“Life in the Spirit”
(Acts 2:1-47)

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day in the church year when Christians remember the Holy Spirit coming on those early Christians in Jerusalem. It was an incredible day that none of the disciples could have anticipated.

That same Spirit who came on Pentecost Sunday dwells in the life of every follower of Jesus; that includes you and me! That’s truth from God’s Word. The question for us to consider this morning is this: how much influence does His Spirit have in our lives? Let me suggest some ways the Holy Spirit should manifest Himself in us.

With His presence in our lives, we should see His power demonstrated in us. His power offers us the assurance of victory over sin and victory to live a life marked by holiness. Too many of us have believed the lie of the wicked one who convinces us that His power is not sufficient. It is!

His presence also brings boldness to our lives that overcomes our fears.
Remember that these men who preached with such power on Pentecost Sunday were hiding from the religious leaders just days before. Nothing else explains the transformation in their lives but the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The transformation that marked this first group of believers developed in community. Both before and after Pentecost, those who followed Jesus shared their lives with each other and lived in “one accord.” They drew strength from each other. God’s Spirit at work in them marked them as men and women who loved Jesus and each other.

Finally, notice in Acts 2 that the Holy Spirit in their lives gave them influence beyond anything they could have expected. Three thousand people came to Christ that first Pentecost Sunday. In the days following Pentecost the disciples had great favor with the people around them. Radical transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit gave them incredible influence.

Freedom Fighters like you and me can know the presence, power and work of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. It comes as we yield more and more of our lives to make more and more room for Him. That yielding is the path to freedom and power that each of us so desperately needs.

May God help us to know God’s Spirit like our brothers and sisters in the early church knew Him! – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River — http://www.fbctomsriver.com/

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 13-14; John 2

Think About This: “If you are reading this because you count yourself a good person and good people read religious books, let me give you a warning; You are dancing on the edge of a cliff. One day, maybe soon, you’re going to fall off. Not only that, but when you fall off, its going to hurt really bad. I just wanted you know, and I didn’t want you to say that nobody ever told you. I just told you….Feeling ashamed and knowing Christ far surpasses begin good and never thirsting for mercy and forgiveness.” Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom

“On the Mind of God”

“For I know the thoughts that think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I read this verse during my Bible reading yesterday morning. It’s a familiar verse, but I needed it yesterday. You may need it today. It reminds us that we are on God’s mind; He actually thinks about us! We don’t always feel as though God thinks of us, but He does. Jeremiah recorded God’s words for us so we could know that He thinks of us.

I’m glad God had Jeremiah give us these words. At one time or another all of us need the reminder that God has each of us on His mind. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s just hard. Knowing that God thinks of us in ways that bring blessing to our lives puts life in perspective. Those thoughts help us every day and especially on the hard days. Even in the worst of times, when pressure comes from every side, God is thinking about us!

When we’re in turmoil, Gods’ thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace.
When we sense the plague of failure, Gods’ thoughts of us are filled with hope. When our past haunts us, God reminds us that He’s already thought of our future. Our good and gracious God strengthens us with this one-sentence well of encouragement.

The world around us offers its own enticements and attractions. Without a clear understanding of Gods’ thoughts for us, those things of the world will draw us away from the hope and future God has for us. As we fight for freedom, we can’t afford to lose sight of His thoughts for us and His plans for us.

When we know how God thinks of us we face each day with hope. We live those days in peace. We finish the day anticipating God’s future for us. Don’t forget that you-every day-are on Gods’ mind.

