The Promise of Presence (Psalm 125:1&2)

My wife, Bobbie, and I are on vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The place where we’re staying is on top of a mountain and has a balcony that looks across a cove to another row of mountains. I just watched the sun set behind the mountains; it was spectacular!

The whole scene reminds me of a few lines of the Psalms that I often use when I make hospital calls. I can still remember the evening (almost 40 years ago) when these lines became real in my life. I hope they become real to you, if they’re not already. Listen to the psalmist: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”

What is life like for you these days? Is it good? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem! Has life thrown you some curves? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem! Do you struggle in your walk with Jesus? The Lord surrounds you like the mountains surround Jerusalem!

Each one of us who knows the reality of life in Christ shares this assurance. As surely as Mount Zion cannot be moved, not one of us can escape the ongoing presence of the Lord in our lives. He surrounds us right now and forever! I know it’s not always easy to keep that reality front and center in our lives. It has never been easy. An old monk who lived hundreds of years ago wanted to live in constant awareness of Jesus’ presence. He determined to “Practice the Presence of the Lord” in everything he did. A little book grew out of that exercise, and people who want to know that the Lord “surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” have read it and learned from it.

Others who want live in “this time forth and forever” mode have used what Christians for centuries have called “The Prayer of the Heart.” I ran across it several months ago in a book I was reading, and I think I’ve shared it in previous Freedom Fighter contributions. It goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It is a short prayer that men like you and me can pray anywhere at any time. A simple little prayer can help us remember that the “Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”

Join me this week, wherever you are, in living in the surrounding presence of the Lord. — Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs1-2; Proverbs 7; 1 Corinthians 16

Great Quote: Faith is realizing that I am useful to God not in spite of my scars but because of them. Pamela Reeve

Can You Worship This Way?

“I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Romans 12:1

A Dedication to God

Oh, Lord, I present myself to Thee;
My Will,
My Time,
My Talents,
My Tongue,
My Property,
My Reputation,
My entire being.
To be – and to do –
Anything You require of me.
Now,
As I have given myself to You –
I am no longer my own – but all the Lord’s.
I believe
That You will accept the offering I bring; I trust You To work in me all the good pleasure of Your Will.
I am willing
To receive what You give,
To lack what You withhold,
To relinquish what You take,
To surrender what You ordain,
To do what You command,
To wait – ” to You say, “Go.'” – Author Unknown

As you prepare your heart for the Lord’s Day tomorrow, think through this prayer and purpose in your heart to start this week by praying it from your heart. Who knows how HE might transform you as your worship HIM this way. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s Word for YOU: Psalm 148-150; Proverbs 6; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Great Quote: The great thing with unhappy times is to take them bit by bit, hour by hour, like an illness. It is seldom the present, the exact present, that is unbearable. Anonymous

Little Tim

“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.” Mark 10: 13-16

With his Dad sitting right there with us, a young man named Tim began to tell me about his grandmother. We were having a turkey dinner with all the works to include some healthy veggies. “My grand mom likes chicken and veggies” he said to me. “But she’s not a Christian.” My response was “I know how that feels Tim sometimes I wondered about my grandparents believing in Jesus like I do.” Tim then went to tell me that he had to tell her if she was not a Christian she was going to hell. “Well at least it will be warm” was her response to this young man of God.

Tim’s father, Jason, had been listening as well and was telling his son to keep on praying and watch what God will do. “Hey Tim, can I pray for your grandma?” I said. And with an enthusiastic nod of his head the three of us stopped our meal and prayed. This happened only a few weeks ago in the “Gathering Place” at Keswick and I haven’t forgotten it. And once in awhile when I am questioning my position with my Lord and Savior, I think of a young man named Tim.

One time last school year my daughter raised her voice in defense of what she has been taught about creation. She came home upset that she was not received well. “They are going to hell because they think we came from monkeys or aliens, they need to know the truth” my daughter had told us. She defended the faith in school and was slightly chastened. That does not sit well with my little girl to this day.

And when I go to wake my 13 year old son up in the morning during the school year, I know I’ll be waking up the next generation of Freedom Fighters. And I’ll be making sure that, as his earthly father, I guide him through the understanding of putting on the armor. That no matter what they say it is God who works in you for His good purpose. That it is better to trust the Lord than to put your confidence in anything else. Maybe that’s just the best educational thing a father can do. What are doing for the little children brother? Are you doing what Jesus did?

