Expect Illumination

06/16/201706/12/2017Leave a comment

“You will show me the path of life,
In Your presence is fullness of joy’
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

-Psalm 16:11

The scene was a hotel late at night. After getting our room key, we took the elevator up to the floor of our room. The strange thing was when the elevator opened, the hallway was pitch black. We went back down to the desk and informed the hotel staff of the problem. He chuckled and said, “Just take a step out of the elevator, and the lights will come on”. Sure enough, as we walked to our room there were sensors that activated the lights and illuminated our path.

I was thinking about this scenario as I read the 2^nd chapter of the book of Acts. It’s quoted of David by Peter when referring to the resurrection of Christ. David prophesies of the “The path of life” and trusts “You will show me.” I wonder if Jesus was thinking of this verse when questioning God and asking “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done”?

I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When the road of faith isn’t too bright and I’m not sure where it leads, the Bible seems to teach that if we “walk as unto the Lord” we should expect illumination. Just like the hotel clerk instructed me to take that step off the elevator and lights will come on, how much more should we walk in the counsel of God and expect divine illumination? Illumination is simply god’s word revealed to us as we need it. How many times do you find yourself in a situation where the Word of God gives a clear picture and can be applied? Being mindful of scripture and always being ready to give a reason for the Hope found in you will turn on the next set of lights and provide you with a clear path.

So, today if you find yourself seeking after God but can see where your next step will take you, walk, and “expect illumination.” Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob Russomano is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events. You can contact him at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org.

The Daily Bible Reading: Lamentations| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “When you live in the light of eternity, your values change.” – Rick Warren

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” – 2 Kings 6:17

Your Door Goes With You

06/15/201706/12/2017Leave a comment

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)

When looking at the opening verse for today, theologian Pastor John Gill thought that the phrase of ‘standing at the door’ may be expressive of the near approach, or sudden coming of Christ to judgement. That His knocking may signify the notice that will be given of it, in order to wake up those in a general sleepiness which has seized all professors of religion. That the hearing of His voice will be in the appearances of things and providences in the world. That opening the door shows the readiness for the coming of Christ and when He comes in He will find hearts with grace on them, His righteousness upon them, ready to be taken into the marriage chamber so that He may shut the door on the rest and leads those who were ready to the fountains of living water (or something along those lines.)

And I will not dispute this interpretation from this fine Baptist preacher, nor will I go into any deep discussion about how the church of Laodicea was the worst of the Seven Churches, neither will I even consider going into a thought process of “End Times” with today’s verse. However, I will say this…that door goes with you. And, if there was a perfect illustration of what I am talking about with that statement, it is the story of Zaccheus, “Le Gros Fromage” of tax collectors in Jericho…and all the people in the House went “HUH?”, now turn to Luke 19:1-10, read it, and let’s continue, shall we?

Jesus shows up at Jericho and, as usual, there is quite a crowd around Him, but there is this small guy named Zaccheus that wants to see what this Jesus is all about. He runs ahead of the crowd and climbs a sycamore tree to get a better look. Now the thing to note here about Zaccheus is that he is considered a traitor to his own community because he was lucky enough to collect tax revenue for the Roman Empire, so if he falls outta that tree NOBODY is gonna care…but Jesus does. “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5b). Knock, knock…if anyone hears My voice and opens the door? What do we read in verse 6? “And he hurried and came down, and received Him gladly.”

The door to Zaccheus’ heart was with him when he climbed that sycamore tree and maybe, just maybe, he had heard about Jesus before He arrived at Jericho. Zaccheus knew who he was to people of the community he lived in (I bet they vocalized it every time he went to go collect the Roman tax from them) and I would venture to say that Zaccheus hated what those people saw him as on the outside of his heart. When Jesus beckons him to come down from an unsafe place the first thing Zaccheus wants to do is repent. “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9a) and since Jesus has become a guest of Zaccheus, there is gonna be a meal. I wonder what it was like for Zaccheus to pass bread to Jesus, then have Jesus pass it back to him? Hmm…. anyway.

Yeah, I know that may have been a stretch for some of you who think that what is read in the Book of Revelation is meant for futuristic events, but for me it was about the door. Jesus has said He is “the door of the sheep” (John10:7-9) but that is when we become His and enter into His rest. WE still have to open the doors of our hearts and let Him in so He can take us to that place of rest.

