GOD IS

I am really getting churned up with all the crazy stuff floating around out there about “conversations” people are having about their faith in God. One of my good friends shared with me that a long-time friend of mine was discussing a book that they were reading which is filled with erroneous teaching. This respected friend made the statement, “I don’t have to believe these foundational truths to be a Christian!” Yikes! That is a pretty scary statement, my friend.

Which foundational truth is up for grabs? The virgin birth? The resurrection? The atonement of our sins? Apparently in a growing number of circles, truth is just not truth anymore. One of the reasons we are drifting is because we have drifted away from God’s Word!

Woodrow Kroll in his new book, TAKING BACK THE GOOD BOOK, reminds us that the Bible does not PROVE God, but reveals him, tells us what he is like, and what his plans and promises are for us. Listen to just a few FOUNDATIONAL truths he shares:

“GOD IS PERSONAL – he is not a thing, power force, or influence, but a living personal being (Jeremiah 10:10).

GOD IS ETERNAL – he has no beginning or end. ‘From everlasting to everlasting you are God.’ (Psalm 90:2)

GOD IS INDEPENDENT – ultimately every other living being is dependent on God, but he is independent of his own creation (Acts 17:25).

GOD IS HOLY – he is separate from all others, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory (Ex. 15:11). There is none holy like the Lord (1 Sam. 2:2).

GOD IS JUST – the Lord is a God of justice. Righteousness and justice are the very foundation of his throne (Isaiah 30:18; Psalm 97:2).

GOD IS PERFECT – in every sense of the word, his character, knowledge, judgments, Word, and more are all perfect (Romans 11:33; Psalm 19:7).

GOD IS SOVEREIGN – he is the sole and supreme ruler of the universe and nothing whatsoever is outside of his control (Psalm 135:6; Ephesians
1:11)

What a mighty God we have! In a day when truth is slipping through our fingers, I am glad that the GOD OF THE BIBLE IS TRUTH -not just in the past or in the future – BUT FOR TODAY! Revel today in His character as we worship Him on this Lord’s day.

Great Quote: “If you are a Christian, you should have the Bible running out of your ears. Most people only read a certain number of verses for some devotional thoughts, not to know what the book is actually saying.” – J. I. Packer

Join us this week for our Prophecy Conference with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. See the website for details: www.americaskeswick.org

THE PROPER ATTITUDE OF THE CHRISTIAN UNDER GRACE “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24b

I came across this list from one of the Puritans that was very timely even for our day concerning be a “grace-filled” Christian:

1. To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.

2. To refuse to make resolutions and vows, for that is to trust in the flesh.

3. To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth.

4. To testify of God’s goodness all the time.

5. To be certain of God’s future favor; yet to be ever more tender in conscience toward Him.

6. To rely on God’s chastening hand as a mark of kindness.

7. A Christian under grace has no burdens regarding himself; but many about others.

From His Victorious Indwelling by Nick Harrison (Zondervan)

Something to think about! How would you say you are doing in terms of living a life a victory?

Great Quote: Sinners are not saved until they trust the Savior, and saints aren’t delivered until they trust the Deliverer. God has made both possible through the Cross of His Son. – Lewis Sperry Chafer

Our PROPHECY WEEK begins tomorrow evening with Pastor Dave Rittinger and then Dr. Jimmy DeYoung throughout the week. We still have some rooms left. Call today and make your reservations! 732-350-1187

JESUS WANTS TO BE YOUR LIFE

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13

This is a classic devotional in helping you understand the message of victorious Christian living. It is written by Charles Trumbull, one of the great speakers in the early days of the “Keswick” movement. Let the words burn into your heart and mind today.

“Jesus Christ does not want to be our HELPER. He wants to be YOUR LIFE! He does not want us to work FOR Him. He wants us to let HIM do HIS work THROUGH us, using us as a pencil to write with – better still, using us as one of the fingers of His hand.

