Prayer of Thanksgiving

Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.  (Psalm 50: 14)

Christian gratitude is produced when we think of how dependent we are, how unworthy we are, and how favored we are.

First, how dependent we are! It is not by accident that Thanksgiving comes after harvest. Thanksgiving is offered after the toil and labor , after the plowed fields, after the golden harvest. It teaches us that we, as creatures of the earth, are dependent upon the divine promise found in Genesis 8: 22 (KJV), While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease . Sad to say that some people work the year ‘round with no consideration of the fact that season by season, day by day, they are dependent upon God’s promise and power.

Secondly, how unworthy we are! As rebels in God’s world, we have broken His law, defied His authority and sought to make God like us. Why should the Sovereign of the universe bear with the human race any longer? Why should He not wipe out the earth in judgment?

Third, how favored we are! God has not only patiently stayed with us, but He also offers us pardon and peace. He appeals to mankind to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. So, in addition to the blessings in the natural world, we are recipients of His justifying grace and His pardoning mercy. Truly we can say with Jacob of old, I am not worthy the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou has showed Thy servant… (Genesis 32: 10 KJV).

You and I are approaching another Thanksgiving season. Much of the thanksgiving will be on the surface, even superficial. May ours be sincere and spiritual! May we offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving in sincerity and in truth. May we pray, “Lord, Thou hast given us so much; give us one more thing – a thankful heart!” Rev. John Hibbard is the morning Colony of Mercy Sunday morning Chapel Bible Teacher

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 10856-10877).  . Kindle Edition

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 19-20; Luke 8:26-56

Quote of the day: Ordinary work, which is what most of us do most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary. Elisabeth Elliot

Verse to Memorize: For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Proverbs 4:22-23 ESV

 

When We Were Assessed

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.” Luke 23:34 (NKJV)

As soon as Christ was nailed to the cross, He prayed for those who crucified Him. I don’t think I would have been so thoughtful at that moment to care for those people let alone say to The Father, “forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” But Jesus did and I don’t think He was meaning it for that moment in Biblical history. We could just look at this and say he was forgiving those around Him and for the two thieves that were on both sides of Him but we shouldn’t keep this one dimensional. That minimizes the forgiveness that Jesus is praying for at this time.

Let’s go all the way back to The Garden and take a look at this. Adam and Eve didn’t know how important obedience was and, I’ll stretch myself on this statement, it may have not been in the forefront of their thinking. Our adversary, on the other hand, he knew it firsthand and still went against it. After all, he’s the one that got himself booted so hard outta heaven that he crashed landed on the earth. And when the smoke cleared he made a decision to assault our first parents, draw them to sin, knowing the temptation would prove to be fatal to them. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

I don’t think Adam and Eve had an idea of what good was let alone evil, I don’t think they hadn’t had a baseline to work off of. All they had, and don’t we wish this ourselves, was the absolute love of YHVH. They knew that better than we do today and yet a simple act of disobedience changed it all…and it needed to be forgiven. It might have been covered by the blood of an animal but the blood of Christ cleansed it all. And since I think time is of no consequence to Jesus, He had Adam and Eve in mind, as a present tense, when He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” But then there is that moment on The Cross.

Pharisees…makes me wanna hiss at them just as if they were Haman. But they had their purpose and I guess it was to keep the traditions and The Temple from being eradicated by the various conquers and occupiers of the land of Israel. However, in time they compromised the things of YHVH and they needed to be re-taught, except they didn’t like their new Teacher. So they sought to have Him crucified because they were offended. And I dare say they were offended because the Truth pierced their cold hearts and it hurt, and in their pain they got mad, then in their anger they choose murder. Sounds a lot like Cain, doesn’t it? Forgive them…they know not what they do.

And so what of us today? Don’t think just because we’re in the 21^st century that we get to change the story around…Oh NO!! While Jesus was on that Cross He was thinking ahead, assessing us and seeing us in the same state of disobedience. The world still hasn’t embraced the Truth fully and if we look at us today we’re developing new ways to convince ourselves that we’re innocent of misusing our freewill. We’ve given new color to the same old justifications and we’re going too far, too fast. But there is Good News, Gospel Good News that is…and that is while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He stretched out His arms and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” It is finished, once and for all. Amen? – Chris Hughes is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 17-18; Luke 8:1-25

Quote of the day: “When a person makes a mistake and has to be forgiven, the shadow may hang over him or her because it is hard for other people to forget. But when God forgives, He begins the new page right there, and then the devil runs up and says, “What about this person’s past?” God replies: What past? There is no past. We started out fresh when he came to Me and I forgave him.”—A.W.Tozer

Verse to Memorize: For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Proverbs 4:22-23 ESV

Freedom Requires Action!