Here’s a good quote;
“You cannot, with integrity, tell your child that if he tries enough, if he is good enough, if he really wants it, he can be what God has called him to be. He can’t. It is not native to him apart from God’s grace and enablement. Nor can you make the more common mistake. You cannot try to build good qualities of character within him without reference to God. Many people conclude that if their child is not a believer, they cannot urge him to his duty in light of who God is. If you don’t call him to be what God has called him to be, you end up giving him a standard of performance that is within the realm of his native abilities apart from God’s grace.” — Shepherding A Child’s Heart –Ted Tripp — Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God’s WORD for YOU — Psalm 146-147; Proverbs 5; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Great Quote: Prayer must carry on our work as much as preaching; he preacheth not heartily to his people that will not pray for them. Richard Baxter

LORD, KEEP ME FROM EVIL

” … keep me from evil, that I will not cause pain!” 1 Chronicles 4:4

I think you already know this, guys — “sin is always crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7) And we can testify that even though we are to be dead to sin and alive to God, “sin so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:2) if we allow it to reign in our hearts.

I have shared these principles before, but they are worth repeating again and again:

1. Sin will always take you further than you want to go.
2. Sin will always cost you more than you are willing to pay.
3. Sin will always keep you longer than you are willing to stay.

As I have been reading through the Psalms each day coupled with Proverbs, I have notice how many times David has asked the Lord to keep, guard, protect and deliver him from evil. This comes from the pen on the one whom God referred to as “a man after His own heart,” yet the King who fell into sin with Bathsheba which then resulted in the murder of her husband, Urriah.

I realize every day how easily it would be for me to fail and be another statistic. During the past several months, I have been daily praying and asking the Lord to guard, keep, preserve, rescue and deliver me from temptation and evil. I want to be “more than a conqueror.”

Yesterday I read a powerful prayer in Psalm 141:3-4. I am working on memorizing this prayer:

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to ANY evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.”

I want to take this prayer apart during the next couple of times I share Freedom Fighters with you. It is one of those prayers that I believe is important to pray often, if not daily. Will you join me in memorizing and praying it? I trust I can count on you! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 143-145; Proverbs 4; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

Great Quote: The story is told of a farmer who was known for his generous giving and whose friends could not understand how he could give so much and yet remain so prosperous. One day a spokesman for his friends said. “We can’t understand you. You give far more than any of the rest of us and yet you always seem to have more to give.” “Oh that is easy to explain,” the farmer said. “I keep shoveling into God’s bin and God keeps shoveling back into mine and God has the bigger shovel.” — Herbert Lockyer

Ten Keys to Perseverance

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” — 2 Peter 1:5-9

Webster defines the perseverance this way: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. As Freedom Fighters, we need to develop the quality of perseverance in our lives. Many years ago, Dr.
Ron Blue (Dallas Seminary not the money Ron Blue) shared that he took the qualities listed in the verses above and assigned them to a day of the week. Thursday was his day to pray that the Holy Spirit would help him to develop perseverance in his life.

Dr. Jim Leary shared a powerful series of messages this weekend for our Labor Day Weekend conference. On Sunday morning he shared Ten Keys to Perseverance. Think on the ten points and put them into practice. Better yet, why not do as Ron Blue suggested and pray each day for the Holy Spirit to build one of these seven qualities into your life.

Ten Keys to Perseverance
1. Begin every day with prayer and reading God’s Word.
2. Talk about positive things all day.
3. Look at your problems as opportunities.
4. Focus every ounce of strength on working through your
challenges.
5. Look for good things in all your relationships.
6. Practice patience when you feel stressed.
7. View health problems as opportunities to trust the Lord.
8. You need praise and encouragement: Learn to share these things
with others.
9. Find those who know the joy of the Lord and learn from them.
10. The ultimate key to perseverance is spending time with God

Will you be known as a man of perseverance? I trust you will. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 140-142; Proverbs 3; 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Great Quote: How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none…. For Him time does not pass, it remains…. God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. To know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves. — A. W. Tozer

TEN REASONS FOR HOPE

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Dr. Robertson McQuilken, one of my spiritual heroes, was a speaker this summer at America’s KESWICK. He shared a message on Thursday evening entitled TEN REASONS FOR HOPE that really touched my heart.