When our life is not only Christ’s but Christ, our life will be a WINNING life; FOR HE CANNOT FAIL! And a winning life is a FRUIT-BEARING life, a SERVING life. It is after all only a small part of life, and a wholly negative part, to overcome; we must also bear fruit in character and service if Christ is our life. And we shall – because Christ is our life.

“He cannot deny himself”; He came ‘not to be ministered unto, but to minister to.’ An utterly new kind of service will be ours now, as we let CHRIST serve others THROUGH us, using us. And this fruit-bearing and service, habitual and constant, must all be by faith in Him; our works are the result of HIS life in us; not the condition, or the secret, or the cause of that Life.

The conditions of this receiving Christ as the fullness of our life are simply two – after, of course, our personal acceptance of Christ as our Savior – through His shed blood and death as our Substitute and Sin-Bearer – from guilt and consequences of our sin.

1. Surrender absolutely and unconditionally to Christ as Master of all that we are and all that we have, telling God that we are now ready to have His whole will done in our entire life, at every point, no matter what it costs.

2. Believe that God has set us WHOLLY free from the LAW of sin – not WILL do this, but HAS done it. Upon this second step, the quiet act of faith, all now depends. Faith must believe God in entire absence of any feeling or evidence. For God’s Word is safer, better, surer than any EVIDENCE of His Word. We are to say, in blind, cold faith if need be, ‘I KNOW that my Lord Jesus IS meeting ALL my needs NOW (even my need of faith), because His grace IS sufficient for ME!’

And remember that Christ HIMSELF is better than any of His blessings; better than the power, or the victory, or the service that He grants. Christ creates spiritual power; but Christ is BETTER than that power. HE IS GOD’s best! We may have Christ, yielding to Him in such completeness and abandonment of self that it is no longer we that live, but CHRIST THAT LIVES IN US! Will you thus take Him? – Charles G. Trumbull

This is one of those devotions that you should tuck away in your Bible and re-read often. This is the heart of the message that we have shared at America’s KESWICK for over 109 years! CHRIST IS YOUR LIFE!

Great Quote: The moment I consider Christ and myself as two, I am gone.”
Martin Luther

LETTING YOUR SPIRITUAL INSTINCT TAKE OVER

“For if these qualities are yours and increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:8)

I love these reminders from the Lord about living in victory! This devotional this morning was timely and powerful:

“A Christian has an instinctive push towards righteousness because of his new nature. Just as his OLD nature drives him to temptation and wrong, so his new nature moves him toward goodness. I think evangelical Christians tend to give the OLD NATURE too much attention and room; they seem to EXPECT to sin and fall, and keep on doing so. But we should also expect to SUCCEED and be VICTORIOUS over sin because that is the bent of the new man.

God’s sees is in us (1 John 3:9). Seed means GROWTH and expression, and God’s expression is always holy. I am sure many believers stumble and fall, and yet ‘better things’ that ‘accompany salvation (Hebrews 6:9) are expected of us. The beautiful and yearned for ‘fruit of the Spirit’
(Galatians 5:22) is set in exact contrast to the ‘fruit of the flesh’; yet both are instinctive and, if given a chance, will abound in us. Which fruit will it be? Paul says that God ‘began a good work’ in us He will keep bringing it to maturity in us until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6). There is a determinism in the new man that is difficult to deny!

As any gardener knows, fresh seeds dropped into the ground must be given a chance. Weeds must be removed, the grounds must be prepared, and sufficient moisture and sun must be applied. Do that for the new man, the Bible cries out, and see what will happen! The fruit of the new nature, says Peter, are many and attractive (2 Peter 1:1-9). But we have to make them ‘abound,’ that is, allow them to MULTIPLY in us. If we let them SHRIVEL or ‘lack’ we are blind and forgetful.

In short, I have all the equipment I need for a triumphant, godly, fruitful life. That is God’s part. My part is to make room for it, clear the rubbish away, and let the spiritual instinct take over from there!” from DAILY WITH THE KING (Moody Press)

Good word for today! I trust that today you will not only THINK VICTORY! But live it!