I’ve seen a lot of men over the years come to Keswick and once they walk through the doors it’s, “ok, I’m here—now God has to do the rest”.   WRONG!!

God, through the precious blood of Christ, has not only done the work, but has done it perfectly and completely. Now it’s time to wake up and take hold of what God has waiting for us in Jesus.

Acts 12:1-11

Peters in prison guarded by a LOT of guards, chained and locked behind steel doors. His situation seems as desperate and hopeless as any man could be and is exactly how men feel when they arrive at “a crossroad”—at Keswick. Lost deep in addiction—in sin—we can feel there is no way out because we are only seeing what is right in front of us and don’t know the awesome plans God has for our lives.

In Acts 12:7, an angel pokes Peter in the side to get his attention & then has to instruct him to get up. BEFORE Peter even moves, the chains fall of—a great depiction that we are already set free—we just need to claim Jesus as Savior and BANG—those chains are gone!

In 7-8, the angel gives Peter more instructions—put on your cloths and sandals—put on your cloak—follow me—and Peter does what he is told. This had to be a very strange and scary experience having an angel appear, having your chains literally fall off and then you start to follow this angel out of the prison. But without obedience, without action, we would all be sitting in prison—by our own choice.

Peter sees the most daunting hurdle ahead, the iron gates. But God is not limited by anyone or anything and as Peter approaches the gates, they open wide before him. Nothing can stop our Lord.

God doesn’t need our “help” in His work of redemption, but He does require our participation. Sitting around waiting for God to physically move us or do the work He has called us to do and complaining along the way that He is not doing enough is NOT going to float.

It’s time to STOP the complaining and get about the business of following the Lord!  Amen  — Steve Schmidt serves on the ministry team at America’s Keswick and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 15-16; Luke 7:31-50

Quote of the day: To think that reasoning and understanding of Scripture is to know Him is as sensible as reasoning about food is to eat it.  William Law

Verse to Memorize: For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Proverbs 4:22-23 ESV

A Prayer to Keep Me From Sin

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

While on our trip to Branson, I came across this prayer by Puritan John Owen in dealing with sin in our lives. It is powerful and too good for me not to share with you.

Most Gracious Heavenly Father,

I come to you a needy and contrite sinner, with no power on my own to put to death the deeds of the body.

Daily come to my aid making it my business to mortify the indwelling power of sin in my life.

May I never attempt to mortify in my own strength, forgetting that without Your Spirit my efforts will be in vain.

Lord, through Your Spirit help me put to death the subtle and crafty strength of the enemy.

As I wake each day, give me strength to remember my task of killing sin,
and remember that sin will kill me if I do not kill it.

Keep me from ever letting up in my battle with sin, knowing constantly that sin will take advantage.

Help my heart abound in grace that flows from your Spirit, and destroy in my heart the consuming lust for sin.

Give me a life characterized by the mortification of sin, and give me life, vigor and comfort for my life and for that battle.

Lord, each day remind me to strive after total obedience, and so weaken the power of sin upon my life.

Aid me to know the methods and occasions for sin’s success, and to fight and contend constantly for holiness.

May I constantly be aware of the guilt, danger, and evil of sin, knowing that without you, I fall into a seared conscience, hardness of heart, and deception of my soul.

Lord grant that your holy law is always upon my mind, so that it may guide me and cause me to fear you.

By the graces of Your Spirit, implant humility to weaken pride, purity of mind to cleanse uncleanness, heavenly-mindedness to counter a love for this world.

May Your Spirit, cause my heart to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh, consume and expose the root of my sin,
bring the cross of Christ into my heart through faith.

For it is only by gazing at the grace displayed on the cross of Christ
that I will be able experience its sin killing power.

I pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ that is above every name, Amen.

Isn’t that powerful? I plan to make this a regular part of my devotional life. How about you?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 13-14; Luke 7:1-30

Quote of the day: If an unholy man were to get to heaven he would feel like a hog in a flower garden. —Rowland Hill

Verse to Memorize: For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  Proverbs 4:22-23 ESV

Holding On

I came across a post on a Church’s Facebook page recently.  I want to share it because of how it ministered to me and helped me take an inventory of where I am, and knowing where I am, helps me to get to where I need to be.

I have permission from who I hope to be my new friend Scott;

“For me, to maintain Faith, Hope and Love in the midst of heightened personal suffering is a difficult task. Perhaps the Lord has provided us with three states of divine communion knowing that when we, as imperfect humans, realize intense internal pain we may only be able to maintain one of the three states – as a form of life preserver – to “float” us until the missing two return? So in the midst of a perceived crushing of one’s hopes, leading to a fear of allowing oneself to feel love, our Father’s back up plan may be to cling to faith….just flat out believe what you cannot see in spite of any and all evidence to the contrary. The only other choice I can see is to rejoin the world and its lustful pursuits and, because I finally have an authentic and powerful fear of being estranged from my God, The World is Dead to me and this just is not an option. Lord PLEASE bless me with faith.”

