DYING TO SELF
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24″

When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, and impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you can stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility … and endure it is Jesus endured it, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you no longer care to hear yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up with your heart, THAT IS
DYING TO SELF. Author Unknown

Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 16-18; Mark 13:1-20 (I added this new feature for you to use with your devotional times. If you will commit to reading these passages daily, in one year will read through the entire Bible)

Great Quote: Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles, that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys, that He may sober them; tell Him your longings, that He may purify them; tell Him your dislikes, that He may help you conquer them; talk to Him of your temptations, that He may shield you from them: show Him the wounds of your heart, that He may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell Him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and others. –Francois Fenelon

DEALING WITH “STUFF”

“Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive orchards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen…?” (2 Kings 5:26)

Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, could not bear to see Naaman depart with his gifts of silver, gold, and changes of garments. “As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” But Elisha went with him in spirit and, upon his servant’s return, immediately exposed the covetous act. The prophet’s rebuke came in the form of a question: “Is this a time to receive money, clothing, lands, possessions…”

I’m told that my Italian grandmother from the old country owned two garments. When one was in the wash, she wore the other. Simplicity is a beautiful thing. My wife and I are in the midst of an effort to simplify our family life. At the outset, it became clear that we must address two things; the attic and our wardrobes. I wish I could describe the satisfied feeling I enjoyed as we looked at that very long line of “stuff” out on the street, and waited for the township dump truck. It seems that we can actually come to believe that our life is somehow bound together with that trash we’ve been carrying around for years!

Brothers and sisters, I believe these are the last days before our Lord’s return-I have been convinced of this since early childhood. And I am also convinced that Elisha would pose the very same question to the Church today-“Is this a time to be occupied with ‘stuff’?” No indeed, it is not a time to accumulate, and tend to our possessions. Material possessions can be a great distraction from doing the will of God and the work of the Kingdom. The world lives for the next purchase-the Church must not be of this mind. It is not a time to be focused on our own comfort, prosperity, and security. I am extremely bothered by any teaching in the church that might be characterized as “prosperity teaching.” Jesus did not come to make us prosperous and comfortable!

The Church will never know victorious Christian living until we deal the death-blow to that coveteous spirit of Gehazi which is so prevalent in our culture and in our churches. – Peter Cardillo is the Director of Food Services at America’s KESWICK and the father of a full quiver.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 13-15; Mark 12:28-44

Great quote: Contrition, repentance, acknowledgement of personal responsibility and sorrow over sin should never include massive self-hatred and total self-rejection. God’s conviction points to a specific sin, it is sharp and accurate, going straight to the point where repentance is needed.

Truly understanding this principle will lead you into freedom from your past so you can serve God and His people without the fetters of constantly looking behind. –Katherine Walden

Join us Thursday evening for our monthly Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor Dave Rittinger is our speaker. Call for reservations: 732-350-1187

DELIGHTING IN GOD’S WILL

“…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b RSV)”I delight to do thy will, O my God;” (Psalm 40:8 RSV)

We all live-most of us do not wish to die-and yet, there is no driving desire to go on living either! We rise in the morning, accepting of the new day. We do not dread the day, but neither do we relish it with a sense of anticipation. The new day is part duty, part chore, and mostly routine-there is no joyous bounding into the day. The day, and any opportunity it may hold, is not a delight to us- we embark on the new day with resignation. Something is wrong. Many go on in this way for years, having settled for a quality of “life” that is far below that which is possible for the believer.

We do not doubt that God is there, or that He loves us. It isn’t a crisis of faith (theologically), and yet it is a crisis… a quiet and prolonged crisis. In our best moments we are very aware that this “wilderness experience” is hardly the “life more abundant” that Jesus came to give! In our heart we know we must enter more fully into this gift of life, and that something is dreadfully wrong. For me, a deep breath of spring air is enough to remind me of what has been lost from my childhood- there was joy and anticipation in those days. What is the answer? How do we get this quality of life that Jesus speaks of?

For the child of God, abundant life comes only when we are obedient to the will of God- David said “I delight to do thy will O my God.” And delight is just the missing ingredient for many of us. There is a delight that comes when we are obedient to the light that we have.
Simple obedience can turn a life of plodding resignation into a life that is a daily delight! Begin to read God’s Word again with a single eye towards obedience. Then, go into the day with an obedient child-like heart, and let’s see what God does! — Peter Cardillo is the Director of Food Services at America’s KESWICK and a graduate of Wheaton College.

Today’s devotional is from our daily devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE and is available from the KESWICK BOOK AND GIFT SHOP (732-350-1187)

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 12:1-27

Great Quote: Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your Saviour, your guide? If He is, you don’t need to search any further for security. Elisabeth Elliot

Join us this Thursday evening, March 13th, for our Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor Dave Rittinger, Senior Pastor of Whiting Bible Church, will be our speaker. Please call today and make your reservation (732-350-1187).