Great quote: Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others. Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again. Anonymous

Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines courage as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.” The way I think about courage is to have this quality of mind and spirit to face difficulty, pain, etc. despite fear. In other words, courage enables us to press forward in a dangerous or painful circumstance without fear keeping you from moving forward.

Courage allows for fear – it just doesn’t allow it to control one’s activity. If you have ever watched the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” You will agree that the men who were in those landing crafts on Omaha beach, as they approached the beach were afraid. They reasoned that they may not make it back home alive – but that didn’t stop them. They were courageous and pressed forward to take the beach – despite their fear and the bullets flying all around them.

I think Joshua may have felt the same way. He had spied the land of promise before. He knew what the occupants of the land looked like. He also knew of all the grumblings of the Israelites. Now he has the responsibility to cross the Jordan, claim enemy territory as Promised Land for God’s people, and destroy the enemies of God. Any reasonable man would be even the slightest bit fearful. But Joshua’s faith in the person and promises of God empowered him to be “Strong and very courageous.” He pushed through his fear and crossed the Jordan. His courage was based on his trust in God – not his own strength.

How about us? Is there something that fear may be keeping us from advancing the Kingdom of God? Press through with the courage that comes from believing the promises and character of the God who will never leave us nor forsake us! From Pastor Mike Woods – Director of
Addiction Recovery Ministries for Men/America’s KESWICK

Great quote: “God will comfort us, but He will never coddle us. He will engage us, but He will never manipulate us. He will provide for us more than we ever could dream of, but He will never overindulge us. And whether we like it or not … maturity of the heart is synonymous with failure, pain, and powerlessness.” – Stephen James & David Thomas

NEWS FLASH: We have some empty rooms this summer that we’d like to fill. We are offering a 75% discount for Prophecy Week, Week #1 and Week #4. This is a great way for you to experience a week at America’s KESWICK at a great savings. Check out the brochure on our website: www.americaskeswick.org or call for information: 732-350-1187!

ARE YOU FULLY SURRENDERED?

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

This devotional was a special encouragement to me this morning. I trust it will be to you as well.

“God is looking for men whose hearts are firmly fixed on Him and who will continually trust Him for all He desires to do with their lives. God is ready and eager to work more powerfully than ever through His people, and the clock of the centuries is striking the eleventh hour.

The world is watching and waiting to see what God can do through a life 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 that 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.

There is no limit to what God can do through you, provided you do not seek your own glory. George Mueller, at more than ninety years of age, in an address to ministers and other Christian workers, said, ‘I was converted in November 1825, but I didn’t come to the point of TOTAL SURRENDER OF MY HEART until four years later, in July 1829. It was then I realized my love for money, prominence, position, power, and worldly pleasure was gone. God, and He alone, became my all in all. By God’s grace, my understanding of His sufficiency has remained to this day, making me an exceedingly happy man. It has led me to care only about the things of God. And so, dear believers, I kindly ask if you have totally surrendered your heart to God, or is there something in your life you refuse to release, in spite of God’s call?’

‘Before the point at which I surrendered my life, I read a little of the Scriptures but preferred other books. Yet since that time, the truth He has revealed to me of Himself has become and inexpressible blessing! Now I can honestly say from the depth of my heart that God is an infinitely wonderful Being. Please, never be satisfied until you too can express from your innermost soul, ‘God is an infinitely wonderful Being!'” – From Streams in the Desert (Zondervan)

Will you make that your prayer today? Are you willing to become an extraordinary Christian? Think about it!