Thank you Scott, for your timely post that helps me to see when life hits me hard. I will continue to seek out “The Greatest”.

“And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1^st Corinthians 12:31b – Rob Russomano serves at America’s Keswick in our Maintenance Department and is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 1-3; Luke 5:1-16

Quote of the day: I believe that I cannot come to my Lord Jesus Christ by my own intelligence or power. But the Holy Spirit called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers together, enlightens and makes holy the whole Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus in the one, true faith. In this Church, He generously forgives each day every sin committed by me and by every believer. On the last day, He will raise me and all the dead from the grave. He will give eternal life to me and to all who believe in Christ.  Martin Luther

Verse to Memorize: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV

Gods Perfect Timing

Do you have someone in your life who you know is struggling with sin and its all you can do not to go absolutely ballistic on them? Someone you love, but who you want to just unleash a verbal assault on?

Of course you do. A son who is drinking or drugging and thinks you don’t know. A daughter who may be less than pure? A church member who is having an affair—but thinks no one knows. We all have or will have difficult situations like these to consider in our lives—and how to handle them.

2 Samuel 11-12:23

David and Bathsheba. You know the story—if not, take a minute and read it. David shirks his responsibilities and stays back from battle to “check out the women”. He sleeps with a married woman, gets her pregnant, devises a plan to cover his tracks, fails, then has her husband killed. He then takes Bathsheba in as his wife playing the great and benevolent king and setting the stage to justify her being pregnant since she is now his wife. Lies, deception, adultery and murder—it doesn’t get any worse especially for God’s chosen.

Switch perspective to Nathan the Prophet. He sees everything that’s happening but can’t stop David from doing what he chooses—he’s a man and he’s the king. Do you think that Nathans not filled with righteous rage? I have to believe he was furious—BUT—he knows he needs to wait on Gods perfect timing. Nothing else will honor the Lord or get His work accomplished.

Think about the massive patience Nathan had to exercise. It was at least 9 months from the time of David’s sin to the time that Nathan “held him accountable”. (2 Sam. 12:1-7) The child was born before Nathan went to David—9 months. Why wait? Why not go to him sooner and “give him a piece of his mind”?  Only Gods Holy Spirit can work on a man’s heart. For 9 months, David watched his sin grown as Bathsheba became more and more with child. He literally had to see his sin right before his eyes every day. David was anointed; he had Gods Spirit upon him. Gods Spirit will not let us rest in our sin because He loves us too much for that. By Nathan waiting on the Lord, on His perfect timing, he was able to bring a message at exactly the right time to break David’s heart and bring him to repentance.

So here’s the question—what “David’s” are testing your patience in Gods perfect timing today? Who is “helping” you to become more like Nathan, a man who is willing to wait on the Lord?

Lord, thank you for the tests in my life that would bring me closer to you and teach me the need to wait for You in all things. Amen    Steve Schmidt is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent Freedom Fighter Blogger

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 28-29; Luke 4:31-44

Quote of the day: It must not be expected that the devil will let those rest who are laboring to destroy his kingdom. —Thomas Watson

Verse to Memorize: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV

What You Are Called

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”  2 Timothy 2:3-7 (ESV)

Found myself in quite a crowd on a Saturday morning. It was Men’s Breakfast at First Baptist Church in Egg Harbor City and it was the largest one I’ve been to, ever. I’m not sure if the count was right but the number was four times the amount it was the month before. Pastor Paul Ort (FBC’s Pastor) had his family in the area for his daughters 18^th birthday and they themselves were quite a crowd. His brother Peter opened us in prayer and his prayer was an encouragement for men to regain our places as the spiritual head of the home and for men to take ownership of the home. I’m stoked…let’s eat!!

 Then came the message…WOW!!! His name was Bob (got some sermons on CD from him) and the content of his message was simple. He had us open our Bibles to the verses I am using in my opening today and said if we say we are Christian then we are called to be soldiers, athletes and farmers…then he cruised through verses in the Bible at top gear. At one point I was wondering if there was a book he wasn’t gonna quote from. Good thing my I-phone app could keep up, but I think I may need to see a doctor for my sprained thumb (just kidding…but he was that fast). Bob made such an impression with me that morning that I have come back to that spot in Timothy to take another look.

