First Monday For Men

Greetings everyone, it is Sunday June 9 2013 and after a very difficult week, God has granted a “Word” for the First Monday For Men. The word is “dross.”

But first, the team would like to thank everyone who had a hand making First Monday possible, possible. Thank you. We couldn’t have done it without you and we couldn’t have done it AT ALL without the Lord Jesus Christ. I personally would like to thank the guys for allowing me to write this article for First Monday. Thank you.

This word “dross” is peculiar all buy itself. Other words used to describe dross would be, slag, scum, or impurities. Are you ready here we go.

Men are like dross. Dross is a mass of impurities that rise to the surface when a particular metal is heated to its melting point. Quite awhile ago I had the privilege of watching a goldsmith at work in his shop much like an apprentice. It was truly fascinating. One way to get at the dross is heat, lots’ heat. For example: Gold has a melting point of around 1060 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Did you know that pure gold will dent and change shape when you touch it. In order to solve this dilemma Nickel and Copper were used to temper the gold for strength.

First Monday For Men is like this process. A starting point for any man who has the desires to change but is not sure how to get there. This ministry is designed by God for men by men. Its a place of encouragement, a place to hear God’s written Word, a place to hear how men have overcome obstacles in their lives. No matter what season of life you are in, someone at First Monday has gone through it or is in it. Lets tie all this together shall we.

Each message that was given, each song that was sung, each prayer that was lifted up brought enough heat to someone’s life at First Monday that the impurities were brought to the surface. Pride, Failure, Anger, Jealousy, Sexual Immorality, Greed just to name a few.

Proverbs 25:4  Remove the dross from silver (gold) and the silversmith (goldsmith) can produce a vessel.

That is exactly what Jesus is trying to produce in us. A vessel that He can send out to accomplish His work.  When we as men surrender the impurities of our lives over to the master Goldsmith He changes us from the inside out. Men. Are you ready to have the heat turned up? Are you ready to have your feet held to the fire so the dross rises to the surface? When you feel the heat and you will, embrace it.

It’s God through Christ getting your attention to remove the dross of your life to give you something better. Himself. Please Come join us next season and let God  through Christ move you. – Keith Varga is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 30-32; John 15

Quote of the day: No man can serve two masters, but he must serve one. – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize:  Let my soul love and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119:175-176

Him Proving His Love for Us

This entry is dedicated to a man i have not yet met.  For, he went to be with our Jesus decades before my birth.  William Raws, this fool of a writer does indeed look forward to watching you receive Jesus’ commendation on That Day!  Surely it will resound with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant!”  Thank you for obeying His call on your life sir.

For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. ~ to all who are part of the Israel of G_d in Jeremiah 29

Oh beloved, this One who has so mightily saved us, has taken us through the only route that worked to do it.  And for many of us, this route has been a really tough road.

Many of us were made to give up just about everything we had.  And if we would not let go of it, He lovingly crushed it out of our hands.  We were holding onto our fears and lusts and doubts and comforts and rage with such tenacity that the final blow He mercifully inflicted on us nearly killed us.

And then somehow, as we laid there bleeding in our sins.  We looked up at Him with sincere eyes, took a deep breath, and screamed with our last bit of strength:  “Help!”  And He did.  Oh did He!  And as we come to our senses we find that the final blow He laid across us, actually did kill us.

However, the death did not result in our demise.  Rather, the death merely freed us from a lonely and lone existence.  And, in that horrible old man dying, we come to find that the seed we were – had within it – an abundance of fruit that could come forth no other way.

And then, as the growing tree He has brought forth from the seed begins to grow, He gives us everything we need to move into maturity.

He plants us in an orchard.

He protects us.

He nourishes us.

He waters us.

He provides light and warmth.

And He provides the winds of stress….

Yes, the strength of a tree is not only in the flow of the sap.  Rather, it is the sap moving in the channels made strong by the stresses of wind and winter and rain and drought.  We come to find that the fears and lusts and doubts and comforts and rage He saved us from will always attempt to worm their way back into our lives.  And it we come to see that G_d is really good (as the Master Gardener) at digging out the worms and maggots that would infect the roots and wood and fruit He is bringing forth through us.

