PUT IT TO THE TEST

There is much confusion in the church today regarding Christian liberty and that confusion is causing many to drift into areas of sinful behavior that is causing them to struggle with addictions as well as causing others to stumble and be offended.

I grew up in a very legalistic church, but the older I get and the more involved I am in the day-to-day ministry of America’s KESWICK, I praise God for the foundational truths that I learned as a child. We are free in Christ and not bound to so much of the legalism that many of us have grown up with. The grace of God is a huge thing for us to grasp. However, we need to be certain that what we do lines up with the Word of God.

Many years ago, Bible teacher Gabriel Otero, presented a message at America’s KESWICK on this topic. Ken Brown, our former Director of Maintenance, would often share this message with the men of the Colony when he taught on our freedom’s in Christ. The title of the message was “WHAT I WANT, I DO!” Pastor Otero suggests that we put everything in question to the following five tests. Check out the references:

1. Maturity Test — 1 Corinthians 6:12 — All things are lawful to me BUT do you control it or does it control you? (TV/Computer/Overeating/smoking/coffee … just a few examples)

2. Temple Test — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — What it this thing I’m going to do “going to do” to the temple of God?

3. Brotherly Test — 1 Corinthians 8:13 — What effect does this thing I do have on my brother’s life?

4. Gospel Test — 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 — How will it affect the furtherance of the Gospel whatever it is I want to do?

5. Glorification Test — 1 Corinthians 10:31 — Would people be able to say good things about God because of what I’m doing?

Good test to take when you are considering those areas of Christian liberty. Take the test and see if that area passes the test. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 100-102; Proverbs 18; 1 Corinthians 1

Great Quote: In what can I hope, then, or in whom ought I trust, save only in the great mercy of God and the hope of heavenly grace? For though I have with me good people, devout brethren, faithful friends, holy books, beautiful treatises, sweet songs and hymns, all these help and please but little when I am abandoned by grace and left to my poverty. At such times there is no better remedy than patience and resignation of self to the will of God. — Thomas a Kempis

Join us by way of the internet today for our 9:30 AM session with Dr. Roger Willmore and 7:00 PM with Dr Bob Alderman. To join the webcast, visit www.americaskeswick.org.

Attacking Anxiety-Part 2 (Philippians 4:8-9)

We thought about anxiety yesterday. We considered how we attack it to keep it from doing damage to our lives. The attack is a simple one: we take everything to God. Anything that might cause anxiety goes directly to God. He promises us His very own peace that will stand sentinel over our hearts and minds. God gives us the information we need to proactively attack and defeat anxiety.

The Apostle Paul doesn’t stop with vs. seven, however. He gives us another weapon in our arsenal against anxiety. Weapon number one is prayer. Weapon number two is our mind. The Apostle says this: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy-meditate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

When anxiety shows up, we pray! We tell God what we are feeling and (if we know) why we’re feeling the way we do. We give the issue to God with the assurance that His very own peace will guard our hearts and minds. Then, while God’s peace stands sentinel, we choose to think in new ways.

Our enemy, the devil, wants us anxious. He wants us to focus on the problem that produces the anxiety. He wants problems to dominate our thinking. As long as we think only of the problem and the anxiety, we can’t see God at work in our lives. We will forget that His peace is guarding us. The Apostle gives us instruction and responsibility.

We’re to think on those things that are true, virtuous and worthy of praise. We choose to think in ways that are consistent with God’s work in our lives. We choose NOT to think about those things that have no value, no virtue, and no truth to them. The Scriptures do not tell us to think like that if we feel good and everything is going well. He tells us to think that way when anxiety is lurking at our door.

The Apostle Paul also tells us to hear all that he has taught by word and example and do the same things. In another of his writings, he says it like this. “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Notice what happens when we pay attention and do what he teaches. “And the God of peace will be with you.”

How can anxiety have its way in our lives when we have the PEACE OF GOD standing guard over our hearts and minds and the GOD OF PEACE present with us as we obey His word? It can’t! In just a few short verses, God gives us the arsenal we need to attack anxiety when it lurks around our hearts and minds. Take the offensive. Learn these verses and learn them well. The next time anxiety shows up, attack with the Word of God in the power of God! — John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 97-99; Proverbs 17; Romans 16

Great Quote: Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God’s strength in you. — Joni Eareckson Tada

Be sure and watch tonight’s service at America’s KESWICK via the web. Pastor Robert Alderman will be sharing God’s Word. There will be five graduations from the Colony of Mercy! To watch, go to: www.americaskeswick.org.

