Why Bother God with the Small Stuff?

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. (Joshua 9: 14 NIV)

After the bitter lesson of Ai and the sin of Achan that had brought on Israel’s defeat, you would have thought that Joshua would have learned his lesson … at least for the next couple of chapters. But Joshua 9 brings us the story of the Gibeonites and their deceptive treaty with the Israelites.

The Gibeonites played their roles perfectly: the moldy bread, the cracked wineskins, the worn out clothes. The Israelites saw the evidence with their own eyes. Their human reasoning convinced them of the truth of the Gibeonites’ claim. I’m not sure if they forgot the ability to ask the Lord for guidance or if they just thought they’d save that step for a future time when things weren’t quite as clear cut, but Scripture says clearly they did not inquire of the LORD.

I’m afraid that I often fall into the same behavior of which the Israelites were guilty. When it’s obvious that divine guidance or intervention is needed, it’s pretty safe to assume that I will ask the Lord for His help . But all too often, if I think I have a grasp of the situation on my own, I will neglect to bring it to Him. Why bother God with the small stuff?

But just like the Israelites in Joshua 9, I find that my self-perception of my own wisdom is far over-rated. God has given us the incredible opportunity of inquiring of Him. As James reminds us in the first chapter of his epistle: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Rev. Robby Richardson is a pastor serving in Michigan, and the son of NY Yankee legend, Bobby Richardson

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 1390-1408).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 30-31

Quote of the day: I do not advise that we end the year on a somber note. The march, not the dirge, has ever been the music of Christianity. If we are good students in the school of life, there is much that the years have to teach us. But the Christian is more than a student, more than a philosopher. He is a believer, and the object of his faith makes the difference, the mighty difference. Of all persons the Christian should be best prepared for whatever the New Year brings. He has dealt with life at its source. In Christ he has disposed of a thousand enemies that other men must face alone and unprepared. He can face his tomorrow cheerful and unafraid because yesterday he turned his feet into the ways of peace and today he lives in God. The man who has made God his dwelling place will always have a safe habitation. A. W. Tozer

Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

Keeping It Fresh Afterward

Joshua read all the words of the law— the blessings and the curses— just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. (Joshua 8: 34-35 NIV)

Israel’s entrance into the long-awaited Promised Land was accompanied by unmistakable evidences of God’s presence and favor. The waters of the flood-swollen Jordan River were parted for the nation to pass across on dry ground. The seemingly impenetrable walls of Jericho were felled in a clear demonstration of God’s power. Everything seemed to be going like clockwork for Joshua and the nation.

Then came the defeat at Ai and the subsequent revelation of Achan’s sin. God dealt with the situation in a way that vividly communicated the seriousness of “sin in the camp.” Then He gave renewed marching orders to Joshua, and the city of Ai was roundly defeated.

After the second battle of Ai, Joshua took the nation to the natural amphitheater that existed between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, and there, as commanded by Moses in Deuteronomy 27, all the words of the law were read aloud to the people of Israel. They were reminded again of the promises and the commandments that God had given to guide their lives and their relationship with Him.

God has graciously given us His Word as an historical record of His faithfulness, a revelation of His character and a guide for our daily lives. But unless we are regularly hearing and tasting of God’s Word for ourselves, it can quickly fade from memory and often become no more than background noise in our lives.

What are you doing to regularly keep His Word fresh in your life? Pastor Robby Richardson serves as a pastor in Michigan, and is the son of New York Yankee legend, Bobby Richardson

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 1368-1386).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 27-29

Quote of the day: We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving Grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. Abraham Lincoln

Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

 

For the next three days, Rev. Robby Richardson will be blogging. Robby is the son of New York Yankee legend, Bobby Richardson, and is the son-in-law of the late Pastor Bill Raws. Robby served on the staff at America’s Keswick and now serves a church in Michigan.

Passing the Faith Along

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’” (Joshua 4: 21-22 NIV)

Joshua chapter 3 records for us the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River that brings the children of Israel into the Promised Land and confirms, both for Joshua and for the nation of Israel, that God is honoring His promise to be with Joshua in the same way that He was with Moses.

Part of God’s instruction to Joshua was to have twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, choose a stone from the dry river bed and bring it over into their new home. Joshua had these twelve stones set up as a memorial at Gilgal, the place that was to serve as Israel’s “base camp” for their conquest of the land of Canaan.