We also find though, that this same Master Gardener will allow some of the things that used to frighten us, or peak our desires, or make us doubt, to come near to us as a test.  As a preacher said, “God allows (or even provokes) in His providence what He could easily prevent by His power.”

Here again is a however… He does not test us to make us fail.  No, rather He allows the testing to prove in us – and to us – the work He is accomplishing.  These tough things we face in life after His victory over us, and our continuation in victory over sin, are signs of His continued vigilance to tend to us and grow us fully into His likeness.

So beloved, are you facing the stresses of life?  Are you feeling the winds and pressure against the limbs now holding the fruits of His labor in your life?  Yes?

Good!  And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. ~ Deuteronomy 31:8 – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 27-29; John 14

Quote of the day: The one who fears God most loves God best. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize:  Let my soul love and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119:175-176

“It’s Dark in Here”

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2^nd Corinthians 4:6

I would say one of the most valuable tools of the trades is light. Anytime there is an issue or problem that needs attention in order to see there must be light.

I believe in our walk with the Lord the way to victory is the constant struggle to stay in “The Light”. We sometime come across the things that trouble us and if not careful these things are the gateway to darkness.

Now, I know about darkness. In my life I spent many years in bondage which is constant darkness. However, like being in a dark room for a while our eyes adjust and we think we can see. There are obstacles that trip us up in dark places that only light can reveal.

In chapter 4 of 2nd Corinthians, Paul uses the illustration of God’s first act of creation, Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light (Genesis 1:3) to demonstrate the power of God and the Light He shines.

Paul reminds us “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” vs. 7. He goes on to acknowledge that we will be “hard pressed” among other things. These are the things that can lead us, even as believers back into darkness (still saved) and unable to see the light which allows us to live in victory.

I think the formula to keep us in the Light is found in the beginning of the chapter, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”.

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32. The switch to turn on the Light is found in “The Truth”. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” John 14:6a.

So the next time you find yourself “In the Dark”, call on “The Light of the World”, He shines out into darkness, opens our eyes so we can see. – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 54-56; Acts 21

Quote of the day: Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize:  Let my soul love and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119:175-176

Seven Ways to Make Yourself Miserable

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

Living in Whiting for the past 17 years I have run across some really miserable people. People how really lost their joy. As believers we should be modeling “joy in the journey.” But I am afraid that there are way too many Christians who are miserable.

Elizabeth Elliot, wife of martyred missionary, Jim Elliot, gave this list of seven ways to make yourself miserable:

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one – at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2. Worry every day about something. Don’t let yourself get out of practice.

3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.

4. Make it your business to find out what the Jones are buying this year and where they are going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan.

5. Stay away from absolutes. It’s what’s right for YOU that matters. Be your own person and don’t allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.

6. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people’s. You have your life to live, they have theirs.

7. Don’t fall into any compassion traps – the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people’s troubles, you may neglect your own.

(Adapted from Lists to Live By – The Second Collection – Multnomah Publishing)

Now I know that you know that this is not the way God intended you to live life. Bottom line is that if you live this way you will REALLY be miserable. Choose today to allow Christ to live HIS life through you and guess what – rather than repel people away from you – people will be drawn to you.

What are some of the ways you have been living a miserable life? How will you choose to live differently today?

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 51-53; Acts 20:17-28

Quote of the day: Faith is belief with legs on it! – Dr. Adrian Roger

Verse to Memorize:  Let my soul love and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119:175-176

The Road, a Branch and a Truck-Washing

 “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. ” John 15:2-4a (ESV)

There was almost a giggle in my throat when I was told that I was incompatible for the job. After spending two years under their employ they just figured that it out? I would have thought the interview process would have given an indication that I wasn’t their man. I always carried this hidden feeling that I was hired because no-one else wanted the job and I was their “for the moment” until they found someone who did. Oh well…that part of my journey is done and over with. The rest is in YHVH’s hands now.

But to be honest I have spent the past few months looking for other doors to be opened but in God’s sovereignty this door got shut first. So with nothing else to really do and without my wife’s wonderful and gracious input (by the way, her “git-r-dun” list didn’t take long to generate) I decided to wash my truck. I really wasn’t too sure what color it was anymore. Between fishing trips, marinas and driving the road to work, my gold GMC started to take the look of fool’s gold. The color was kinda there but it was hidden in the blackness of road dirt.