Great Quote: “Happy is he who has learned to look BEYOND the actions of men to the power that controls them all, and to receive all – favor, persecution, aid, or hindrance, from the Lord. That soul has acquired the secret perfect peace amid the confusion and turmoil of the world, as well as in the presence of Satan’s power.” Edward Dennett

Unselfishness

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (NIV)

The next leadership characteristic in the acrostic JJ DID TIE BUCKLE is the quality of unselfishness. When you’ve been paddling for a few hours and your shoulder muscles fatigue from such usage, the thoughts begin to creep in, “Hey, why don’t I let the other guy paddle for a while.” “I did my share of paddling – I deserve a break!” This is NOT the attitude of unselfishness. Unselfishness sees things just the opposite. The thoughts of unselfishness are more like, “Hey, let me give the other guy an easier time by paddling for him. For the men in our group who had small children with them, some of the men gave them a break by taking their sons on their canoe for them. It was a clear demonstration of unselfishness. Some guys rotated taking turns in being the last canoe in the group to make sure everyone in front of them was OK.

I also observed this dynamic of unselfishness displayed this past week. I had a unique opportunity to teach a biblical counseling course to a number of seminary students from Seoul, South Korea. I have taught this course in my church and will be teaching it again in the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies in the fall semester. What I observed among the students from Korea was an attitude of unselfishness. I was welcomed as their guest. They were gracious in making sure I shared their food with them (This was a very interesting experience). I was treated with honor as their “professor.”

The Apostle Paul instructs us in these above verses that in humility, we are to consider others better than ourselves. We must seek out what will benefit others over what will benefit us. When we act this out, there must be no hidden agendas, no ulterior motives — Only a heart that seeks to reflect the attitude of Christ — Which is what Paul writes in verse 5, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” The sin of addiction, at its core, is selfish. Those in addiction only seek out what benefits themselves rather than others. As we go through this day, seek to serve others be seeking out what will benefit them. Pastor Mike Woods – Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries for Men at America’s KESWICK.

GREAT QUOTE: Spread out your petitions before God, and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” The sweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me. Dwight L Moody

How do all these crazy events taking place in our world fit into Bible prophecy? Find out next week during our Prophecy Week with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. Call today for reservations. We are running a 25% discount for our Freedom Fighter family. 800-453-7942.

You have received this email either because you either subscribed via www.americaskeswick.org, or you filled out a subscription card at America’s KESWICK to receive the daily Freedom Fighters email.

You are subscribed to this list as ##L@##H. If you do not want to continue your subscription, reply to freedomfighters-unsubscribe@lists.americaskeswick.org.

THE DISCIPLINE OF DECISION MAKING
“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him'”. (1 Kings 18:21)

All of us face decisions that we need to make on a daily basis. Some are big, some are minor. But needless to say, men who THINK VICTORY want to make decisions that are in alignment with God’s will. Check out today’s devotional on this important principle:

“The process that brought Jesus to me in the first place goes on long after I trusted His as Savior. The difference is not in the nature of the decision, but in the nature of thing sacrificed. When I yielded to the saviorship of Christ, I sacrificed my sins; now in my Christian walk I must keep sacrificing those things that keep me from being my best for Him. The ‘pearl of great price’ makes this clear. The merchant sold his good things in order to obtain the best thing (Matthew 13:45-46).

I must learn to do business in my Christian life, to ‘exchange’ things as Jesus did. ‘IN EXCHANGE for the joy lying around Him, He endured the Cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus saw what was ULTIMATELY GOOD and surrendered it for something INFINITELY better. Daily I will be confronted with a GOOD that must be exchanged for a BETTER; otherwise I invite spiritual stagnation. The discipline of decision making does not end the moment I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. It is in the process of making decisions that God weans me more and more from what I am to what I was meant to be.

To be able to use that which is better I need insight and willpower. Insight tells me the difference between the “common” and the “holy” (Ezekiel 22:26y); willpower commits me to it. Thus, my Christian life will always be a series of crises, both major and minor, that will seem very much like the crisis that brought me to Christ. I must forever accept the fact that both birth and growth are traumatic; yet the trauma leads to a burgeoning spiritual life that is positively thrilling! The “things … that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) are for THIS life, not only the life to come, and they make the Christian adventure richer than any sight or sound experienced by the natural man.” DAILY WITH THE KING (Moody Press)

Good words for your consideration today. Enjoy this wonderful Lord’s day. Don’t neglect being with God’s people today!

