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Now What?

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve …” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Now that we have celebrated the death, burial and resurrection of our precious Savior – now what?

I have been thinking through some of the Scriptures that talk about how we should live in light of the resurrection. Here are just a few:

1. Make disciples: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20
2. Appropriate His resurrection power: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
3. I am dead to sin: “For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” Romans 6:5-7
4. A resurrection walk: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4
5. A resurrection mind: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
6. You are seated with Christ already because of His resurrection: “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 – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6
7. I get to know Him through His resurrection power: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

There’s so much more – but I will stop there. What other ways have you seen in Scripture about living out His resurrection power? I’d love to hear from you.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 25-26; Hebrews 3

Quote of the day:  Praise to the One who triumphed over death and rose victorious so that he could bring those once held captive into His eternal freedom — We live in that eternity today!

Bible Memory: You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments. Psalm 119:65-66

Why Jesus weeps

Luke 19:41 ” Now as he drew near he saw the city, and wept over it.”

This week’s message was inspired by Pastor Dave Ridder of Bayside chapel.

Here are God’s chosen people in Jerusalem one week before the crucifixion actually acknowledging Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.

As the king of the prophets spoke of long ago and Zachariah 9:9, they even acknowledge his royalty by the laying down of  palm branches so his feet even would not touch the ground. Even his disciples now recognize his divinity as Jesus refers to himself as Lord in this passage. The Hebrew people waiting for their military Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel’s independence.

But even though he was recognized for who he really was he wept for the people who knew who he represented but had no idea who he was.

Just as the crowds in Jerusalem we have just as many Christians in the church today who refused to see Jesus as he really is. Who is Jesus for you?  Is he someone whom you want to satisfy your selfish desires, a means to an end? Is he someone who will rescue you from your present circumstances by your foxhole prayers? Are you shouting hosanna with your hands raised and Palms laid only to crucify him next week because nothing has changed for you? Or Is he your Lord and master who came as a servant to free you from the power of sin and death by the laying down of his life as a ransom for your own.

So this Resurrection Sunday let’s worship our Lord God Jesus Christ for who he is and not who we want him to be.

Hosanna! – Dan Gavin is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and as of April 1^st is the 14^th grad now serving on the full-time staff at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 16-18; Titus 3

Quote of the day: First, draw off your hearts, because Jesus Christ, the Head, is risen and ascended upon high, and there sits at the right hand of His Father; and if the Head is in heaven, where should the members be but where the Head is? Shall Christ our Head be in heaven, and shall our hearts, which are His members, lie groveling on the ground and panting after the dust of the earth, making all our inquiry and labor after these? ‘If Christ our Head be risen, seek those things that are above, where Christ sits at God’s right hand.’ Christopher Love

Bible Memory: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast live; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:63-64

Lord, Open My Eyes

Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (2 Kings 6: 17 Amplified Bible)

Maybe it is because I have had to have two rounds of laser surgery – both eyes. When I went to the retina specialist, I asked him what was causing my problem. His response was not what I wanted to hear: “Your eyes have lived long enough!”

In both eyes the retina separated from the gel in my eye, creating huge floaters. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see – they just clouded my vision from being really clear. Thankfully, the laser surgeries were successful, and most of the floaters are gone. I can see much more clearly now.

I love this story in 2 Kings 6 when Elisha is standing there with a young man who has become overwhelmed and fearful about his circumstances. From his human eyes, the battle raging all around him was so intense that there didn’t seem to be any way out.

Elisha saw life from a totally different perspective. His intense and intentional walk with the Lord helped him to see that God was at work all around him, and that even when he couldn’t necessarily see EVERYTHING – He placed his trust in the one who sees ALL.

I love Elisha’s prayer – Lord, open his eyes that he may see! Not a long drawn out prayer. Not a prayer filled with tons of “Christian-ese.” Simple. Direct. Right to the point.

And God heard Elisha and answered his prayer of faith. The Lord pulled back the curtain and allowed this young man to SEE with eyes of faith that all around him were a host of horses and chariots of fire! Wow!

I find myself praying just about every day, “Lord, open my eyes that I may see You at work all around me.” I don’t want to miss Him at work. He’s there. He is working out His plans and purposes. Sometimes I get to see BIG-picture stuff. Sometimes I get to see Him at work in little ways that I might miss because of a floater passing by, the floater of busyness or the floater of my agenda

.

I keep writing these things in my journal because I don’t want to forget them. They are reminders that HE can be trusted and that HE IS ALWAYS AT WORK ALL AROUND ME.