Apparently the dirt of the road had been on my truck for quite some time. I would give it a quick rinse down or take it to a self-serve car wash with a power nozzle but it really didn’t get into the cracks but this time it was time to do it right….then I thought of the Jesus washing feet. First of all, how He humbled Himself to do this is beyond my comprehension. But He knelled down to each one of His apostle’s feet and washed them after following Him for three years. I could only imagine what He shared with them as the dirt of the road was rinsed from in between their toes and around their heels. So I thought of what else could be like the removal of dirt in the cracks and crevasses.

Branches!! The whole time I was at this place of employment I had often wondered if I was being a fruit bearer. There were some days that I felt I flat out failed but as I washed my truck a little nudge said “Chris it was just a pruning, if you remain in me, I shall remain in you.” OH WOW!!! I so needed to be reminded that my emphasis on Jesus being the true vine was imperative. To “remain” in Jesus has a deeper significance than to simply believe in Him. It’s the divine relationship of God’s grace that is the source and support of faith. So as a branch goes…I got pruned, OUCH!!

But did I bear any fruit? Later on in the day I would find out that the message I was supposed to deliver to those who would hear was received. ‘Nough said!! So when it’s all said and done, I have been encouraged by this little hiccup in my journey to cleave to Him with full purpose of heart. Just when I thought I wasn’t able to draw life, grace, and strength or obtain mercy from Him anymore a moment of truck-washing assured me that it was going to be alright. After all His message was as clear then to those in the Upper Room as it is now to me scrubbing white walls…”Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is it that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do NOTHING!! — Chris Hughes graduated from the Colony of Mercy is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18-19; John 12:1-26

Quote of the day: “There is absolutely nothing wrong with productivity being measurable. However striving to produce in order to be “successful” is wrong. Jesus said that we are simply branches who are to abide in the vine.”—Steve McVey

Verse to Memorize:  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right. Psalm 119:171-172

Pursuing Our Destiny, Part 18–The Discipline of Service

For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

One of the joys of being a pastor flows out of the various ways I get to serve people.  For the second weekend this month, I have the privilege of serving through grief and joy.  I have a funeral on Friday for a wonderful, loving man who entered the presence of Jesus earlier this week.  The next day, I officiate at a wedding of friends in Lancaster County.  At both events, I’m there to serve—to minister to families and friends in their grief and their joy.

 The upcoming wedding will display the importance of service in a new way for me.  The bride and groom have asked me to include a brief foot-washing component to their wedding service.  They want to display not only their love for each other, but also their commitment to serving each other through all the days of their marriage.

In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster writes that “… Jesus took a towel and a basin and redefined greatness.”  Alluding to the night before his crucifixion when Jesus washed the disciples feet, Foster asserts that greatness is defined in service to others, not in others serving us.  Jesus modeled this reality in his life and in his words: even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28, ESV)

Service is an interesting spiritual discipline.  Sometimes we serve without it being a discipline—we serve out of love and concern with no regard for what the service brings to our own lives.  Then, there are the other times.  Dallas Willard speaks of the “other times” like this: “But I may also serve another to train myself away from arrogance, possessiveness, envy, resentment, or covetousness.  In that case, my service is undertaken as a discipline of the spiritual life.”

During the recovery from Hurricane Sandy, I witnessed incredible acts of service from people near and far away.  In less than a week after the storm, Southern Baptists from North Carolina were set up in our church parking lot, preparing up to 10,000 meals per day to be distributed throughout the Jersey Shore.  Many of those who served would tell you that they got more from their service than they gave.  Serving changed them!

Pastor Perry Messick and the people of First Baptist Church in Collingdale, PA brought a team of people and all the equipment to do their “Evening in Bethlehem” presentation as a gift to our community.  They came early and stayed late on the Saturday before Christmas, just to serve people recovering from the devastation Sandy brought to the shore.  As they ministered to us, God worked in their lives.

But service isn’t always a big deal.  It may be a little thing as simple as holding a door for someone and letting him or her go before us.  It may be a word of encouragement that trains us to care about others.  Bearing someone’s burden with them (Galatians 6:2) can be an act of service that builds holiness into our lives.

Richard Foster asks us in his book to ask, “What does service look like in my daily life?”  If I may paraphrase his question, perhaps we should ask this question, “How does Jesus want to make me more like him through serving others?”  That’s the question that makes service a spiritual practice—when it’s about changing you or me, conforming us to the image of Christ.  Let’s think this week about how God can use our service to make us more like Jesus. – Pastor John Strain blogs weekly on Freedom Fighter

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 16-17; John 11:30-57

Quote of the day: There are two things I’ve learned: There is a God. And I’m not Him

Verse to Memorize:  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right. Psalm 119:171-172

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF A CHANGED LIFE

September 25, 1897

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

            Someone once said to Dwight L. Moody “that the world has yet to see what God will do with and for, through and around the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”  That statement is certainly true of the life of William Raws, founder of the Colony of Mercy.

            William Raws’ life was radically changed on February 17, 1886 when he trusted Christ as his personal Savior in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. His bondage to alcohol was broken and Raws was gloriously saved. In his own words William Raws said, “One day, fairly dying from the effects of rum, unable even to keep hot rum brandy on my stomach, I staggered penniless too my room and fell against an old arm chair…Although under the influence of drink, a poor dying drunkard, a swearing, lustful, sinful man, I cried unto God. He heard my cry and save me. For days and nights thereafter I could neither eat nor sleep. I was on the verge of delirium tremens…But peace came at last and victory through our Lord and Savior.”

Raws went on to begin the Whosoever Gospel Rescue Mission in Philadelphia but was burdened years later to begin a work in the country for men to escape city life and get alone with God. On September 25, 1897, the family and some friends met around an old pump organ and sang ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME. The crowd pooled their resources of $1.87 and claimed the promise from Philippians 4:19 — But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” God birthed the ministry of THE COLONY OF MERCY. And the rest is history.

Thousands of lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the transformed life of William Raws. The ministry continues over a hundred years later with the good news that Christ can set men and women in bondage to sinful addictions and through Christ, can live victoriously.

God used the ordinary life of William Raws to impact thousands. He wants to take your ordinary life and doing extraordinary things. Are you willing to allow your life to have a ripple effect on others? Surrender you ALL to Him today. – Today is the 116^th anniversary of the Colony of Mercy and the 14^th anniversary of the founding of the Women of Character program. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 14-15; John 11:1-29

Quote of the day: Deep down in the Christian’s life, always and all the time, there is to be a “no” to every demand that the flesh may make for recognition, and every demand that the flesh may make for approval, and every demand that the flesh may make for vindication. Always the Christian must bear about in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Alan Redpath

Verse to Memorize:  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right. Psalm 119:171-172

Who Sinned?

I had a bad day last week. Felt like nothing I do goes right. Depressed.  Just wanted to run away and hide.

But God reminded me of a friend. He had an accident as a kid—hit by a car. No lasting physical damage but to this day, doctors can’t predict or stop the seizures he has had since that accident. He can never drive and is on disability since no one wants the liability if he had a seizure at work. He has a wonderful family—a loving wife and a son who is a Godly young man.

At some point, they decided to adopt and God brought them a beautiful son.  The child was born with autism and would need special care his entire life. They went ahead and the child became a part of their family. He has been blessed not only with a loving family but also an extended family in Christ.

As I thought about my friend, his family and their adopted son, I thought about how different things would have been if Christ was not the center of their lives and the One they turned to in their decision making.

John 9^:3   “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

This scripture came to mind as I considered my friend—and myself. A lot of things happen in our lives every day that just don’t seem to make sense-a car accident-autism- things that affect our lives deeply and hurt to our very soul. This passage reminded me that its really not so important what happens in our lives as it is how we handle them. God wants us to be different, to act different especially when things aren’t going our way. Will we allow God to be seen through our afflictions that He may be glorified and in that, we will be blessed.

It’s not easy to say this and I don’t always feel this way—but thank you Lord that you would choose to glorify Yourself through my struggles. Please give me the strength to endure with grace. Amen – Steve Schmidt is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 11-13; John 10:24-42

Quote of the day: When a person believes that repentance revolves around changing bad behavior into good behavior, his whole focus will be on behavior and not on Jesus Christ. Genuine repentance is simply to align our belief with His finished work. If you trust Him, there is nothing more you need to do. There’s nothing more you *could* do because He has already done it all. Repentance is nothing more than changing our minds about Him and what He has already done to deal with sin. It is joining our will to His work and resting in the fact that it is enough. – Steve McVey

Verse to Memorize:  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right. Psalm 119:171-172

How To Put a WOW in Every Today

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, REJOICE! Philippians 4:4

For whatever reason God has wired me with a positive outlook on life (for the most part!). I tend to look at life through the lens of the “glass half full” rather than the “glass half empty.”

I find myself noticing that there are very few people who look at life today in the positive. Lately I seem to be surrounded with people who spend a lot of time saying “Woe is me” rather that “Wow – God is great! God is good! And I am thankful to be alive.”

 I came across this great list of “How to Put A Wow in Every Tomorrow” and I thought it would be good to share with you:

Develop an attitude of gratitude – even when you are experiencing tough times, remember the blessings in your life.

Encourage others – the world is starving for encouragement!

Give sincere compliments – start doing that and watch people really look at you like you are “two fries short of a happy meal.”

 Keep growing – What are you reading? What are you learning? What is God teaching you? Read out of your area of expertise.

Give the gift of forgiveness – Christians should be excelling in this area. We need to forgive and do it quickly.

Take care of yourself – How is the exercise going? Eating? Sleeping?

Do random acts of kindness – and by that I mean it is more fun to do it anonymously! Keep ‘em guessing.

 Treasure relationships – when you are with your loved ones and friends – be there! Next time you are together watch how much time we all spend on our electronic devices rather than being there for each other.

Share your faith – when was the last time we shared Jesus with someone?

Adapted from Lists to Live By  (Second Edition) – Multnomah

So how are you doing? What one area will you commit to work on this week? I’d love to hear from you.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte

President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 8-10; John 10:1-23

Quote of the day: Praise is faith turned inside out. Dr. Adrian Rogers

Verse to Memorize:  My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right. Psalm 119:171-172

 

Expanding Eternity

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan, to Whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’ The One who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

~ John The Baptist, slaughtered prophet of his King, in John 3

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

~ John The Baptist’s King, Jesus, in Matthew 11

Oh beloved, it is true.  There is indeed a Kingdom being built by its Architect.  And this Kingdom will have no end.  And this domain will be inhabited and ruled by those willing to partake in the Purchaser’s terms for entry.

The One with the keys to both Death and hades – and Heaven and its Kingdom has laid down the terms.  And they are not negotiable.  Are you ready?

Here are The King’s terms:  Stop trying to get Him to love you – and simply, totally, completely yield to HIS great Love for you.

And that is all.

Beloved, there really is a G_d.  He really made us.  He really knows us.  And He really Loves us.  This is no fiction, or beautiful poetry, or profound theological concept.  The real G_d of the real universe, is a real Person with the righteousness, willingness and ability to bring us into a right relationship with Himself which will simply never end.

And this is very good news…  However, it gets better.

As we, by His Spirit’s power in our lives, learn to come to the utter end of ourselves, we can be filled and indwelled and imbued and super-saturated in the very fullness of Him who saved us.  And this is a difference from the superhero’s of the Old Testament.  These mighty warriors (like John The Baptist) had the Spirit of G_d working right on them and alongside them.  He went before them, and was their rear guard.

However, a believer today is part of a whole new way for G_d to interact with us.   G_d now dwells actually within a believer.  We are His habitation.  We are now the Temple of G_d on this earth.  This is simply true.  We have become His instruments and weapons of righteousness on this plane of battle.

So as we – like John – take on the mantra of “He must increase and i must decrease,” we are actually crying out that G_d might fully possess us to the point that we breath and sleep and talk and Love and Live and give and pray like Jesus.  For, it is no longer us doing these things.  Rather, we have become so like Him, that it IS Him owning and operating our existence.

Can we see it?  Power like this is what makes eternity even bigger than it already is.  For, if our lives get Lived by Him, what might the consequences of a life Lived like this be?  Surely, it would be a Life which attracts many (even multitudes) to the One shining through our face, and Who the lost see in us.

Oh that we might yield!  What if?… – Makala Doulos is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 1-2; John 8:28-59

Quote of the day: Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon the earth. ~ John Wesley

Verse to Memorize:  Let my cry come before  you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. Psalm 119:169-170