Attacking Anxiety (Philippians 4:6&7)

No one is immune to anxiety. It is an equal opportunity troubler. It will knock on all our doors sometime during our lives. Guys who ride motorcycles tell me there is an old saying about falling. “It’s not a question of ‘if’ you’ll fall but ‘when’ you’ll fall.” So it is with anxiety. If it hasn’t come to visit, it will.

Like many things in life, each of us can choose how we experience anxiety. Our society has become what many call a “victim” culture. That mindset has invaded the Christian culture. All of us know people who live life anxiously and see themselves as victims of the circumstances that create the turbulence they feel. Too many of us do not realize we can proactively attack anxiety and send it on down the street.

Consider the Apostle Paul’s words in today’s text. He instructs us to choose a proactive stance against anxiety. The Apostle assumes anxiety will come, but he tells us it does not have to live with us. He gives us an alternative that assures us we can know the absence of anxiety.

In simple words, we attack anxiety by taking every issue to God. If financial worries produce anxiety, take them to God. If you struggle with temptation and feel anxiety, take it to God. If you see some crisis hanging out there on the horizon of your life, take it to God. The Apostle tells us that nothing is off limits. Rather, “in everything” go to God “in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”

We can’t stop with the instruction, however. Paul gives a powerful promise to go with the instruction. When we take to God the issues in our lives that feed anxiety, the Apostle promises us a solution. The simple solution to anxiety is God’s peace. This peace is the very same peace that God lives with every day. It is so powerful and beyond our normal experience, that Paul says it “surpasses all understanding.”

This very same peace that God knows every day “guards our hearts and minds.” It doesn’t allow anxiety to live in our lives! The word “guard” means to “stand sentinel.” God’s very own peace stands sentinel at the door of our lives and refuses to allow anxiety access! We’re not strong enough to ward off anxiety. That is why we need God’s peace to stand sentinel.

So, when anxiety comes knocking at your door, remember that you can attack it before it settles in for a long stay. You have an open invitation. Take everything to God. Talk to Him about the issues and claim the promise of His peace. Expect that peace to stand sentinel. Trust me when I tell you. Anxiety cannot get near you when God’s peace stands sentinel over your life. — John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for TODAY: Psalm 94-96; Proverbs 16; Romans 15:14-33

Great Quote: Forgiveness is our command. Judgment is not. — Neil Strait

RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

This passage and this promise thrill me beyond description. With all my heart I want to be a Christian from whom flows rivers of living water. I believe you have the same desire.

Have you noticed that all the promises in the Bible are conditional. Before there can be mighty flowing rivers of living water there first has to be desire…and insatiable desire for Christ. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink.” (v.37)

At a Keswick Christian Life Convention many years ago I heard Stuart Briscoe make a statement that I have never forgotten. He said, “We have as much of God as we want. God meets man on the level of his desire.” That thought continues to echo in my mind. Think about it, “We can have as much of God as we want. God meets man on the level of his desire.” I believe this was what Jesus meant when he said, “If anyone thirsts…”

Lack of thirst will eventually reveal itself. A Christian who does not thirst for God will be dry, barren, lifeless, and defeated.

Thirst for Christ will manifest itself. To use the words of Jesus, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

We cultivate our thirst for God by spending time with Him and His word. Once we have tasted Him nothing else will satisfy.

Many people thirsts for things, for money, for power and for position. Such pursuits only lead to the brackish water of the world which can never satisfy. When Saint Augustine said, “My soul finds no peace until it finds its peace in thee O God,” he spoke from experience. He had attempted to satisfy his thirsts with worldly substitutes. It was not until he came to Christ and believed in Him that his soul was truly satisfied. The same will be true for you and me.

How much of God do you want today? Roger D. Willmore is our speaker for this coming week’s conference. Come and hear him or watch via the website: www.americaskeswick.org

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 91-93; Proverbs 15; Romans 15:1-13

Great Quote: Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.– Corrie Ten Boom

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET

“Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy Presence.” Psalm 90:8

I have been having fun play the game with my little granddaughter, Emma. The game? Pop’s got a secret. She runs over and smashes her ear up against my lips and I will either whisper something to her our talk loudly in her ear.

We all have secrets, and if we are honest we like to hear secrets about other people. But most likely, if we are really honest, we’d rather not have our secrets revealed, especially in the areas of secret sin.