“For I know the thoughts that think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) – Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River http://www.fbctomsriver.com/

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 10-12; John 1:29-51

In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking. John Lubbock

Luke 8:35, 39 – “Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid….. Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”

From the day I had accepted Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior I started planning. I know I had said “I do” to the Creator of heaven and earth. I was confident He had a wonderful plan for my life, but what? How could I be used by God? Who did I most resemble? This new life would require much thought and preparation on my part. So I did what any new believer who felt God pulling on his heart would do, I started the work of predicting God. I wasn’t quite sure which saint in the Bible He was going to mold me after, but it was probably one of the greats. Maybe I would be the next Paul. We both had been misguided zealots before Jesus intervened on our behalf. I’m sure I could bring His gospel to all four corners of the earth – just like Paul. It didn’t take long before I knew that wasn’t His plan for me. That’s ok, I was probably more like David the shepherd-king anyway. We were both capable of unspeakable sin in our hearts. But David wasn’t the man either. Then Jacob, or how about Jonah? I am just like Jonah – I too will run to the end of the earth to escape God’s perfect and pleasing will. But God made quick work of that one too, He told me I wasn’t worthy of the deluxe accommodations in a fish’s belly. Then who? Oh no, not Job! Anybody but Job.

But God, who is rich in mercy revealed His plan. A simple command for a simple guy; “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:39) That was me, a demon-possessed homeless man. Completely controlled by my sinful lifestyle dwelling in the darkness. When Jesus brought me out of the darkness into His marvelous light – it became clear, Go and tell my friends what Jesus did for me and what great compassion He had on me. Stop concerning myself with what the ‘Pauls’ and the ‘King Davids’ and the ‘Jonahs’ were doing for His Kingdom, but what I am doing to further His Kingdom here on earth.

For me; it is to tell everyone what a Wonderful Savior I serve, to let everybody see what great compassion He had on a miserable demon-possessed wretch like me.

What are you doing today to further His Kingdom here on earth? Or are you still waiting to find out who you’re going to be?

Take Me Out to His Ballgame. Part Two

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Hebrews 3:14

Now I have resolved myself to the fact the God wants’ me to go behind the plate and call the game. That’s right brothers there was no rain falling and no rain coming. Oh well, Jesus this wouldn’t be the first time you have taken me out of my comfort zone to bring me through something. Just as a side note…I do not like to umpire but that’s a different Freedom Fighter.

Anyway the phone rings fifteen minutes before I have to leave and it is the team’s heads coach and he is relieving me of my umpiring duties.
“Chris, I know you’re uncomfortable with it.” he says. “Your right.” I say. And then we both talk about the night before. He was more than willing to dish out what we got the night before. “C’mon, you don’t want to comprise your integrity” was what I said in response. He agreed and I went to Wal-mart with my wife and daughter. Just another side note…I am no fan of Wal-mart.

Before I can get into Wal-mart I run into a brother from the Colony. We are both hopeful about the upcoming reunion and we have just figured out we have someone in common. The head coach of the baseball team. And later on in the week I run into this brother again. And in this same week someone who I work with, who I would have never thought would come to Christ, has asked me to get him on the road to find the peace I have with our risen Savior.

Here is what I am trying to convey Brother’s. Do not waiver from the truth that you have in Jesus. Do what is just and righteous even if you are out of your comfort zone and don’t like it. There will come a time when you are face to face to the Creator and he will ask you “What did you do with Jesus?” It could happen at Wal-mart or on the baseball diamond but when God puts His purpose for you in front of you, Be Steadfast…Do not waiver!!

This quote is from chapter four in “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice” by Dallas Willard & Jan Johnson. “This weight of trying to be good is an unnecessary load because the way to God is the way of all-encompassing inner transformation. God will work in us (see Phil 1:6). We have a part in cooperating with God, which is what we’ll explore in this book. But even then, we must not make it our project. We need to ask God to show us the next small steps and how to take them.” – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 4-6; Luke 24:36-53

Think about this: Man still retains within himself the need to love a perfect object that will never disappoint him and to be himself loved totally and unconditionally. These needs can be met only in a relationship with God Himself. Otherwise, we go on demanding unattainable absolutes from human beings. Tom Marshall

Take Me Out to His Ballgame. Part One

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” Hebrews 3:14

The baseball diamond can cause many men to toss dignity and integrity out the window. It is the third game of our little league season and we have an umpire who has been calling low pitched balls, strikes. The umpire serves as a Eucharist Minister at St. Vincent de Paul, the local Catholic Church here in downtown Mays Landing, New Jersey. He is also a friend of mine.