Think about these as you begin this new week on your journey with Christ:

1. It could be so much worse.
2. Blessings are abundant-focus on them.
3. God is faithful-rely on him.
4. God is good.
5. Suffering is not forever.
6. God weeps with you.
7. Trouble is part of our human existence.
8. You deserve more trouble than you get.
9. Always remember–God is with you.
10. You are redeemed, you have hope…for eternity.

Now re-read the verse for today from Romans 15:13! The God of Hope is the one who fills you and me JOY and PEACE and ABOUNDING HOPE! Revel in that today. YOU HAVE HOPE, brothers! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for TODAY: Psalm 137-139; Proverbs 2; 1 Corinthians 13

Great Quote: No faith is required to do the possible; actually only a morsel of this atom-powered stuff is needed to do the impossible, for a piece as large as a mustard seed will do more than we have ever dreamed of. — Leonard Ravenhill

I’d like to send you Dr. McQuilken’s message on TEN REASONS FOR HOPE on CD. If you’d like a copy, please respond to this email with your mailing address. God bless you.

ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2

Today our nation is facing the potential of another devastating storm in the Louisiana. I want to encourage our Freedom Fighter family to be praying for the people whose lives are in danger and in harm’s way today. Please pray for the men and women who will be involved in the search and rescue efforts and for the many Christians who will be “salt and light” at this critical time.

I couldn’t help think of the words of this powerful hymn:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain
O’er which our traffic runs amain
By mountain pass or valley low;
Wherever, Lord, Thy children go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand
From every peril on the land.

O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle’s flight,
And keep them by Thy watchful care
From every peril in the air.

O Trinity of love and power,
Thy children shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

May our God use this time to shake our nation and even through this event, bring revival and healing to our land. God bless America! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 135-136; Proverbs 1; 1 Corinthians 12

Great Quote: I went to hear Mr. Moody with no other idea than to have something to laugh at. I knew he was no scholar, and I felt sure I could find many flaws in his argument. But I found I could not get at the man. He stood there hiding behind the Bible and just fired one Bible text after another at me till they went home to my heart straight as bullets from a rifle. I tell you, Moody’s power is in the way he has his Bible at the tip of his tongue. Anonymous Convert

Asking in Confidence (Psalm 18:6)

Does asking God for direction and guidance do any good? Some who read this may think it doesn’t. Some will assure us that it does. Many who read these Freedom Fighters live somewhere in the middle. They want to believe asking is worthwhile, but they’re just not sure.

If you remember from yesterday’s edition, David asked God to “make Your way straight before my face.” He made the request in the context of pressure from his enemies. He needed God’s direction in a difficult, maybe dangerous, situation. The tone of his prayer displays no lack of confidence toward God.

Reading through the Psalms helps us understand David’s confidence when asking for God’s help and direction through the twists and turns of life. Hear his words in Psalm 18:6: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple. And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.”

Do you doubt God’s willingness or interest in hearing when you ask for direction? Do you pray with something less than confidence? Perhaps you are one of the many who lives in the middle between confidence and doubt. May I suggest that you memorize Psalm 18:6?

With unflinching confidence, David declares that God heard his cry for help. This isn’t “wishy-washy” language. It’s the language of certainty and assurance. David had no doubts. He didn’t live in the middle ground. His experience in asking for help and direction allowed him to live in unreserved confidence.

I don’t know where you live today. I wish I could tell you that I always live in the land of confidence, but I can’t. Sometimes I doubt, even though I know I shouldn’t. Like many of you, I live in need of direction. To my knowledge I have no enemies lurking in the shadows, but I still need direction. During the depth of that need, I sometimes wonder if God hears or if He’ll answer.

David, with his certainty and confident trust, gives me hope. He lets me know that when I pray “Make Your way straight before my face,” I can do so without doubt. David assures me-and you-that God hears our voice. Our cries come right to his ears. God’s Word lets us know that we don’t have to live in the valley of doubt or the quagmire of that middle ground. We can live on the solid ground of unwavering confidence. God can be trusted! — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 132-134; Proverbs 31; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (By reading these daily Scriptures, you will read through the Bible in a year.)