Secret sin is really only secret in terms of others. Let me explain. Remember when Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden of Eden? Immediately following their sin, what did they do? They hid! They thought that they could hide from God. You know the rest of the story — God knew exactly what they had done and where they were hiding.

We need to remember that our secret sins may be secret to others, but they are not secret to God. He knows, weighs and sees everyone of our thoughts, deeds, words and actions. Today’s verse says that God has placed our iniquities before Him, and our secret sins are brought into the light of His presence. Wow.

There is great freedom when we bring secret sin into the light. Secret sin will eat us alive like a cancer. You will be living in bondage to that sin because you will always live in fear that someone will find out. It will cause you to become paranoid and always thinking, “Does he know? Does she know?”

Secret sin causes us to live a double-minded life. We are one way in front of the “right” people, but deep down we know that living a double live causes us to be in turmoil. James says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

On Tuesday evening, a dear lady who has served the Lord for 40 years as a missionary, came forward at the end of the service because the Holy Spirit put His finger on an area of secret sin in her life. She testified that her secret sin had her in bondage for 40 years! She came clean and confessed her sin, and you should see the joy on her face. She has walked around America’s KESWICK ready to burst with joy!

What about you? Is there an area of secret sin in your life? God knows about it. He longs for you to bring it into the light. Confess it. Repent of it. And move from the bondage of Egypt into the joy of the Promised Land. You will enjoy life on the highest plane — life the way God intended it to be. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 89-90; Proverbs 14; Romans 14

Great Quote: God will not turn away from doing you good. He will keep on doing good. He doesn’t do good to His children sometimes and bad to them other times. He keeps on doing good and He never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages. When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means He is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving Him. — John Piper

Can’t attend the services this week at KESWICK? Well you can now watch the webcast each evening at 7:00 PM. Visit our website and be blessed by our speakers. Tonight’s speaker is Dr. Chris Hodges. Don’t miss it: www.americaskeswick.org

ARE YOU LISTENING?

“Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

This morning when I was reading through my devotionals, I was reminded of a time in 2001 when God spoke to my heart about a particular issue that I needed to yield to His control. His voice was very plain and discernable. There was no question in my mind that He was speaking to my heart.

Boy Samuel was ministering in the temple with Eli, the priest. 1 Samuel 3:1 says “And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.” Eli, the one who should have been in tune with the voice of God, couldn’t discern His voice — it was the boy Samuel who heard the voice and knew it was God.

I believe that God still speaks to our hearts today. Now I am not about to say that I have heard the AUDIBLE voice of God nor am I willing to say He can’t still speak like that today — He’s God. He can choose to do whatever He chooses, how and when He chooses.

But I am willing to tell you that if you are willing to listen, You can discern and hear His voice. He speaks through His Word as well as the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts as we pray. We can hear, know and discern His voice if we are willing to listen.

In the movie, THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, the mother penguin leaves the Dad and his baby to make a treacherous and long journey to get food. Thousands of Dad penguins huddled together in the bitter cold, sit on the eggs waiting for them to hatch. When Mom finally returns months later, she has to be able to find her man and baby. Remember there are thousands of other penguins who all look alike. Yet Dad is so tuned into his wife’s voice and she to his, they can find each other even in the midst of thousands of other penguin look-alikes. And the baby has the same ability. With all the other squawking penguins, he can pick out his mom’s voice in that sea of other calls.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear MY voice, and they know me and they follow me!” (John 10: 27) Are you willing to get still enough to hear HIS voice today? Are you able to pick out His voice in the sea of other voices that might be calling you today? He wants to speak to your heart and transform you life. Are you listening? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 87-88; Proverbs 13; Romans 13

Great Quote: You can also offer your prayers, obedience, and endurance of dryness to Our Lord, for the good of other souls, and then you have practiced intercession. Never mind if it all seems for the time very second-hand.
The less you get out of it, the nearer it approaches to being something worth offering; and the humiliation of not being able to feel as devout as we want to be, is excellent for most of us. Use vocal prayer…very slowly, trying to realize the meaning with which it is charged and remember that…you are only a unit in the Chorus of the Church, so that the others will make good the shortcomings you cannot help. Evelyn Underhill

THIS EXPERIENCE MUST COME

“Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha … saw him no more.” 2 Kings 2:11-12

It has been several weeks now that Pastor Bill went home to be with the Lord. There have been numerous moments where I have found myself saying — “I am all alone … what am I going to do about this or that?” For 83 of our 110 year history, Pastor Bill has been at America’s KESWICK. That is pretty amazing.