In the dugout there are three bewildered coaches. One of us is just doing the score card with a sign once in a while. And no brothers this one is not me. One of us is a cussin’ and a fussin’… Well brothers this used to be me but not for quite some time. No, I’m the one who between innings is just trying to encourage a team who has become just as bewildered as the coaches. This was not turning out to be a good night. Low Ball…strike, again. What?

Long story short, our head coach (the one cussin’ and fussin’) reamed these young men out. “Ya gotta swing at the ball guys. The ump is gonna call anything a strike if you don’t swing at the ball.” “Don’t you guys wanna win?”No words of encouragement. And prior to the game I have just been told that I may have to umpire behind the plate the next game which is on a Saturday morning. T’was a long night brothers.

“Heavenly Father I only ask for rain…please?” was my prayer before going to sleep. I stilled heard my wife’s words as I fell to sleep…”He didn’t have to yell at those boys on the field, he could have done that at practice and not in front of everyone.” She was right. Now for my moment to sigh. But fear not and neither be dismayed for the next morning The Lord showed up in a big way. I’ll share more tomorrow. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 1-3; Luke 24:1-35

Think About This: The light of heaven is the face of Jesus Christ; the joy of heaven is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; the melody of heaven is the name of Jesus Christ. The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The employment of heaven is the work of Jesus Christ. The fullness of heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ, himself. Anonymous

What Will Flow From Your Heart

Matthew 12:34b “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

“In the world ye shall have tribulation.” (John 16:33) What shall flow from the abundance of your heart then? Will you still praise His Holy Name? Will you shout to the Lord of heaven and earth and proclaim His majesty? Will He still be the King of Kings and Lord of your life? In your greatest struggles will you still find peace in the God of Comfort?
Many of us become self-reliant in these situations. We become so consumed in the moment, we forget to acknowledge the One who sustains us, Jesus Christ!

Unfortunately, it is during these exact times that our true characters are revealed, that our mouths speak what our hearts feel. God does not only hear what we say during Sunday morning church service or during our times in the green pastures. He listens during our most agonizing trials and tribulations. What will your heart say then? What unspeakable evil will precede out of your mouth?

During the scorching of the refining fire will you bring Him glory and speak of His goodness. Will you proclaim His Lordship then? In our own strength it is impossible, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Look upward to your Heavenly Father and recognize His purity and Holiness. He is the sustainer of your life! Then amidst the turmoil of life you will recognize Him for who is, and your soul will yearn and longeth after Him (Psalm 42:1). Your mouth will sing His praises because your heart will be filled with the abundance of His love and grace and His never ending faithfulness. – Ed Mayo recently graduated from the Colony of Mercy and is now in the Discipleship program. His counselor, Chris Connor’s (Director of Housekeeping) submitted this devotional from Ed’s journal and thought it would be an encouragement to the Freedom Fighter men!

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23:26-56

Think About This: Bitterness is a habit that can seriously hinder our spiritual journey.

When life becomes difficult, when it doesn’t seem as if God is providing for our needs, when we’re not getting what we want when we want it, we have a decision to make. We can hold onto our faith and trust that God has an answer in mind, or we can gripe and moan and complain and let our souls become embittered. Expecting an oasis, but finding a bitter stream? Don’t lose sight of the grace of God. – (Beside A Quiet Stream) Penelope J. Stokes

DON’T LET THE SONG GO OUT OF YOUR HEART

“As they began to sing praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men ..
who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:22

If you want to do a fascinating study sometime, take your concordance and trace the word sing throughout the Scriptures. You will be amazed at how singing is used in a variety of singing. In the Old Testament singing is often used before the men of Israel went out into battle – certainly a non-conventional method in warfare!

A FREEDOM FIGHTER is one who has a new song in his heart (Psalm 40:3), and the song we have in our hearts is tied in with our being thankful (Colossians 3:16).