The “If-Then Concept” for Life

We’ve talked about Wisdom Way and Foolishness Boulevard in our thinking about Proverbs 2:1-20 and the “If-Then Concept.” I’d like you to think with me today about those two streets as metaphors for our lives.

Some who read these Freedom Fighters know they’ve spent far too long on Foolishness Boulevard at great personal price. It’s not an easy road, even though the devil would make us think it is. We’ve learned the consequences of traveling on a road devoted to all the things that do us damage rather than good. Foolishness Boulevard is a metaphor for lives lived filled with wrong choices and the determination to do things “our way.”

Then there is Wisdom Way. It, too, is not an easy road. It’s narrow, sometimes steep and not without unexpected curves and bumps. It offers entirely different consequences-or should I say blessings? God promises those who choose Wisdom Way that it is a protected way that will keep us from being seduced by the deceitful attractions of the world.

It’s all about the “If-Then Concept.” It’s all about choices. It’s all
about thinking before we make the choices. Proverbs 9 picks up on the
theme of wisdom and foolishness. Read verses 1-18. Compare vss. 4-6 with vss. 16-18. Solomon shows us the metaphor clearly. IF you choose the Wisdom Way, THEN you’re promised life. IF you choose Foolishness Boulevard, THEN you’re promised death.

I urge you to think about the “If-Then Concept” as you make choices in your life. I urge you to think about the “If-Then Concept” when temptation comes knocking at your door. I urge you to think about the “If-Then Concept” when you make big and little decisions. Even if we walk on Wisdom way today, the detours that put us on Foolishness Boulevard can come quickly. You can wander from the way easily if you live carelessly and without thinking about the consequences of your choices and decisions.

Choose hunger for God, His Word and His way. Make Him and His teaching the priority of your life. The more you choose Wisdom Way the safer and more secure you are.

I pray God will enable us to choose Wisdom Way. IF we do, THEN we’ll know freedom and safety. IF we don’t choose that way, THEN we’ll know bondage and danger. May God help us choose the right way! – Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Toms River and our weekend Freedom Fighter contributor

Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7-9; Mark 11:19-33

Great Quote: The Christian who is not committed to a group of other believers for praying, sharing, and serving, so that he is known, as he knows others, is not an obedient Christian. He is not in the will of God. However vocal he may be in his theology, he is not obeying the Lord. Ray Ortland

The Assurance of “THEN” in the “If-Then Concept”

Part of what we learn in a regular reading of Proverbs is the difference between conditional and unconditional promises and/or teaching. Some things God promises are unconditional. Others are distinctly conditional.

We continue our walk through Proverbs 2:1-20 (I’m expanding the reading from last weekend.) today. Bill Welte didn’t choose the name “Freedom Fighter” just because it sounds good. His goal in beginning this daily encouragement was simple: he wanted men like you and me to walk in the freedom that comes from knowing Christ.

Proverbs 2 assures us that freedom is available. That’s what the “THEN”
is all about. We must understand, however, that the “THEN” is conditional on the “IF.” I suggest to you this morning that the effort involved in pursuing the “IF” more than pays for itself in the promises that come with the “THEN.”

IF we live out the “IF’s,” Solomon assures of that we’ll live on Wisdom Way instead of Foolishness Boulevard. We’ll understand the “fear of the Lord” and find the “knowledge of God.” The Lord will give us “wisdom,” that godly ability to live life skillfully. But, it gets better than that.

Take time to read vss. 10-20 of Proverbs 2. The Wisdom Writer begins that section by saying, “When wisdom enters your heart. . . .” You can change that “when” with another “IF.” Wisdom, God’s wisdom, operative in our lives brings “discretion.” Solomon promises that discretion will preserve us or protect us from evil. It will help us see what is good and what isn’t good. Discretion empowers us to make good choices. Now, notice the result of verse 10. “IF” wisdom enters our hearts and brings discretion to our lives, we “may walk in the way of goodness and keep to the paths of righteousness.”

To really grasp the assurance of “THEN,” read the verses between verse 10 and verse 20.” IF we live out the “If-Then” concept by hearing, receiving and crying out for God’s Word and wisdom, THEN we’ll live with the assurance that comes when the fear of the Lord, wisdom and discretion govern our lives.