There were several purposes for these stones. They were to remind the people of what God had done and to keep them aware of the power of God. They were to serve as a message to those around so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful (4: 24). They were also to serve as a “teachable moment” for future generations, an historic touch point to God’s faithfulness in the past and a pointer to God’s faithfulness in the future.

What “memorial stones” are you building into your life and the life of your family? Where can your children look to see the reality of how God has worked in your life? If your faith is real and growing, it will show up in ways that will be visible to those around you. Let’s make sure that we are passing along a vital faith with a living Savior, not a “philosophy of life” that is distant and ethereal. Rev. Robby Richardson

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 1347-1365).  . Kindle Edition. Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 25-26

Quote of the day: This year, let us ask God to dissolve all our hopes into a single hope: to know Christ and to be found in Him. May this be a year of desire radically transformed, a deeper, truer, knowing of Christ as our All-Sufficient One. Elisabeth Elliot

Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

Back to the Drawing Board

… And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1^st Corinthians 12:31b

I would be a good fit for the stereotype of “men who don’t read instructions”. I’m guilty more times than not for trying to figure it out using common sense.

In our Christian walk this type of behavior has caused me to become frustrated and eventually retreating to the instructions. I usually have most of the pieces in place, but not always in the right order. Unlike most projects that I’m unfamiliar with, my devotions helps me to recall certain scriptures that I can refer back to in order to get back on track.

In 2^nd Peter 1, we read in the second part of verse 10 …”for if you do these things you will never stumble”. “These things”? A list of steps we can examine to see that our priorities are right. It begins with the fact that although I’ve made a mess of things, I have faith that God will see me thru. Peter tells us in verses 5-7 to add to that faith.

Virtue– Or other words could be integrity or excellence. Another word for stability in a building is the “integrity” of the structure. I may need to examine my motives or to see if there is something hindering my relationship with God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my anxieties.” (Psalm 139:23)

Knowledge –Make sure that what I’m doing lines up with scripture “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2^nd Timothy 2:15)

Self-control – Notice knowledge comes before prudence, being the master of my sinful desires. …”But with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1^st Corinthians 10:15b)

Perseverance – I have to “stay the course”, not be so fast to give up or quit. …” be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”. (1^st Corinthians 15:58b)

Godliness – To be like God, to have His perspective on things. (That’s a study in itself).

Brotherly love – I don’t know about you but this is my most difficult. I guess that’s why it comes at the end. In my opinion a non-believers biggest argument against Christianity is Christians. Just sayin’!

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Last but not least. (Colossians 3:13)

Love – “The more excellent way”. At the end of our venture, to know if it’s done right, the end result should always produce “Love”. Another translation is Charity, which is an action that keeps on giving. – Rob Russomano graduated from the Colony of Mercy, serves on the Keswick staff, and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 22-24

Quote of the day: Sin is not a splash of mud upon man’s exterior, it is a filth generated within himself. —C.H. Spurgeon

Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

Going the Distance (Part 2)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

Welcome brothers, to this new week of Freedom Fighters. Last Monday I introduced our theme and verse for 2014, and today I want to start unpacking the verse with what God is teaching me.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses: some commentators believe that the “cloud of witnesses” refers to saints in heaven who have already completed the race. Others, like Dr. Warren Wiersbe suggests that they could be people that are living now that get to observe how you and I are running the race.

I would like to tag onto Wiersbe’s interpretation and suggest that these witness could be the men and women that God has placed in our lives by His divine grace, men and women who have been through the good and the bad and life, and stand ready to cheer us on.

I am thankful for the rich heritage that I had growing up at Fellowship Church in Philadelphia. As a kid/teen, we don’t fully appreciate growing up the godly men and women that God places in our lives. We tend to think we have all the answers and don’t need anyone’s advice or help.

I can think of dozens of these “faithful heroes” growing up, who walked faithfully with the Lord. Some of them went through intense trials and came out the other side victoriously. Some of them had lived horrible lives before coming to Christ.

These are the men and women that I think about when I read this verse. The heroes in my life that with the example of their lives declared: God is always faithful to his Word, trusting in Him is worth it, and you can do it. You can run the race and finish well. We are here cheering you on.

Most of those heroes are with Jesus and just about everyone finished well. The cloud of those heroes are shrinking as more and more transition to glory. So for my age group (yeah, the ones with the AARP cards!), we now can be the cheerleaders to the generations coming up through the ranks. We can bolding declare to them:

1. God is always faithful to His Word.
2. Trusting God is worth it.
3. You can run the race and finish well = victoriously.