We knew a dear man who served the Lord for many years. As he was approaching 100, he would have difficulty sleeping at night. When he couldn’t sleep, rather than worry and fret, he would sing hymns and choruses that he had committed to memory over the years.

I read this today in STREAMS IN THE DESERT: “Of, if only we would worry less about our problems and sing and praise more! There are thousands of things that shackle us that could be turned into instruments of music, if we just knew how to do it.

Think of those people who ponder, meditate, and weigh the affairs of life, and who continually study the mysterious inner workings of God’s providence wondering why they suffer burdens and are opposed and battled on every front. How different their lives would be, and how much more joyful, if they would stop indulging in self-centered and inward thinking and instead would daily lift their experiences to God, praising Him for them.

It is easier to sing your worries away then to reason them away. Why not sing in the morning? Think of the birds – they are the first to sing each day, and they have fewer worries than anything else in creation.
And don’t forget to sing in the evening, which is what the robins do when they have finished their daily work. Once they have flown their last flight of the day and gathered the last bite of food, they find a treetop from which to sing a song of praise.

Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, offering up song after song of continual praise throughout our day!”

So guys – how’s your singing today? Don’t just sing in the shower. Let the music flow and don’t let the song go out of your heart today because real men sing! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Kings 19-20; Luke 23:1-25

Think about this: Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. Billy Graham

“Perspective-One Step at a Time”

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
(Psalm 40:8)

Last weekend I wrote about perspective and seeing the big picture. We thought about the danger of “living in the moment” without thinking of the “big picture” consequences. Today, I want to ask you to “live in the moment-one step at a time.”

The church I am privileged to serve, First Baptist of Toms River, supports a young couple who are Christian workers in a restricted access country. Their goal is simple: they want to take the Gospel to Muslims who have so little chance to know Jesus.

During one of their visits to First Baptist this young wife said something that so caught my attention that I wrote it down in the flyleaf of my Bible. Actually, other than my name, it’s the only thing I have written down in the flyleaf. I don’t remember the context in which she made this statement, but after several years of thinking about it, I still think it’s quite profound.

“The important thing is to say ‘yes,’ one step at a time.” That’s what she said. When challenged to go live in a hard place, the important thing is to say “yes.” When asked to raise their children far from their grandparents, the important thing is to say “yes.” When asked in a particular situation to live in obedience to Jesus’ teaching, the important thing is to say “yes.”

We really do need perspective. It helps us live out the marathon that is our Christian journey. We need to understand that every “yes” and every “no” have consequences. Perspective helps us know about and live with a “big picture” mindset.

But, “one step at a time” is how we live out the “big picture” calling that God places on our lives. We live one step at a time, and we often don’t know where the next step might take us. Choosing to say “yes” to God one step at a time becomes the order of our lives. Every “yes” to God’s will makes the next “yes” easier. Obedience and a willingness to follow God becomes the norm of our lives. That can only happen when we “delight to do [His] will” one step at a time.

The words to a song we’ve sung at First Baptist have rattled around in my head this week. I think they go with the statement from my Christian worker friend.

Yes, Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way,
Yes, Lord, yes, I will trust You and obey.
When Your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree,
And my answer will be yes, Lord.

When the psalmist said “I delight to do Your will, O Lord,” he might have been thinking “the important thing is to say “yes,” one step at a time.” – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor First Baptist of Toms River and is our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor.

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Kings 16-18; Luke 22:47-71

Think About This: If you knew that only a few would care that you came, would you still come? If you knew that those you loved would laugh in your face, would you still care? If you knew that the tongues you made would mock you, the mouths you made would spit at you, the hands you made would crucify you, would you still make them? Christ did. Max Lucado

“Hope for the Helpless”

“But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14)

Have you ever felt helpless? Perhaps you’ve experienced the helplessness that comes after giving in to temptation. Or, maybe you’ve known helplessness in just trying to live consistently for Jesus. All of us have gone through those times when helplessness and hopelessness pervade our souls.