Great quote: The chief thing is, not to know what God has said we must do, but that God Himself says it to us. It is not the law, and not the book, not the knowledge of what is right, that works obedience, but the personal influence of God and His living fellowship. It is only in the full presence of God that disobedience and unbelief become impossible.
Andrew Murray

TALK WITH THE SHEPHERD

“In vain you rise early, and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Psalm 127:2

“One morning when I woke trying to solve a chess problem that had filled my mind as I had put my head upon my pillow the night before I determined that, henceforth, I should go to sleep thinking of Christ.

As the months past, I discovered that there was much more than a habit involved in this. Here was a proof of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart and mind, controlling even the subconscious element of my life.

Then I learned that I must not merely go to sleep thinking about Christ, but that I must go to sleep in COMMUNION with Him. I began memorizing verses of Scriptures at night and reciting them as I fell asleep. At first these truths were merely objective. ‘His Name shall be called wonderful,’ might be my verse on a certain night. At first I would meditate on this in terms somewhat like think in which I might expound them to an audience – ‘His name is full of wonders’, ‘His name is the name of Jesus, that of the Savior’; ‘He shall save His people from their sins.’

Then there came a change that He brought in my procedure. Those same sentences were altered to the person, number, and tense of fellowship: “Your name is full of wonders”; “Your name is Jesus”, “You are MY Savior”, “You shall continually save me from MY sins.”

Soon He became more real than the inside of my eyelids. I could not see them though they were close to my eyes. Him I learned to know in everything but the touch. And closing one’s eyes with Christ takes away all fear of sleepless nights.

Let others count sheep jumping over a wall; I shall talk with the Shepherd. – Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse – from HIS GLORIOUS INDWELLING (Zondervan)

Good word for this Saturday! Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse was the pastor for many years at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

Great quote: The Shepherd does not ask of thee, faith in thy faith, but only faith in Him: and this He meant in saying, ‘Come unto me’. In light or darkness seek to do His will, and leave the work of faith to Jesus still. Anonymous

BEARING

Colossians 2:6-7 “ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Bearing in this context does not refer to putting up with someone. It refers to how one carries oneself in life. It refers to one’s testimony with the outside world (1Tim. 3:7 – “a good reputation with outsiders”).

Back in my Navy days (or Daze!) We underwent an annual performance evaluation. One aspect that was evaluated was “Military Bearing.” This area evaluated whether you conducted yourself like a military person ought. As a joke, a friend used to carry a single ball bearing in his pocket and called it his military bearing.

Paul reminds us in the above passage that if we claim to know Jesus, our lives out to look like one who knows Jesus. Rooted and built up in Him — a life that is grounded in Christ. We ought to lead a life that is worthy to be called Christian. If people compared your life to the world, would you stand out in contrast to it, or would you blend into it. Hopefully it will stand in contrast to the world. Unfortunately for some, people can’t tell the difference.

Christian Bearing is the ability for the world to see that we’re different. And to stand firm in our beliefs not acquiesce like so many do. Paul encourages us to “Walk in Him;” (NASB) to let our life be a reflection of the life of Christ in all we do. How are we doing with this? Do people see you life as a man of God? Or do they see something that more closely resembles the world? Do you project an aura of godliness? Keep in mind – this has nothing to do with outward appearances (although man does look on them). It has to do with the internal characteristic that flows out into the life of the believer to impact the world for Christ and His Kingdom.

(Mike Woods – Director of Addiction Recovery for Men – America’s KESWICK)

Great Quote: The Shepherd does not ask of thee, faith in thy faith, but only faith in Him: and this He meant in saying, ‘Come unto me’. In light or darkness seek to do His will, and leave the work of faith to Jesus still. Anonymous

Count down to Prophecy Week – Listen to the news and you have to wonder how all this fits into the big picture! Well for answers, why not consider our Prophecy week coming up with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. We are offering a special 25% discount for Freedom Fighters the week of July 22-27. Call today for information: 732-350-1187.