We do that first of all by being living examples of living the victorious Christian life. And then coming alongside to cheer the next generations on.

Who were the heroes God placed in your life as you were growing up? Who are the young men in your life right now that you can cheer on? I’d love to hear from you.

Going the distance with Jesus,

Dr. Bill Welte
President/CEO

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 19-21

Quote of the day: What really matters is what happens in us, not to us.

Rev. James W. Kennedy

Verse to Memorize: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

How to Know God

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14: 21)

We have before us a promise. Jesus said He would manifest (reveal, make known) Himself to the person who loves Him and keeps His commandments. This promise delights the heart of every true Christian. Who among us does not want to know the Lord Jesus more personally and intimately?

In verse 22, we read that Judas (not Iscariot) was brave enough to ask the question that many Christians may ask from time to time, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us…?”

God’s promises are conditional. In order to receive what He promises we must meet the condition of the promise. Are you longing in your heart today to know Christ more fully and personally? There is a condition to fulfill and that condition is obedience. If someone asked me what I consider the most important word in the Christian vocabulary, I would say obedience. The Christian life matures in direct proportion to our obedience to the revealed word of God.

In this passage, John 14: 1-24, Jesus reveals some important truths about obedience.

Jesus spoke of the motive for our obedience. He said, “If you love Me , keep my commandments ” (v. 15). Motive is an important part of our Christian walk. Jesus makes it quite clear that our love for Him should be the primary motivation to obedience.

Jesus spoke of the outward expression of our obedience. He said, “If anyone loves me he will keep my word” (v. 23). The apostle James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2: 20). Obedience reveals itself in our active response to what Jesus tells us to do.

Jesus spoke of the source of strength for obedience. In verses 16 and 26 Jesus mentioned the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Who would divinely and supernaturally enable us to obey the word and will of God. God never requires something of His children without giving to them all that is necessary to do what He requires. The key to knowing Jesus is: Obedience. Are you ready to obey? Dr. Roger D. Willmore is a dear friend of America’s Keswick and will be speaking for our 2014 Summer Conference Season

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 1230-1262).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 8-11

Quote of the day: Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks. —Thomas Goodwin

Verse to Memorize: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

The Truth Walk

 “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:3 (ESV)

I recently received a devotional that was based on 3^rd John and it started by focusing on a Macedonian man named Gaius. You may remember him from the Book of Acts (19:29) after Paul gets the silversmith’s of Ephesus a bit upset about the worship of someone named Diana being sorta kinda…wrong!  Gaius, along with Aristarchus, had been traveling with Paul and in a “guilty by association” manner it is thought that these men may have been “thrown to the lions” all because Paul had spoken out against the worship of the popular goddess. Gaius must have made it through the ordeal as he gets an honorable nod in Romans 16:23 for his great hospitality to the church as a whole…not too shabby. (As a side note here; there are three men named Gaius in the NT. One of Derbe, and of Macedonia, and of Corinth)

Anyway this devotional went on to declare that the truth was in Gaius and that he walked in truth. If the first part hadn’t been the case the second part would have never happened. Then it said that if the second couldn’t be said of Gaius then the first would have been a mere pretense. “Truth must enter the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value.”  I stopped to ponder that statement for moment and wondered if truth has saturated my soul let alone penetrate it. Sometimes things in my life happen, they take me back to the crossroads and I begin to question how much I allow “TRUTH” to reign in my life. I am at those crossroads again, funny how this devotional arrived right on time, huh?

This devotional went on to say, “In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the warp and woof of our being. If it is in us, we cannot then part with it. A man may lose his clothes or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life. A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth.” It’s funny how there is mention on how a man may lose clothing or body parts, Jesus once said, “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matt 5:30)  I have used that illustration from time to time to say that some things need to be cut away so truth can survive.

In today’s verse we can hear the joy that John has for these preachers who went around spreading the same Gospel message, the same truth of grace, the same sincerity, and the same integrity of faithfulness that was contained in him. It was all about being able to walk in the Master’s footsteps and these men in John’s time got it and there was joy in it. Today, under the banner of Christian, we seem to have allowed those footsteps to take on a whole different direction and whatever is perceived a truth to one should be a truth to all. Unfortunately those footsteps walk down a path that tear the body apart…whether there is truth or not!