Even though I have been the President and CEO for 12 years, and Pastor Bill was technically “retired,” he was still here and very much a part of my life. He was able to give me historical perspective and he helped me stay the course in terms of the mission and vision of America’s KESWICK. But he is gone.

I was feeling a wee bit overwhelmed on Sunday. Not at the enormity of my role, but at how much I depended on having Pastor Bill around — just to be here. When I opened up Oswald Chambers, God spoke to my point of need through his writing in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST …

“It is not wrong for you to depend on your “Elijah” (Pastor Bill) for as long as God gives him to you. But remember that the time will come when he must leave and will no longer be your guide and leader, because God does not intend for him to stay. Even the thought of that causes you to say, ‘I cannot continue without by ‘Elijah’ (Pastor Bill). Yet God says you must continue.

ALONE AT YOUR JORDAN (2:14) The Jordan river represents the type of separation where you have no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one else can take your responsibility from you. You now have to put to the test what you learned when you were with your “Elijah” (Pastor Bill). You have been to the Jordan over and over again with your Elijah, but now you are facing it alone. There is no use in saying that you cannot go — the experience is here, and you must go. If you truly want to know whether or not God is the God your faith believes Him to be, then go through your “Jordan” alone.

ALONE AT YOUR JERICHO (2:15) Jericho represents the place where you have seen your “Elijah” (Pastor Bill) do great things. Yet when you come to your “Jericho,” you have a strong reluctance to take the initiative and trust in God, wanting, instead, for someone else to take it for you. But if you remain true to what you learned while with your “Elijah” (Pastor Bill), you will receive a sign, as Elisha did that God is with YOU.

ALONE AT YOUR BETHEL (2:23) At your “Bethel” you will find yourself at your wit’s end but at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you come to your wit’s end and feel inclined to panic — don’t! Stand true to God and HE will bring out HIS truth in a way that will make your life an expression of worship. Put into practice what you learned while with your “Elijah” (Pastor Bill) — use his mantle and pray (see 2:13-14). Make your determination to trust in God, and do not even look for Elijah anymore.”

Wow! I needed that encouragement “for such a time as this.” Maybe you did too! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 84-86; Proverbs 12; Romans 12

Great Quote: When we are living in entire dependence on Christ we are strongest when we are weakest, for at our weakest point the strength of Christ has fullest opportunity (2 Cor. 12:9); but when we are living the self-sufficient life we are weakest where we are strongest, for there we are most liable to surprise attack (1 Corinthians 10:12) Christian, mark well this double paradox: in ourselves we are weak even where we are strong; in Christ we are strong even when we are weak. — J. Sidlow Baxter

Put Away Evil
“So you shall put away the evil from among you.” Deuteronomy 22:21b

One of the dangers of the current church growth movements is that the word SIN appears to be removed from the language of preacher and teachers. In an effort to not offend, we have come up with all sorts of names to call sin so that it doesn’t appear to be as bad as it really is. But the Bible, which IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH (not I hope so or think so but KNOW so) calls sin what it is and encourages us to deal with it from God’s point of view.

Some men are not willing to put away evil but think that they can play with it. Martin Luther said that it is like playing with fire hoping that we will not be burned. One of my favorite authors, Dr. Henry Blackaby, wrote about this in his daily devotional EXPERIENCING GOD, The Devotional:

“It is dangerous and costly not to take temptation seriously. The sad testimony of many who have succumbed to sin’s enticements is that they thought they were strong enough to remain in the midst of temptation and resist it. God requires that His people remove evil from their midst (Deut. 21:21) One way to do this is to remove anything in your environment that may tempt you to sin. When wickedness surrounds you, you are in danger of becoming anesthetized to its destructive potential.

God does not tolerate evil, for evil cost the death of His Son. Sin causes untold pain and destruction to everyone it touches. Treating evil lightly shows foolish disregard for God’s redemptive work. An honest evaluation of your life will reveal temptations that you should remove, such as some forms of entertainment or ungodly relationships. When God convicts you of evil in your midst, remove it immediately!