Don’t knock it.   Try it first, then write me and tell me I am a whacko. Are you bold enough? Daring enough – to ask God to open your eyes to see Him at work all around you? I dare you! In fact, I double-dog dare you. Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 3689-3717).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 13-15; Titus 2

Quote of the day: Shall I drive evil out of my soul by wrestling with my own darkness?

This is not what God has planned for me. It is sufficient to turn away from my darkness to His light. Thomas Merton

Bible Memory: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast live; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:63-64

Watch Your Step

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

Psalm 37:23

 

When was the last time you asked yourself “how did I get here”?

Like a lot of us the answer to this question began a journey that continues today. When we consider the path we take we need to put a lot of thought into it. The Bible teaches that we should “Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. ​​Do not turn to the right or the left, Remove your foot from evil” Proverbs 4:26, 27.

It says to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8.

I know about construction sites and the importance of watching your step. If I’m not careful the consequences could be severe.

I will often council men of the Colony to consider every step you take and make sure that you will not lead yourself to destruction.

Simply ask yourself the question, “should I be here”?

There will be times when we wander as the old hymn says “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it prone to leave the God I love”.

It’s at that time we must sit down and ask Jesus to wash our feet, repent, which means turn around and get back on track and walk.

The Apostle Paul urges us “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” Ephesians 4:1b – Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full-time staff member at America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 10-12; Titus 1

Quote of the day: Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call. Henry Parry Liddon

Bible Memory: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast live; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:63-64

The Third Class

“Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.  John 12:42-43 (ESV)

Sometime back in the mid-1830’s a revivalist preacher named Charles G Finney stood in front of a group of people on a Friday night and gave a lecture in which described a class of professors of religion, who were moved to perform religious exercises by hope and fear. They were moved sometimes by self-love, and sometimes by selfishness and that their supreme object was not to glorify God, but to secure their own salvation. He said that it would only be by close observation that you could distinguish differences between them and the real friends of God. To actually quote him…

”In that way we can see their supreme object developed, and see that when they do the same things, outwardly, which those do whose supreme object is to glorify God, they do them from entirely different motives, and consequently the acts themselves are, in the sight of God, of an entirely different character.” Hmmm…I think that character could be that of a Pharisee. In Jesus’ time there were many of these character’s roaming the courts of Herod the Great’s temple and their motives were to let everyone know that they planned on securing their place in God’s kingdom with their outwardly acts of legalistic righteousness. And Jesus ran into them all the time.

Today I believe we still have these characters roaming around. Finney would have called them “the third class of professing Christians” back in his time but would this title have been fitting to Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea? You see we are living in a time where it is not fitting to have our Pastor’s preach on the consequences of sinful living and churches have become enclaves of undiscerned theology. These churches might have food pantry’s and outreach programs but they are geared towards feeling warm and fuzzy about doing good and keeping a healthy bank account. These acts of works and insuring proper tithing practices have eroded what Christ’s church should look like.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea would have done well with their maturity of faith in Yoshua had the fear of being booted out of synagogue been non-existing. So it still is today. It will be easier to go to church on Easter Sunday rather than on Resurrection Sunday. It will be easier to say “Happy Easter” rather than to greet each other with “He Has Risen!” Don’t get me wrong, we do have people in our churches that trust Jesus with a fervency and a candor that would make the Savior smile but there is a growing experience that some churches contain a leadership that demonstrates inadequate, irresolute and spurious faith…and it spreads to the congregation.

With Resurrection Sunday coming up I am sure it will be easy for people to take credit for their sins and perform acts of piety. It usually happens after the television bombards us with religious movies that tell the Hollywood version of “The Passion of The Christ” but come on guys let’s get real, your self-proclaimed acts of piety are only acts of hypocrisy and you know it. And if what you hear in church on Sunday makes the Easter Bunny blush well then it just might be time to go to where things get called what they need to be called and not have it rolled in coconut, covered in chocolate and placed in a basket with plastic grass. Sin is sin…not candy, Amen? – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and contributes regularly to our Freedom Fighter blog

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 8-9; 1 Corinthians 16

Quote of the day:  A gem cannot be polished without friction; the child of God cannot be perfected without adversity. Anonymous

Bible Memory: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast live; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:63-64

REMEMBER

On Saturday evening the Keswick Celebration choir joined me in a night of praise and worship that was off the charts. The musical we sang is called REMEMBER – Where the past ends and the future begins!