That’s what being a Freedom Fighter is all about! – Pastor John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Tom’s River

Today’s Scripture Reading – Deuteronomy 4-6; Mark 11:1-18

Great Quote: “There is one thing I have noticed as I have traveled in different countries; I never have known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord’s people are divided. Unity is the one thing that we must have for the Holy Spirit to work in our midst.” Dwight L. Moody

Taking Proverbs For A Walk With Jesus

“My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck; Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:1-4

Proverbs seems to be one of these books in the Bible that you can open up at any page and there will be something that you need to look at for yourself. The one thing that I have come to understand is God’s word is a living word for everyday living and walking. In those times of self-doubt or self reflection a good Proverb can come in quite handy.

Doesn’t the above Proverb sound like instruction given straight from above? Just picture the Savior saying this to the men that followed Him.

What I’ve learned to look at from my study of Proverbs is in the first 9 chapters of Solomon’s wisdom. How Jesus and Paul were able to use the illustration of marriage to speak of the relationship between God and His children. Solomon wanted his son to marry a woman of honor, like Jesus, the bridegroom, wants to marry His church, the bride. An honorable woman lifts up the spiritual head of the family and in turn he lifts her up. The more we do not forget the law and keep His commands in our hearts; this relationship brings glory unto God.

As I walk this path that God has set before me, it’s what I see or have seen that has brought to me the notion of experience dictating the application of Proverbs.

“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil
with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19

As a Colony man this was a Proverb that you could hear over and over again when it got around that a follow Colony man had gone astray. I can also take this upon myself in those times when things are going wrong and I have been a bit of a braggart and hopefully the conviction of His spirit will re-direct my steps.

In closing, Proverbs are an everyday, waking up by being mindful of and walking the path with, way of life. Within Solomon’s wisdom is a code of conduct and also within his wisdom are the “what happens” when we stray and go on our own. It is defiantly clear that picking the wrong woman will bring nothing but harm and the woman who works at honoring will be honored.

Jesus wants His church to conduct itself not only obediently but wisely. He wanted us to understand what folly would do to His church and to the Father. A Proverb a day may keep the adversary away but it will most certainly help us with “just a closer walk with Thee.” – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Today’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1-3; Mark 10:32-52

Great Quote: To give God the service of the body and not of the soul – is hypocrisy. To give God the service of the soul and not of the body is sacrilege. To give God neither is atheism and to give God both is worship. Anonymous

FORGIVE TO BE FORGIVEN

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12

The one area that so many of us get stuck is in the area of forgiveness.
We tend to remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember! Some of us have held on to stuff in our hearts that should have been long forgiven, and God makes it very plain that an unforgiving heart leads to a bitter heart which will eventually affect every area of our lives.

Dr. Henry Blackaby in his devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD – THE DEVOTIONAL, writes: “Few things are more precious to receive than forgiveness. After carrying the burden of our sin, it is wonderfully freeing to know that the one we have wronged has completely forgiven us.

Jesus told His disciples to ask God for forgiveness every time they prayed. Jesus knew that we would daily incur debts against God, as we inevitably fall short of God’s standard. A day does not go by that we do not need to ask God to remove our debt against Him.

Jesus warned that we should expect forgiveness from God as we forgive those who sin against us, for God will forgive us in the same we that we forgive others (Matthew 6:15). God’s nature is forgiveness (Exodus 34:6-7). If we are to be His disciples, we must follow HIS example. If God will forgive our most relentless enemy, we can do nothing less. Jesus did not say that certain offenses are unworthy of our forgiveness. We have no biblical excuse for allowing unforgiveness in our hearts.

If you choose to withhold forgiveness from someone, your worship and prayers are futile (Matthew 5:23-24). Ask God to make you aware of those dark corners in your life where you are bearing resentment. A keen awareness of your own need for forgiveness will put the offenses of others in their proper light. Ask God to make you like Christ so that, even when you are being persecuted, you can pray, ‘Father, forgive them.’

What about it? Are you holding on to an offense that needs to be forgiven? Are you holding out on forgiving a brother? Get on your knees this morning, guys. Forgiveness = freedom! – Bill Welte is the President and CEO of America’s KESWICK.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 26-28; Mark 8

Great Quote: But, you object, a heart like mine can offer Christ so little – at best, so poor and pinched and stingy a hospitality and such meager fare; for I
have nothing worthy of Him to set before Him, only a kind of affection, real enough at times, but which, at others, can and does so easily forget; only a will, quite unreliable, deplorably unstable; only a faith that is the merest shadow of what His real friends mean when they speak about faith, I know. But, there was once a garret up under the roof, a poor, bare place enough. There was a table in it, and there were some benches, and a water-pot; a towel, and a basin in behind the door, but not much else- a bare, “unhomelike” room. But the Lord Christ entered into it. And, from that moment, it became the holiest of all, where souls innumerable ever since have met the Lord God, in High glory, face to face. And, if you give Him entrance to that very ordinary heart of yours, it too He will transform and sanctify and touch with a splendour of glory. Arthur John (A. J.) Gossip

A THREEFOLD VICTORY

“… fashioned like unto his glorious body…” (Philippians. 3:20-21)

The motto of America’s Keswick states that it is a place and a ministry “where God speaks to hearts and transforms lives.” Through the years thousands have come to Keswick with such a desire, a need and an expectation. Many have heard the message of hope and have expressed hope in the message. Some have asked – “What is the key to a transformed life? Is there such a thing as a victorious life?” Others have referred to “the formula” for such a changed and victorious life as “a secret.”