Now by design whatever is going on inwardly should be displayed outwardly, kinda like a lantern, so if “TRUTH” is kindled within us its brightness should shine for all to see. But at times we think a lamp shade is needed to help the light along…or worse, maybe to keep the world from seeing it at all. This devotional ends by saying, “We may judge the secrets of the soul by their appearance in the man’s behavior. Today, O gracious Spirit, let it be ours to be ruled and governed by Your divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, in case it should extend its malignant influence to our everyday lives in the community.” Thank you Alistair, for your timely devotional. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 4-7

Quote of the day: “To walk in the truth conveys a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity-the natural product of those principles of truth that the Gospel teaches and that the Spirit of God enables us to receive.”—Alistair Begg

Verse to Memorize: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

On behalf of the Board and staff of America’s Keswick 
We want to wish you and yours a happy and blessed
2014!!!

We look forward to you GOING THE DISTANCE with us in 2014.

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 1-3

Scripture Memory: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Come to Your Senses

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD…” Isaiah 18:1a

Well, we come to yet another New Year. A time to reflect and make our new commitments and good intentions. Now I’m not a big New Year’s resolution kind of guy, but I do believe that a steady appetite for improvement is imperative as we walk this walk.

Why not use the tools God gave us to continue to grow? God has gifted us with the 5 senses and I believe that the purpose for this gift is to respond to Him.

According to Wikipedia- Senses are the phys i o logical capacities within organisms that provide inputs for perception.

To “perceive”

One of the things I’ve learned in my journey of faith is that the mind can be the arena of profit or can also be the devil’s playground, if we are not careful. Every day I have to make choices about which voices I will listen to: the voices that call me to a walk of righteousness or the voices that encourage me to indulge the lusts of the flesh.

Here are some ways Scripture teach us to “Come to our Senses”.

Sight:  I’ve seen people respond to the Lord because of what they see

John 1:46 And Nathanael said to him (Phillip), “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see”.

Psa 66:5 “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.”

Deu 4:35 “To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.”

Hearing:  Sometimes people just need to hear

Rom 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Mat 13:9 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Taste:  Sometimes our experiences leave a “taste in our mouth”. A good taste keeps you coming back for more.

Job 6:30 “Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?”

Psa 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Psa 119:103      How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Touch: “A touch of the master’s hand”

Mat 14:36 “…and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.”

Luk 6:19 “And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.”

Smell– (Aroma, fragrance):

2Cr 2:14, 15 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Eph 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

These are good exercises to put into practice. Although for many of us our “senses” aren’t what they used to be, God can still use them to draw us near to Him. Amen! – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves on our full-time staff at America’s Keswick. He is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger.

Daily Bible Reading: Malachi 1-4; Luke 24:36-53

Quote of the day: It is an awesome, challenging thought. The Lord comes to us in our friends. What we do and are to them is an expression of what we are to Him. Lloyd Ogilvie

Verse to Memorize: “But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

We are two days away from the beginning of a new year. Have you downloaded the 2014 Bible Reading Guide? Click on link and join me in reading through God’s Word: 

Going the Distance

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

We are about to embark on the new year – 2014. Our theme for the past year has been JOY IN THE JOURNEY – Walking in the promises of God. And what a year it has been.

Our theme verse (see below) was Acts 20:24 and I trust that many of you committed it to memory. Our theme for 2014 is GOING THE DISTANCE and our theme verse is Hebrews 12:1-2.

When we picked the theme and theme verse, we didn’t make the connection at the time as to how beautifully this year’s theme and theme verse tie into last year’s.

The thrust of last year’s verse was to “finish our race with joy.” And as I was beginning to memorize our 2014 verse, it struck me that our 2014 verse fleshes out how to live out Acts 20:24.

If we are going to finish our race with joy,  there are three things we need to do:

1.)         Lay aside the weights and sin in our lives

2.)         Run with endurance

3.)         Keep our eyes on Jesus

Over the course of the next several weeks, I will try and unpack the rich treasures of Hebrews 12:1-2 to help us think about “GOING THE DISTANCE.”

For starters can I challenge you to begin memorizing Hebrews 12:1-2? I found a great app to help with Scripture memorization. Check out Scripture Typer. It is a great tool and it’s free!!!

Let me know if you download the app. Have a blessed day.

Going the distance with Jesus,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Zechariah 13-14; Luke 24:1-35

Quote of the day: No one who has not tried it would believe how many difficulties are cleared out of a man’s road by the simple act of trying to follow Christ. Alexander MacLaren

Verse to Memorize: “But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24