The psalmist knew those same kinds of feelings. He understood that those who love God will experience times of helplessness that come from trouble and grief. He also knew that God takes notice of those times.
That knowledge puts hope in our hearts.

Too many of us who fight for freedom fail to anticipate the hard times.
We think all the hard times happened prior to coming to Christ. It only makes sense to us that coming to Christ should make everything better.
That kind of thinking sets us up for failure.

Reality sets in pretty quickly. While the salvation “event” brings hope and assurance, salvation as “the journey” gets difficult and complicated. When we hit the sharp curves and the pot holes, we wonder what happened to the joy and peace we knew when we first came to faith. We discover the “trouble and grief” of which the psalmist wrote. With the “trouble and grief” comes the sense of helplessness.

This verse from Psalm 10 isn’t about the helplessness, though. Rather, it’s about our gracious God who knows about trouble, grief and helplessness. He notices! He helps! Everything we need to combat the helplessness that invades our souls is found in God and His grace.

Freedom Fighters hear these words and respond like the helpless of the psalmist day responded. We commit ourselves to God. Doing that assures us of His help when trouble, grief and helplessness assault us. All of us who love freedom in Christ need to understand the realities of walking with Jesus. Trouble grief and helplessness will come. How we respond determines the level of freedom we’ll know during those times.

“But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14) – Pastor John Strain is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River

God’s WORD for YOU: 1 Kings 14-15; Luke 22: 31-46

Think About This: He does not need to transplant us into a different field, but right where we are, with just the circumstances that surround us, he makes his sun to shine and his dew to fall upon us, and transforms the very things that were before our greatest hindrances into the chiefest and most blessed means of our growth. No difficulties in your case can baffle him, no dwarfing of your growth in years that are past, no apparent dryness of your inward springs of life, no crookedness or deformity in any of your past development, can in the least mar the perfect work that he will accomplish, if you will only put yourselves absolutely into his hands and let him have his own way with you. –
Hannah Whitall Smith

GOD THE ALL SUFFICIENT ONE

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew
6:21

Several years ago a friend of mine gave me a book that I have treasured in my devotional library. It is called THE VALLEY OF VISION and it is a collection of Puritan prayers. I am rereading it this month and have been blessed again at the depth at which these men talked to God.

I read this one this morning and it spoke volumes to my heart:

O God whose will conquers all,

There is no comfort in ANYTHING apart from enjoying You, and being engaged in Your service; You are ALL in all, and all enjoyments are what to me You make them, and no more. I am well pleased with Your will, whatever it is, or should be in all respects. And if You bid me decide for myself in any affair, I would choose to refer ALL to You, for you are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss, as I am in danger of doing.

I rejoice to think that ALL things are at YOUR disposal, and it delights me to leave them there. Then prayer turns wholly into praise, and all I can do is to adore and bless YOU!

What shall I give YOU for all Your benefits? I am in a strait betwixt go, knowing not what to do; I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer, and can only rejoice that You do all, that none in heaven or on earth shares Your honor. I can of myself do nothing to glorify Your blessed name, but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body You.

I know that You are the author and finisher of faith, that the whole work of redemption is Yours alone, that every good work or thought found in me is the effect of Your power and grace, that Your sole motive in working in me to will and to do if for Your good pleasure.

O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much about man’s creaturely power and goodness, when, if You did not hold back every moment, we should be devils incarnate. This, by bitter experience, You have taught me concerning myself.” Amen

Powerful prayer! THE VALLEY OF VISION is available from the KESWICK BOOK AND GIFT SHOP. Call today and order a copy. It will bless your heart.
(732-350-1187 ext. 31) – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: 2 Kings 12-13; Luke 22:1-30

Think about this: “Oh, see God’s lovely rainbow!” said Daddy to his tiny daughter. “Yes, Daddy, He must have done it with His left hand.”
“Whatever do you mean?” asked Daddy. “Well, Daddy, Jesus is on His right hand!” Amusing? Yet how true! – it is indeed because Jesus is THERE that the rainbow is HERE! – J. Sidlow Baxter