For some the “victorious life” appears to be a mystery solved by only a few. Yet “victory” is the theme of our Bible and the provision of our Lord. Examine our verses for the day as an illustration.

“For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21)

Here is a threefold victory. First, our Lord shall “change our vile body.” We may have difficulty in acknowledging that our body is vile, that it is humiliated to the degree of such serious need. We may have difficulty in understanding that our Lord can in fact change such a body. We may call it a “key” but it is certainly no “secret,” that acknowledging both our need and His provision are essential to victorious living.

Secondly, our Lord shall “fashion” our new body “…like unto His glorified body….” The design of our life belongs to Him. That must be our expectation and our willingness. We must cooperate but not dictate. When He begins to perfect the changes inherent in our redemption and along the lines of His design, we must give to Him our Will but not our opinion.

Thirdly, our Lord shall “subdue” our changed body – and “all things unto Himself.” If we are to have victory now we acknowledge our de-crowning in submission to His subduing. That is grace on His part, yieldingness on ours, and victory in all. — Robert L. Alderman is Minister-at-Large at Shenandoah Baptist and a member the Keswick Board of Reference

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21

Great Quote: “We must, therefore, diligently observe that from the beginning God has sent into the world a two-fold word or message, the Law and the Gospel. These two messages must be rightly distinguished one from the other and properly understood, for besides the Scriptures there never has been a book written to this day, not even by a saint, in which these two messages, the Law and the Gospel, have been properly explained and distinguished, and yet so very much depends on such an explanation.
The Law is that word by which God teaches what we shall do, as for instance, the Ten Commandments… Now, the word Gospel…proclaims the blessed doctrine of life eternal by divine promise, and offers grace and forgiveness of sin: Therefore, works do not belong to the Gospel, as it is not a law; only faith belongs to it, as it is altogether a promise and an offer of divine grace. Whosoever now believes the Gospel will receive grace and the Holy Spirit. This will cause the heart to rejoice and find delight in God, and will enable the believer to keep the law cheerfully, without expecting reward, without fear of punishment, without seeking compensation, as the heart is perfectly satisfied with God’s grace, by which the law has been fulfilled. But all these promises from the beginning are founded on Christ, so that God promises no one this grace except through Christ alone.” Martin Luther, Sermon on Matthew 11

Loving Others With Agape

I have been stretched and pulled over the years to love my son who is a homosexual. At first this had been devastating to me. Now almost 7 years later God is still using this in my life to conform me to His image. More then a year ago God asked me if I was loving my son. Yes, I was. I love the sinner but not the sin was my mantra. I was content with that. I felt that I was making a choice to love that God would be pleased with. This sinner is my son after all. Then God asked if I loved his partner. No I did not. I never meet him nor spoke to him. God asked me if that was love. Here is where I found out where my love ended and God’s agape love needed to begin. A while after this I called my son repenting of how little I truly loved him and how I never loved his partner and I needed to love them better. I began to reach out, however awkwardly. This relationship ended and I felt relieved to not have to be stretched in this area.

Forward to Christmas. Michael wanted to come home for Christmas. Great! Then came the question, can I bring a friend? God apparently wanted me to love more-again! I was afraid and I was hesitant but within boundaries, yes, they could come home for Christmas. I prayed to have the love of Jesus for them. I prayed for that love because my flesh can’t manufacture the love I would need. To make a long story short I found myself loving my son and this other young man more then I thought I ever could. I delighted in seeing that my son has matured a bit. I delighted in the respect I was given. I delighted in their company! I delighted that God will give us this agape love when we allow Him to love through us.
Now as I am studying God’s love in a bible study I realize some of what God has done in and for me. As I look at God’s agape love I read: “Agape love is not fueled by the desire of its recipient; it is fueled by the need. For God so (agape) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Agape means God did what humanity most needed- He pursued in us that which was highest and best.” Pg 59- Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore Weren’t you and I in the same position as my son and his friend are now? Weren’t we desperately needy? Needy of the agape of God? God’s agape wasn’t given to me because I desired it. “But God demonstrates His own love (agape) toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 How and why could I demonstrate love to Michael and his friend? Because just like me I had a desperate need for a Savior and they need Jesus too.