands through the epistle of Ephesians. In the meantime, check out what our position is in Christ (sit) in 2:6, what our life in the world looks like (walk) in 4:1 and our attitude to the enemy needs to be (stand) in 6:11. We gotta admit that outta all of Paul’s writings, the Epistle to the Ephesians is the most rounded one in Spiritual truths for the Christian. And while you’re all doing that I am going to see how tasty the cuisine in this amphitheater is. I see they are throwing things at the speaker again…that Paul guy really knows how to get to a crowd, don’t he? – Chris Hughes is a grad of the Colony of Mercy and a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 33-35

Quote of the day: “The life of the believer always presents these three aspects—to God, to man, and to the Satanic powers. To be useful in God’s hand a man must be properly adjusted in respect of all three: his position, his life, and his warfare. He falls short of God’s requirements if he underestimates the importance of any one of them, for each is a sphere in which God would express “the glory of His grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved.”—Watchman Nee

Verse to Memorize: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

 

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” Proverbs 21:5

When my Buddy Ed and I get together it’s where blue collar meets white collar. Ed is a college guy who has his experience in the administration field and I’m a carpenter.

There’s time where I’ll pop my head in his door with what I think is a great idea, (he calls it unsolicited advice). One day to appease me he threw an “admin” term at me. He said “let’s move from idea to execution”. In other words “you know what or get off the pot”

The past couple of blogs I wrote where concerning being filled with the Spirit. One of the benefits of being in a right relationship with God is to be “in touch” with His leading. Did you ever have a thought and it seemed to be a great idea? After the thought, is usually what separates the pioneer from a procrastinator.

The Bible says in James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him”. It goes on to say to ask by faith and not to doubt. Proverbs 2 tells us to seek wisdom whole heartedly, putting it as a priority not just another accessory.

The importance of us being filled with God’s spirit is to discern whether it’s a seed planted by God or just another fleeting idea. That’s when we should begin to see if doors are opening or closing. The Bible speaks about God given vision. But remember;

Vision without execution is just a dream,

Execution without vision is a nightmare, but,

Vision with execution is fulfilling your call for the Kingdom of God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

If God is putting something on your heart get with “likeminded people” and Go For It! Amen  — Rob Russomano graduated from the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 30-32

Quote of the day: When the knowledge of God doesn’t exist anymore there is no truth or mercy. God’s Word is our only reliable source of truth and God’s love is the only source of true mercy. We are now living in a day in which the knowledge of God is being suppressed there’s an organized effort to remove the consciousness of God from our national life. The result is and will increasingly be less truth and mercy. Deception is on the increase and heavy cruel treatment of others is running rampant.  Chuck Smith

Verse to Memorize: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3

Facing a battle?

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:13-14

Right now we have so many family and friends that are facing some pretty serious battles in their lives. Some with health – some with kids – some with finances.

Yesterday I read this little devotional written by Roy Lessin in his devotional, Meet Me In the Meadow published by Christian Art Gifts. It was too good not to share:

Don’t try to—
Figure your way through,
Reason your way through,
Guess your way through,
Feel your way through,
Push your way through,
Manipulate your way through;
Fake your way through.

What should you do?

1. Trust your way through!
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. 2 Chronicles 20:12 AMP

2. Pray your way through!

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance. Ephesians 6:18 AMP

3. Believe your way through!
This is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4 AMP

 

4. Walk your way through!
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT

5. Praise your way through!

So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Joshua 6:20 NKJV 

Are you facing a battle? Just stay calm. The Lord your God will fight for you!

Going the distance with Jesus,

Bill Welte

President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 28-29

Quote of the day: The Red Sea is before you. There are mountains on the left, mountains on the right. And the Egyptian army is behind you. Wow – things must be right for a miracle. – Dr. B

Verse to Memorize: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3