Great Quote: Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things! — Andrew Murray

Don’t miss our final services. Join us by live webcast today at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM — www.americaskeswick.org

Praying for Direction (Psalm 5:7&8)

All of us read Pastor Bob Alderman’s series of Freedom Fighter articles last week. His wisdom is helpful and pointed, and we can all benefit from his thinking. Pastor Bob has preached several times at First Baptist/Toms River, and I’m glad to say that he has become my friend.

His children gave him a GPS unit as a gift recently (It’s a Garmin unit), and Pastor Bob speaks of the directions “Miss Garmin” gives him to get him from where he is to where he wants to be. Many of us have GPS now, and we know how helpful and convenient it can be. I don’t know about you, but I’ve wished that discerning God’s direction could happen as easily as punching in an address in “Miss Garmin.”

It’s not that easy to know God’s direction, but we’re not without help. A few years ago, while reading through the Scriptures, one line in these two verses jumped off the page at me. I’m sure I’d read them before, but they had never captured my attention like they did that day. Listen to David’s words: “But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; MAKE YOUR WAY STRAIGHT BEFORE MY FACE.”

David teaches us to pray in very specific terms; “Make Your way straight before my face.” All of us have experienced those times when we desperately needed direction. We’ve looked for it, talked with others about the situation, and hoped we finally made a good decision. Many of us who need that direction can look back and remember times when our decisions weren’t so good.

We have the freedom to pray, “Lord, make Your way straight before my face.” But notice the context in which David voices this prayer. He has come into the Lord’s house. He worships God as he faces the temple. He qualifies his praying by asking God to lead him in His righteousness. We have the freedom to ask God for clear direction when we live in His presence, worship Him in the fear of the Lord and pursue His righteousness.

Do you have situations that need God’s direction? What decisions demand more wisdom and direction than you have? You and I have the privilege of coming into the Lord’s presence with a simple request: “Make Your way straight before my face.” I need that direction. You need that direction. Let’s follow David’s example and ask boldly. — John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist of Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 129-131; Proverbs 30; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Great Quote: Decisions can take you out of God’s will but never out of His reach. — Anonymous

SONGS IN THE NIGHT

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night.'” (Job 35:10)

There are many people who dread the night. For them, the night amplifies the silence of loneliness, separation and despair. Fear seems to rear its ugly head at night. Problems that appeared to be little blips on the radar screen of life during the day seem to increase in magnitude and appear out of control.

Sleep seems to evade us and the silence of night actually becomes deafening. It is often during these dark times of the night that our great God invades our spirits with “songs in the night.”David the shepherd played on his harp during the night watch while tending his sheep. Maybe his “songs in the night were the ones that he played for King Saul when his soul was troubled and tormented. When we hear the songs that the Father gives during the night they may not be discernable by our human ears, but we know deep down in our souls He is giving us His special songs.

It is interesting that we us singing to worship and praise Him. The God of the universe who longs for our worship, praise and adoration receives our sacrifices of praise with joy. But it is an amazing thought that when those dreadful, lonely, dark nights, that are filled with despair, fear and anxiousness, He will draw near to you and me to “give us songs in the night.”

God, the Father, the Creator of music, sings His love song to you. Before we know it, we are overwhelmed with His presence and once again filled with awe and wonder. As the dawn approached, you discover that sometime during the night God replaced fear with His peace. Your loneliness is replaced with the awareness that He has been there right beside you. Your anxious spirit has been calmed and quieted with His love. And amazingly, the problems that seemed to be insurmountable have not only been reduced and put into perspective, but you find that He has provided the solutions and answers with clarity.

Open your ears to Him – listen for your special SONG IN THE NIGHT. Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalms 126-128; Proverbs 29; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33

Great Quote: The discovery of God lies in the daily and the ordinary, not in the spectacular and the heroic. If we cannot find God in the routines of home and shop, then we will not find Him at all.– Richard J. Foster

Join us by webcast for the final sessions of the summer season. Drs. Jim Leary and Johnny Miller will be our speakers: Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM; Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning at 9:30 AM. To watch the webcast, visit our website: www.americaskeswick.org.