There are times, however, when YOU are powerless to remove ungodly influences, so you must remove yourself from the temptation. Paul urges us to avoid every kind of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). When Joseph was enticed to commit adultery by his master’s wife, he fled immediately! (Genesis 39:12)

Do not lose your abhorrence of sin. Be diligent to keep any form of temptation out of your home, out of your relationships, out of your mind. You can do this only by maintaining your love relationship with God, recognizing that you are powerless to resist temptation in YOUR OWN STRENGTH. You will not be able to walk closely with God unless you see sin as HE sees it. Darkness and light CANNOT co-exist. Run from the darkness to the light.”

My guess is that the Holy Spirit touched you this morning with an area of your life that needs to be fully yielded and surrender to His control. You have two choices — ignore it or surrender. Men, what will it be? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 81-83; Proverbs 11; Romans 11:19-36
Great Quote: The best prayer comes from a strong inward need of necessity. When are lives are serene and placid, our prayers are apt to be dull and listless. When we reach a crisis, a moment of danger, a serious illness, or a heavy bereavement, then our prayers are fervent and vital. Someone has wisely said, “The arrow that it to enter heaven must be launched from a bow fully bent.” A sense of urgency, of helplessness, of conscious need is the womb from which the best prayers are born. — William MacDonald

Another Look at Simplicity (Micah 6:8)

I enjoy being around people who can keep things simple. So many of us make all of life so complicated, so those who know how to simplify help us. Just as that is true in everyday life, it is also true in our Christian lives. Simplicity is a good thing!

We talked about the basics yesterday as recorded in Jesus’ words to love God and love people. I’d like to think about those basics again today. But instead of Jesus’ words, let’s look at one of the Old Testament prophets.

God’s Spirit has drawn my mind to Micah, an Old Testament prophet who knew how to simplify things. He listened to God’s Spirit at work in His life and gave us simple instruction. Here is what he said: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?

Do justly. Simplicity begins with always trying to do the right thing-the just thing. That’s not complicated, especially for those of us who know the indwelling Spirit of God. It may sometimes be hard, but it is not complicated.

Love mercy. It is an interesting little word that means compassion or forbearance. It isn’t complicated. Even when offended, God leads us to show mercy. That is not unlike His treatment of us. Where would we be without God’s mercy in our lives? Loving to show mercy may not be easy, but it is not complicated.

Walk humbly with your God. Simplicity perfected is living with God in a big “G” and little “i” relationship. He’s God; we are not. He is worthy of our complete devotion. We offer that devotion in humble gratitude because we understand the big “G” and little “i” character of our walk with God. It is not always easy, but it is not complicated.

Perhaps you and I need to take a step back from all the complications of life and pursue the simplicity of Micah 6:8. Sometimes we want to solve all the big problems before we manage the simple things. I wonder if all the big problems would exist if we lived out the simple things. — John Strain is our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor and is Senior Pastor at First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 79-80; Proverbs 10; Romans 11:1-18

Great Quote: My greatest help in Christ is that moment by moment I can pass my distress over to him. — George Verwer

Working on the Basics (Matthew 22:34-40)

Christianity is not nearly as complicated as so many of us make it. I am reminded of something Luke says about the Christians of the early church in Acts 2:46&47. “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Those early disciples learned the value of some simple things like loving God and loving one another. Perhaps some of them had heard Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-40: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Living like Jesus and seeing His life grow in us doesn’t have to go beyond simplicity. He wrapped it all up for us with these words recorded by Matthew. Love God and love people. It is that simple. We too often try to figure out all the intricacies of doctrine and look for some new teaching. Let’s forego all the “deep” things and go back to the basics. Love God and love people. God has reminded me this week that I need to do that. Perhaps you need the reminder, too.
Loving God is not as complicated as it sounds. We prove that we love God by obeying His instructions. We have power to obey those instructions because God’s Spirit lives in us to help us obey. It is that simple. We may struggle with obedience because of the residue of the flesh. That is why God gives us others to walk the journey with us. We live in communities of faith that put us shoulder to shoulder with others who are trying to get the basics down . . . just as we try. We encourage each other and learn from each other.

Loving people is not all that complicated either. God’s Spirit empowers us to love as we are loved. The more we learn how much God loves us, the better we can love even those who might not be so lovely. Jesus showed us how to do it in His life. As we walk with Him, abide in Him, and learn from Him, we learn to love as He loved.

Love God and love people. Do it with “simplicity of heart.” Keep working on the basics, and the complicated stuff will fall into place. — John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist of Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 77-78; Proverbs 9; Romans 10

Great Quote: “…Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify-our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.” Tremper Longman, Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind