Standing in the Gap (Ezekiel 22:30)

Yesterday’s Bible reading took me back to Ezekiel. One verse in five chapters jumped out at me. I knew as soon as I read it that it provided the theme for this Freedom Fighter. Hear what God said to Ezekiel in chapter 22, verse 30: “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

God was looking for someone who would stand between Israel and God’s judgment. No one chose to stand. Not one person made himself available to God for the people of Israel. The people sinned openly and rampantly, but no one spoke up. No one pleaded with God for their correction.

I doubt that God will ever ask us to stand in the gap for a whole nation. He may ask us to stand in the gap for a church. He almost certainly will ask us to stand in the gap for some individual. Let me see if I can show you how that might work.

During the last couple of weeks, a good friend of mine became aware of a defect in my character that was hurting my service to God and damaging relationships with the very people God has called me to serve. This friend of mine, a pastor, chose to step into the gap for me. It was risky; he could have offended me and damaged our relationship. He could have stepped out of the picture and left me alone. That would have been easier and more comfortable for him.

Instead, he confronted me. He told me what he had discovered and warned me about the consequences if I did not deal with the issue. He did more than that. He offered to help me. He made himself available to counsel me, pray with me, and hold me accountable. I believe God spoke to him because He (God) knew I needed someone to stand in the gap for me.

Let me share three things that I think help people like you and me stand in the gap for friends who need us. First, if we stand in the gap, we pay attention. We are aware of what is going on around us. We care enough about the people in our lives to pay attention to them. We notice when something isn’t quite right. Standing in the gap is more than that, however. We also choose to make ourselves available. We do not say we’re too busy. We don’t say we’re not knowledgeable enough.

As God leads us to step into the gap, we choose to say yes to His leading. Finally, when we stand in the gap we accept the need to be assertive. We choose interaction over neglect. We choose confrontation over keeping the peace.

When God asks us to stand in the gap, He does so because the person for whom we stand in the gap has value. They are too important to neglect. They are too valuable to settle for keeping the peace. As Mordecai said to Queen Esther, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? God puts us in relationships because we need each other. God may have brought my good friend into my life for just this time. He chose to stand in the gap for me!

I want you to think about people in your life. Who might need you to stand in the gap for them? You also might want to think about who may need to stand in the gap for you. I cannot tell you how glad I am that someone is willing to stand in the gap for me. All of us need someone for whom we can stand and someone who will stand for us. – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 23-25; Acts 21:18-40

Think about this: Once you look at the cross, you can’t look at anything else, no matter how horrid it appears, and infer that God’s intention is to do us harm. The truth is that God is good. – William Backcus

Tomorrow evening starts our first Victory Week of the summer season. Our speakers this week are Drs. Charles Zimmer and Dave Wryzten. We’d love to have you join us. The evening sessions are at 7:00 PM and the mornings at 9:30 AM. For information, contact 732-350-1187 or download the brochure at http://www.americaskeswick.org/.

YOU CAN’T BUT GOD CAN

“The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Yesterday I had one of those difficult meetings where I had to ask a very dear friend to do something that was completely out of his comfort zone. I could sense his agony over what I had asked him to do, and I was in a very difficult spot as his boss because I knew he needed to take responsibility in this area.

At one point in the conversation he made the statement, “I can’t do this.”
The Holy Spirit prompted me to remind him that his statement was absolutely true! The are so many things WE can’t do, but through CHRIST He enables us to do impossible things, often stretching us out of our comfort zones.

I shared with him that I was a living, breathing testimony of being put in situations where I KNEW I couldn’t do something, but how wonderful my God was in supplying ALL that I needed to accomplish the difficult thing before me. One of the promises I hold onto during times like this is from
1 Thessalonians 5:24: “The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it!” I am SLOWLY learning that I can’t but HE CAN!

I shared with my dear friend several recent situations where I experienced this truth and our conversation ended well. Then God took me at my word!
Funny how He often does that …

Last night I was playing for the Memorial Service for Uncle Pete Kolody.
Everything was going great until I looked out in the audience and saw Dr.
Sam Hsu, an amazingly gifted concert pianist who is on the faculty of Philadelphia Biblical University, and with him was the new chairman of the music department at PBU.

Unlike Robert Hayes, I am an “un-trained” pianist. God gave me a gift that I don’t fully comprehend or understand, and I use it for His glory. Over the years I have struggled when there have been people like Dr. Hsu in the congregation. The “fear factor” peaks and I panic.

Sitting at the keyboard the panic was rising within me, and I found myself saying, “I can’t do this tonight with these guys here. There has to be a way out.” And then it was like the Holy Spirit tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hmmmmmmm … didn’t something change since you met with so and so today? Hello?” In other words, I got whacked with my own words.

Someone once wrote: The world is watching and waiting to see what God can do through a life that is committed to Him. And not only is the world waiting but God Himself awaits to see who will be the most completely devoted person who has ever lived; willing to be nothing so Christ may be EVERYTHING; fully accepting God’s purposes as his own; receiving Christ’s humility, faith, love, and power, yet never hindering God’s plan but always allowing Him to continue His miraculous work.”

In other words: THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOU, PROVIDING YOU DO NOT SEEK YOUR OWN GLORY.

Let Him wow you today at what YOU can’t do, but what HE can do through you! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 20-22; Acts 21:1-17

Think About This: How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride?

William Edwin (W. E.) Sangster

THE HEART STRANGELY WARMED

I received a new hymnal this week in the mail and in looking through it, found some powerful readings that were such a blessing. This reading is from the pen of preacher/hymn writer, John Wesley (1703-1791):

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistles to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more special manner despitefully used and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart. But it was no long before the enemy suggested, ‘This cannot be faith; for where is you joy?’ Then was I taught that peace and victory over sin are essential to faith in the Captain of our salvation; but that, as to the transports of joy that usually attend the beginnings of it, especially in those who have mourned deeply, God sometimes gives, sometimes withholds them, according to the counsel of His own will.

After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptation, but cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He “sent me help from His holy place.” And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting, with all my might under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; praise God, now, I was always conqueror! – May 24, 1738

For me, this was just another reminder that we are in all these things, “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us!” (Romans 8:37) Hallelujah! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God WORD for TODAY: Psalm 18-19; Acts 20:17-38

Think About This: “The work of a true convert is not done. He (and she) finds a great work to do and great wants to be supplied. He (and she) still sees himself/herself to be a poor, empty, helpless creature who still stands in great and continual need of God’s help. He/she well knows that without God he/she can do nothing. After a true conversion, the soul is increasingly aware of its own impotence and emptiness. It is still aware of its universal dependence on God for everything. A true convert is aware that his grace is very imperfect and that he/she is very far from having all that he/she desires. Through conversion, new desires are produced in him/her that he/she never had before…So he/she still has plenty of business at the throne of grace: if fact, his/her business there increases rather than diminishes.” Jonathan Edwards

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The Concept of Divine Control

” … how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11

The past 24 hours have been difficult. Pastor Bill Raws, who has been in the hospital for almost five weeks, took a major step backwards yesterday, we received news that a dear friend had a brain hemorrhage and needed emergency surgery and now his life is hanging in the balances; several of our friends are going through challenging times right now … and the list goes on and on.

So I needed these words today from the pen of Oswald Chambers in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST …

“Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our MINDS filled with the concept of GOD’S control over EVERYTHING, which means that a disciple must maintain and attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, ‘My Heavenly Father knows all about this!’ This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise.

Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but know you go to GOD about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of divine conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle — God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. NOT EVEN THE SMALLEST DETAIL OF LIFE HAPPENS UNLESS GOD’S WILL IS BEHIND IT. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him …”

Wow! I needed that this morning. And my guess is that someone else who gets this daily Freedom Fighter email needs it too. Thanks, Lord, for speaking to our hearts. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 16-17; Acts 20:1-16 (Take the challenge — by reading these daily passages of Scripture, you will read through the Bible in one year!)

Think about this: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Giovanni di Bernardone (Francis of Assisi)

HE KNOWS MY NAME

” … he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out …” John 10:3b

My Dad had a cousin who had eighteen living children. Yes, you heard me right! We didn’t get to see them often, but when we did it was hilarious. The kids would never introduce themselves by name – they’d say, “I’m #2,” or “I am #10.”

Most of us, if we are really honest, are impressed when someone remembers our name. We have a dear speaker friend, Glenna Salsbury, who is one of those blest people who can remember names. I have been in her presence when she hasn’t seen someone in five years, and without that person wearing a nametag, she remembers their name.

You and I have a Heavenly Father who is so awesome and powerful. He I is running the universe making sure everything is working according to schedule. Yet this awesome God who created the stars, stars that our telescopes and sophisticated equipment are just now discovering, he knows where they are, how many there are, and even calls them by name!

And even greater than that – He knows YOUR NAME! You and I are HIS sheep and He knows us individually by name. That blows my mind every time I think of that concept. It made me think of the praise song written by DC TALK …

I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He see each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

I have a father
He calls me his own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
( I’m so glad i can say)
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear the falls
And hears me when I call

(He knows me, he knows my name)

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He see each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

And he knows your name
He knows your every thought
He sees all those tears that fall
And he’ll hear you when you call.

Aren’t you glad that He knows your name? I am this morning. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 13-15; Acts 19:21-41

Think about this: Be wide awake to the dangers of unlimited hospitality.
You might reach saturation point and end by becoming superficial, distracted, or monopolized. Do not be nowhere in your effort to be everywhere, or attentive to no one simply because you are running after everyone. — Anonymous

WELL DONE, UNCLE PETER

Yesterday another one of our heroes went home to be with the Lord after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Known to thousands as “Uncle Peter,” Peter Kolody was one of those heroes that made an impact on my life. He was one of those guys who was just there when you needed him. God gifted him in so many ways. He was an incredible cook as well as a skilled plumber.

During my childhood our church made it possible for kids to earn a free week at a Christian camp. To earn the free week, we had to memorize Bible verses — and lots of them. The cool thing was that we thought the memorization of God’s Word was to get the free week at Camp Sandy Cove or Camp Sandy Hill. But the real motivation was to get us kids to hide God’s Word in our hearts.

We were each assigned someone to “hear” our verses, and guess who I was assigned to? Uncle Peter! Each week he faithfully listened to my verses and encouraged me to keep at it. But the biggest surprise of my life was when I got to Camp Sandy Hill, guess who our cook was that week? Uncle Peter!

Years later I was attending Philadelphia Biblical University as a part-time student. I was assigned to work in the maintenance department for several months and guess who was our plumber? Uncle Peter! In fact, Peter went on to serve for many years at PBU both at the center city campus and then at the campus in Langhorne. I don’t think the University has a clue how many lives this gentle giant has impacted over his thirty five years on staff.

At our Memorial Day weekend concert, we honored Uncle Peter. He was a hero in his own right for serving our country in the Navy having been assigned to naval ship, Gambier Bay. Hundreds of men’s lives were taken on October 25, 1944. His story is powerful and God used his testimony to encourage thousands as he quietly shared how God had spared his life in an amazing way.

His story will never be on Fox News. In fact, my guess is that very few of our Keswick family even know who he was. But he was a faithful servant of the Lord, and a good friend and mentor. I will miss his smile and his wit. I will miss his encouragement and prayers. I know that our loss is heaven’s gain. And I have a sneaky suspicion that after he has had some time to see his Savior, a little blonde girl by the name of Lindsay Bear, who Uncle Peter adored and prayed for, ran over for a big hug … and Uncle Pete’s famous line would be — “Hey, there doll!” Uncle Peter — we love you! Thanks for your ministry in all of our lives. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 10:12; Acts 19:1-20

Think about this: He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are;
neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God. — Thomas a Kempis

Life’s Ultimate Purpose, Part 2

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Too many of us live life with little purpose. We are relatives aimless and take life as it comes. All of Scripture refuses to allow us that passive kind of life. Rather, God’s Word tells us to pursue excellence and to live as though God’s glory depends upon us.

We thought about 1 Corinthians 10:31 yesterday. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We thought about “everything meaning everything.” The reality that we cannot fulfill this instruction on our own means that we need to walk in the Spirit and depend upon his power and ministry. Finally, we thought about how living for the glory of God removes the focus from ourselves and puts it where it belongs . . . on God Himself.

Let me ask you to think about some other implications that flow from this instruction. Choosing to live in obedience to this word from God protects us from aimless desperation. It offers us a reason to get up in the morning and challenges us to do our best at everything we do. It makes even mundane things like eating and drinking an opportunity to give God glory.

Working this word into the fabric of our lives also offers us a great privilege. Living for God’s glory in all we do engages us in the greatest work of the universe. We become part of that great company that proclaims His majesty. Our lives gain eternal perspective when we live for God’s glory and the building up of His kingdom.

Finally, allowing this purpose to set the tone for our lives fulfills us.
Like nothing else we could ever do, doing everything for His glory allows us to complete each day knowing that we have done that for which God designed us.

The thoughts are simple. The purpose is worthwhile. The pursuit of the purpose gives us a reason to live. May God help us do everything, even eating and drinking, for God’s glory! — Pastor John Strain is senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalm 7-9; Acts 18

Think About This: Christ’s life unfolds, in part, as we learn to appreciate the gifts He has given us. How easy it is to blame others for our unhappiness, but we are only unhappy when something other than Christ has become our life. (For example) The husband or wife who has Christ as their life, comes to their spousal relationship already satisfied. They do not come continually looking to made happy by another person’s attention; they bring Christ’s life to their spouse. — Francis Frangipane

Life’s Ultimate Purpose (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Life is full of activity. Most who read Freedom Fighters still work every day. Many of us still have children at home. Our responsibilities are varied and many. We engage many different kinds of people and every kind of job imaginable. Those of us who know and follow Jesus, however still have on overarching purpose in life.

The Apostle Paul defines that purpose for us in 1 Corinthians 10:31. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” That is simple to say, but not so easy to live out. Most of us probably know that already.

I have been thinking about what it looks like to do everything to the glory of God. I invite you to think about it with me. If Scripture tells us that we should do everything for the glory of God, then we need to figure out how to do that.

Here are some observations, and I may think of more for tomorrow’s edition of FF. First, everything means everything. I’m asking God to help me get to the place where I think consistently about seeking His glory. I want to think about whether what I say, think or do will bring glory to Him. If it doesn’t, I probably do not need to say it, think it, or do it.

It occurs to me, too, that doing everything to the glory of God is not something I can do on my own. As I think about some of the metaphors God gives us that describe the Christian life, I discover that I must live in ongoing fellowship with Jesus. If I’m in the yoke with Jesus, I’ll find it easier to do everything for His glory. If I abide in Christ, I’ll always have His help in pursuing His glory. If I walk in the Spirit, the Spirit (who is called the Helper) helps me do everything for God’s glory. Living for God’s glory is not a solo lifestyle!

Finally, living for God’s glory removes the focus from me to God. The world tells us that it’s all about ourselves, but that’s a lie. For those who follow Christ, a focus anywhere but on Jesus is always the wrong focus. Fixing our eyes on Jesus will help us live for His glory.

Think about living for His glory as you drive, work, hang out with your family, and go to church this weekend. Think about living for His glory when you’re alone . . . when no one else is around. Life’s ultimate purpose is to “do all for the glory of God” 24/7. We’re not offered breaks from the purpose. We do not get down time to live only for ourselves. Freedom Fighters follow Jesus and do everything for His glory . . . all the time. John D. Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for TODAY: Psalm 4-6; Acts 17:16-34

Think about this: Be natural; forget yourself; be so absorbed in what you are doing and in the realization of the presence of God, and in the glory and the greatness of the Truth that you are preaching, and the occasion that brings you together,…that you forget yourself completely. That is the right condition; that is the only place of safety; that is the only way in which you can honor God. Self is the greatest enemy of the preacher, more so than in the case of any other man in society. And the only way to deal with self is to be so taken up with, and so enraptured by, the glory of what you are doing, that you forget yourself altogether. — Martyn Lloyd-Jones

MORE

One of my heroes is Pastor Bob Alderman. He will be speaking this summer at America’s KESWICK and you can’t miss hearing him. Check out our website for details: www.americaskeswick.org.

“…we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
(Romans 8:37)

Here is our case for “surpassing victory.” It is a statement of fact that in Christ we are “more than conquerors.” We are in fact “hyper-conquerors,” we are “pre-eminently victorious,” we surpass mere victory and move to the higher ground of the extra.

I like the translation “more than conquerors.” It tells me about the “more” aspect of my Savior’s nature and the “more” aspect of my Savior’s provision. Think of all the ways He has physically illustrated His “more” provision for His people.

In Eden there was one tree that was forbidden. Just one that was not available. Now count the trees that were available. There were “more” – so many MORE.

Have we adequately considered the dry ground upon which Israel crossed the sea? It was the very nature of God not to be satisfied with shallow water or damp dirt. With Him it had to be dry ground. It was all a part of the “more” nature of God. And these illustrations are of the merely physical. How about the spiritual aspect of His “more” nature?

In light of the “more” nature of God I must ask this serious question. Why do I often struggle with understanding and experiencing the conquering Christian life? Should not my difficulty be in understanding the non-conquering life? How can I, in light of the “more” nature of my Lord, accept the non-conquering life as normal and the conquering life as evasive and secretive?

We Christians need not abandon the victory of victorious living. We need not adopt the language or the experiences of the defeated. We are the recipients of the “more” nature of Christ.

Allow a simple illustration of the point. Far too often the modern response to the simple enquiry concerning personal well-being is the meager “I am hanging in there.” Or maybe the sedated “I am squeezing by.” Or perhaps there is some other colloquialism that speaks of such forfeiture and defeat. As Christians do we think of and long for victory and yet talk and experience defeat?

In Christ “we are more” – so much more. — Dr. Robert L. Alderman

God’s WORD for YOU: Psalms 1-3; Acts 17:1-15

Think About This: Only he who flings himself upward when the pull comes to drag him down, can hope to break the force of temptation. Temptation may be an invitation to hell, but much more is it an opportunity to reach heaven. At the moment of temptation. — Charles H. Brent

THE POWER OF PRAISE

“The Lord IS my strength and song, and He has BECOME my salvation; This IS my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. Exodus 15:2

This morning as I was reading through the Scriptures, I was in Acts 16 which is the story of Paul and Silas in prison. It is recorded in Acts 16. You remember the story — they were thrown into jail after being beaten by the mob, and about midnight “they were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

At that point after praying and sing, their chains fell off and all the doors were open. And instead of fleeing, they had an evangelistic meeting in jail and the prison jailer ended up getting saved and all his house!

The Lord brought be back to Exodus 15 which is the Song of Moses and the children of Israel AFTER their Red Sea experience. I can’t help but think that there was a lot of praying going on as two million Israelites were crossing through the dry ground while being pursued by the powerful Egyptian army.
Can you imagine what they must have been thinking as they watched the Sea on either side, the army behind them? No wonder they broke out in song when the victory came.

There seems to be a correlation between praying and praise in Scriptures. Paul and Silas used prayer and praise BEFORE the victory came! They had no idea how long they would be in prison or if they would make it out alive. But just think what an impact that prayer and worship service had.

Right now you and I might be experiencing a “prison” or “Red Sea experience in our lives. I can sit back and complain, moan and groan, get discouraged and full of despair (and I have been there and done that even this week) or I can turn this time into a service of prayer and praise. Who knows what might happen — if God can part the Red Sea for 2 million of His people, if He can break prison doors and set captives free in a jail cell in Philipi, what could he do in Whiting, NJ or in the town you live?

It hasn’t been the first time that God told His servants to use praise to do battle. If it worked for Gideon and his army, will it work for us today? What do we have to lose? I am going to keep at it. I have a sneaky suspicion that I am going to be amazed again with the power of God and you will certainly hear about it! Will you join me in the adventure? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Job 41-42; Acts 16:22-40

Think About This: The truth is, living in agreement with God will bring His conviction when we are disobedient. Conviction may feel like a negative thing, but it’s just as much a part of God as His smile. He is committed to making our lives work in Him, and He will use the strength and power of His conviction to let us know when we are outside His will. It may feel bad, but conviction is God at work in us.– David Edwards