It is good for us as we begin this week set us aside as HOLY WEEK – to remember what Christ did for us on the cross. As we were singing and worshiping the Lord, these words from the Apostle Paul came to mind:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in HIM, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know HIM and the power of HIS resurrection, and may share HIS sufferings, becoming like HIM in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the whole world has been crucified to me and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The theme song of the cantata is:

We will remember, we will remember,
We will remember the works of Your hands.
We will stop and give You praise
for great is Your faithfulness. (© Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Songs)

Remember – once you encounter the Master, how could you ever forget? Take some time this Holy Week to remember. Remember what He did for you on the cross.

Do you remember where you were the day you trusted Jesus Christ as Your Savior? I’d love to hear that from you.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Quote of the day: Our bread is not only the Word of God, our meat is not only to do His will, our bread is also…the difficulties that are in our way. Watchman Nee

 

Bible Memory: I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast live; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:63-64

A Prayer about Being Smitten with Jesus

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. (Heb. 13:9–10)

We started out this week talking about falling in love with Jesus. Today’s Gospel Prayer from the pen of Pastor Scotty Smith is a fitting conclusion to this week of blogs:

Jesus, throughout Lent, you’ve made me glad about several things. I’ve never been more grateful for the family you’ve given me. We’re a broken but beloved bunch—each of us is on the path of groaning and growing in grace. And I praise you for a handful of very good friends, a “gospel posse” with whom to share longings and laughter and the bleakness and bounty of life. We finally know how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, and not just provoke one another.

In particular, I’m thankful for the ways that you continue to show me more of yourself, for you are the author and perfecter of my faith. I can afford to be flexible about a lot of theological issues, but I can ill afford to be wrong about you.

Over the past four decades, you’ve been faithful to rescue me from all kinds of “strange teachings,” especially from gospels that are no gospel at all (Gal. 1:6–9). You’ve rescued me from illusions such as graceless legalism and obedienceless grace, from politicized gospels and sentimental gospels, from gospels that privatize knowing you and gospels that compartmentalize serving you, from gospels that despise the poor and gospels that empower the rich.

Lord Jesus, well beyond this current season of Lent, continue to smite my heart with more of your glory and your grace. I want to boast much more in your righteousness than in my being right. Strengthen my heart with your grace. Continue to feed me from the altar in the tabernacle of the gospel. Though I know you only in part, you know me perfectly, and that is enough. I pray in your peerless and powerful name. Amen.

Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers for a Transformed Life: 365 Days to Gospel-Centered Faith (Kindle Locations 2232-2249). Baker Book Group. Kindle Edition. Quote of the day:

Are you smitten with Jesus? I sure hope so. Thanks for joining me on the journey this week.

Running the race with joy,

Bill Welte
President/CEO

Daily Bible Reading: Job 41-42; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Quote of the day: Some believers are “fast movers” whose Christian lives are full of stops and starts. But they often complain that they’re getting nowhere fast.

The better testimony would be “I’m getting somewhere slowly.” This is more realistic, for true learning, growing, and overcoming are gradual experiences. Joanie Yoder

Bible Memory: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Psalm 119:59-60

Faithful To The End

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? (Luke 18: 8b)

My friend, are you living a life of faith?   Are you simply trusting the Lord Jesus Christ in your daily walk to provide all that you need?

We cannot see into the future but we know Who holds the future. We are His sheep; we belong to Him.   A wise old minister once said, “The Lord is our Shepherd, and nothing can get to the sheep unless it comes through the Shepherd.”

As we think of the soon return of Jesus Christ, will He find His children faithful? A dear friend of my family, Mrs. Carolyn Alsip, wrote this poem entitled:

Will He Really Find Faith?

In times like these will He really find faith? In the homes of America, in churches that sing “Amazing Grace.” Blinded by self and steeped in sin, we doubt our salvation and blame it on Him. Our pews are half empty with pulpits to fill; we do not pray, we do not read, we do not die to our own selfish will. No power to witness, no longer we see, as we sit, we soak, we sour, and blame on others our own ugly deeds. Yes, time is at hand, no signs we can miss. Will He really find faith in a life such as this?

These are sobering words, my friend.   Let’s take them to heart and ask ourselves these questions, “Am I making the most of this life God has given me?”   “Am I choosing to walk in His Spirit, allowing Him to live His life through me unhindered?”

Today, determine in your heart that when the Son of Man returns He will find you faithful, doing what He left all of His children to do, going and making disciples wherever you are.   This is living a true life of faith.   There will be those who will not understand you. Expect it and keep moving.   There will be times when you will feel you have accomplished little.