First we need to look at being a soldier. Be prepared to lose your very life for the Gospel’s sake, understanding that as we are abiding in Him we willingly enlist ourselves to serve under His banner. To quote John Gill…”manfully behave against sin, Satan and the world” as true believers who are ready to fight the good fight of faith. And the only rest we get is having Jesus Christ as our Captain of salvation, standing side by side with our brethren, enrolled and registered as a Christian. Not at the ready to please men, our own selfish desires or rest in worldly concerns but to please the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose book we will find our names written.

Next as athletes… but not like contending through games that would have us attain a corruptible, fading crown that would have been made of vines and leaves but to run this race lawfully and with endurance. And being mindful that we fix our mark as to be looking unto Jesus, pressing through all difficulties, towards the prize and holding on unto the end of the race. And then as a farmer or as King Jimmy put’s it “The husbandman that laboureth” by plowing, fertilizing, sowing, weeding and then reaping for the sake of the Cross of Calvary. We do this as ministers of the Gospel who first labor, and endure hardships in this life, knowing He will let us sit down in the kingdom of heaven and enjoy the crown of glory, which the chief Shepherd shall give unto us.

I really needed to hear that battle cry again. Just because I get this privilege to write Freedom Fighters doesn’t mean that I have passed some finish line myself…far from it. At times it can be so refreshing to come out of those deep theological studies and just hear a simple reminder that all I am called to be is a soldier, an athlete and a farmer. Where ever you are today Bob I want to thank you for the reminder and to FBC of EHC for letting him have the pulpit on a Spirit-filled Saturday morning. – Chris Hughes is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 25-27; Luke 4:1-30

Quote of the day: “Christ’s work in us is not finished until He has perfected His own form in us. We must be assimilated to the form of Christ in its entirety, the form of Christ incarnate, crucified and glorified.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Verse to Memorize: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV

Good Character Is  …

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Welcome to this new week of Freedom Fighters, brothers. I trust you had a great weekend.

As we begin this week, I want to encourage you to think about who you are and the character that God wants to build into your life.

Last week we visited the Lincoln Museum and I was reminded again that Abraham Lincoln was a man of character and integrity.

I recently read a list of character qualities based on the writings of the Apostle Paul that would be good for us to look at:

Showing LOVE when those around us are not lovable.

Having JOY when those around are discouraged and discontent.

Exuding PEACE when those around us are anxious.

Practicing PATIENCE when whose around are hurried and frantic.

Reaching out in KINDNESS when those around us are difficult.

Shining GOODNESS when those around us do evil.

Standing in FAITHFULNESS when those around us have no commitment.

Flowing with GENTLENESS when those around us are harsh and cruel.

Demonstrating SELF-CONTROL when those around us have none.

(Adapted from “Lists to Live By” – Multnomah Publications)

Sound familiar? You’ve got it – this is how using the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) will develop our character. Look over the list and pick five to work on each day this week. Which ones will it be? I’d love to hear from you.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 22-24; Luke 3

Quote of the day: I love my God, but with no love of mine for I have none to give; I love Thee, Lord, but all that love is Thine, for by Thy life I live. I am as nothing, and rejoice to be emptied and lost and swallowed up in Thee. Madame Jeanne Guyon

Verse to Memorize: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21 ESV

Don’t miss this month’s DISCOVERING VICTORY PODCAST featuring three meditations from Pastor Bill Raws

The God of One More Chance

He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13: 6-9)

Pay close attention to this parable. It contains a plea for a second chance. Whatever else this text teaches us, it teaches that God is a God of a second chance.

The owner of the vineyard had a right to expect the trees of his vineyard to produce fruit. They were his trees. They were his purchased possessions. The trees were planted for the purpose of bearing fruit. The owner of the vineyard had the right to expect fruit. The owner of the vineyard had the right to inspect for fruit. The owner of the vineyard had the right to demand the barren tree be taken down and out of the vineyard.

God has a right to expect you and me to produce fruit. We are His purchased possession. He saved us for a purpose. He has the right to expect us to bear fruit and He has the right to inspect our lives for fruit. He has the right to set us aside if we are not producing fruit. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground? These are sobering words. But thank God, He is a God of a second chance.

The keeper of the vineyard pleaded with his master for one more chance. God gives second chances and third chances. He is a patient and loving God.

Do you need one more chance? Ask Him. However, when it is granted get busy digging and fertilizing your life. Do what is necessary to become a fruit-bearing Christian. Dr. Roger D. Willmore is a favorite speaker at America’s Keswick and is a contributor to Real Victory for Real Life

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 10552-10573).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 13-15; Luke 1:57-80

Quote of the day: “Humility is assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” C. J. Mahaney

Verse to Memorize: But the path of the righteous is like the light of the dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like a deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19 ESV