Remember, when you are faithful, little is much in the hands of God. Simply by faith, turn and do the duty that lies nearest. Rev. Chris S. Hodges is the President of Abiding Above Ministries and will be a conference speaker this summer at America’s Keswick

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 3571-3574).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 38-40; 1 Corinthians 13

Quote of the day:  Hope is much more than a mood. It involves a commitment to action…

What we hope for should be what we are prepared to work for and do bring about as far as that power lies in us. John Polkinghorne

Bible Memory: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Psalm 119:59-60

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Lamentations 3: 21-23. “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your Faithfulness.”

My past up until the age of 40 was not very faithful. I’ve had the uncanny ability to disappoint people even when I didn’t want to with foolish, selfish and sinful choices. I had the gift of making a mess of thing. Often considered myself faithless to others and to God.

II Timothy 2:13 says “If we are faithless, he remains faithful.”

How easily can I, and we misinterpret this verse to say, No matter what I would have done God would have saved me.  What a gross misinterpretation. Sin without repentance also will show the faithfulness of God. James 1:15 “Sin full grown gives birth to death.” God is faithful in his judgement as well as in his mercy at repentance.

God will never let those who belong to him go but even Christians reap the same consequences of sin her on earth. Accepting Christ changes our destination. Allowing Christ to live through you requires repentance, which changes your destiny on this earth.

God’s faithfulness in blessing requires sacrifice, trust, obedience and sometimes suffering.

In the words of Matt Redman, singer/songwriter, “When there is pain in the offering, Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Then God, so rich in mercy, will take the consequences of our sin, will take the mess of our life, will take the our faithfulness and penetrate our broken lives and with his love transform it into the most beautiful thing we cant even begin to plan on our best thinking day.

“Morning by morning new mercies I see, All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.” – Dan Gavin is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is now in our internship program

Daily Bible Reading: Job 36-37; 1 Corinthians 12

Quote of the day: Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. J. Wilbur Chapman

Bible Memory: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Psalm 119:59-60

No, Really, I Am…

“Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”  Romans 2:3-4 (ESV)

How many of you reading this Freedom Fighter know that I’m a doctor? No, really, I am a doctor. You see I sent this guy in Tunisia twenty nine dollars (U.S. of course) online (used my Visa card) and he sent me an official diploma from his official university (Me-M- Doctorus University) declaring me a doctor by official degree. So I am a doctor, period. You don’t have to agree with me, my diploma may not be accredited or recognized by other universities, but as far as myself, and my guy in Tunisia, I’m a doctor. Now that settles that!

Oh by the way how many of you know that I am a Christian? No, really, I am a Christian.  I found this church on the side of the road and I heard this guy behind a pulpit and he said that God was giving away grace to all who wanted to receive it. So I went up to the altar and I got all that grace stuff I could. I filled my pockets with this grace, I stuffed it into my shirt, I took off my shoes and filled them with the grace of God, and then I grabbed a big pile of it between my arms. I walked out of that church with so much grace I was spilling it all over the place. There was this trail of grace coming from behind me from the door of that church that went right up to my car.

Guess what? How many of you know that I’m going to heaven? No, really, I am going to heaven. That preacher who gave me all that grace stuff, he said that all I had to do to enter heaven was believe in this guy named Jesus. Sounded like a pretty sweet deal to me so I told him I believed and he started mumbling something about saving a lost someone along some Roman’s Road. I don’t know what he was saying I think he might have been praying. Then he said I was an official Christian and that when I die I would be going to live with god in heaven.

So now I sleep a little bit better at night knowing I’m not going to hell like the rest of my friends and family. Maybe I’ll even go back to that church someday to get some more of that grace stuff. I can’t seem to find that huge batch I carried out to my car that day I got saved. Ya know something? I’ll have to put that on my “to do” list right after I visit that university in Tunisia. After all, I have twenty nine dollars invested in that degree and I only put 5 bucks in the basket the day I got saved in that church. If you’re ever need of my services just look for Dr. Christian I. M. Thinkinso in the yellow pages.

This may be a fictional account of our dear doctor friend but sadly it has become a position many people around us have taken. Saved and satisfied and maintenance free salvation have become terms being used in the House these days. Well it shouldn’t be and these terms really carry no weight. If these are the positions given to those who are like our doctor in this story then they have no position at all. We need to maintain our salvation with fear of being separated from Him and in that we should tremble. We need to pass that advice along to the saved and satisfied, AMEN!?  Thanks to my dear brother-in-Christ, Mark Fisher, who allowed me to use this story today. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular Freedom Fighter Blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Job 34-35; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Quote of the day: “When salt is salty, it helps manure become good fertilizer…but lukewarm and uncommitted faith is completely useless. It can’t even benefit manure.”—Francis Chan

 

Bible Memory: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. Psalm 119:59-60