No matter where we go, the door of our hearts go with us. Once Jesus has made His place in our hearts, we need to remember that many will come knocking wondering what is about our “house” that brings us peace. Now it may take an act of courage (and for some of us an Act of Congress) to open our doors, let them in and show them to the One who brought us that peace, but none the less we shouldn’t and we can’t keep Jesus Christ locked up in our little world. Yes, Jesus made a pit stop at Jericho and found an opened door, but He had to keep going onward to Jerusalem. There was something that needed to be done. I wonder if Zaccheus tagged along? Hmmm…

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 2-3| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “The message of Christ lays hold upon a man with the intention to alter him, to mold him again after another image and make of him something altogether different from what he had been before.” — Aiden Wilson Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

I Reckon…

06/14/201705/18/2017Leave a comment

“Likewise, reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)

When I’m in the company of southern or country folk they tend to use terminology that specifically or exclusively tie back to their roots, and they will naturally have conversation only they can completely decipher. For instance, the phrases “fixin,” “y’all,” “over yonder”, “what in tarnation” and the like, if you are from the south you understand the meanings of these phrases and their intended purposes. ‘Reckon’ is one those words coined by south and has adopted a southern twang and usually means ‘I think’ but is that the same understanding Paul uses here in Romans?

Reckoning in this passage has more sustenance to the meaning than the typically southern undertone. Paul is encouraging the saints, after their gospel revelations, to logically consider yourselves dead to sin. This is bottom-line; you aren’t governed by the old man in addition, we are to consider ourselves new, moreover alive in Christ. This is the logical step after fully understanding God’s grace and love. Reckoning is a process, but it is also can be an event; if you believe.

What would be the level of freedom if the believer whole-heartedly reckoned themselves dead, and allow the new person to fully emerge. Reckoning, or another way put; God’s Word as the bottom line, allows us to explore these endless possibilities of course it will take the yielding to the indwelled Holy Spirit, but it’s worth it. “For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not comparable to the coming glory to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 66-68| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “We must desire to be separated unto the Lord from the world and its evil system. We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. This is true positionally, but it can be made true in our spiritual life only as we yield to the Holy Spirit’s control.” – Theodore Epp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

What is the Need of the Hour?

06/13/201705/01/2017Leave a comment

I believe it is an army of soldiers, dedicated to Jesus Christ, who believe not only that He is God, but that He can fulfill every promise He has ever made, and that there isn’t anything too hard for Him.” ~ Dawson Trotman

Man’s problem is his desire for autonomy. We want so desperately for all of this life to be about ourselves. This desire is so great we will risk everything for autonomy, even our eternal souls. Think of the lies we believe about our origin, worth, and destiny. Consider the blind faith necessary to claim that we are all the product of unguided time and chance? No, this life is not about us, but about the One who created us and to Him belongs all the glory.

Yet, in Our God’s loving-kindness, He has created us to participate in love, as well as all the other aspects of His image and divine nature.

God has provided everything necessary for us to do this (2 Peter 1:3). But it must be done in accordance with His perfect design. This is because He is Holy. We are not messing with trivial things here and we should choose wisely how we proceed. The idea of God is Absolute Perfection… a consuming fire that burns in intense purity. It is not a question of God being right, but that He is the very definition of right, truth, justice, beauty, goodness, fortitude, faith, hope, and love.

Therefore, there is but one way into participating in His design and that is through the “Door” of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is “The Way, The Truth, and The Life, no one comes to the Father (Absolute Perfection) but by Him” (John 14:6). This is why Jesus said, “you must pick up your cross and follow me”, And Paul amplified that by stating, “I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives within me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”(Gal 2:20)

You want to meet the need of the hour? Do you wish to know ‘happiness’ as in contentment in this life? The answer is not found in the pursuit of autonomy, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Lay down your own will and pick up His, by faith, and you will be participating in Our Heavenly Father’s extraordinary love, and it will set your heart free.

Choose wisely

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

(1 John 4:9-10)

Praying 4 U

Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, and grandfather with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is a member of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church.

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 5-9| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Adoration is the spontaneous yearning of the heart to worship, honor, magnify, and bless God. We ask nothing but to cherish him. We seek nothing but his exaltation. We focus on nothing but his goodness.” – Richard J. Foster

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

I WANT TO KNOW HIM (PART 3)

06/12/201705/23/2017Leave a comment

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] … Philippians 3:10 Amplified Bible

A few weeks ago was Memorial Day and I trust you took a few moments to remember the men and women who have served our country to preserve and protect our freedom – freedoms that are fragile right now, but freedom nonetheless.

Today I want to share the second major implication in KNOWING HIM. Last week we looked at knowing Him being a personal experience. Today I want to share about knowing Him being a POWERFUL experience.

Sometimes we describe an event, a message we have heard at church, or a book we have read that impacted our lives as being POWERFUL. Last Sunday our Pastor delivered a POWERFUL word from Romans 9.

I want to suggest to you as we begin this new week of Freedom Fighter blogs, that knowing Jesus is a POWERFUL experience. Paul loves this word “power” and uses if frequently in His letters. In fact he uses it 44 times.

In most cases the word “power” is the word “dunamis” which is the word we get dynamite from. It’s resurrection. It’s not our power – it is power that is His and His alone. The word is used 120 times in the New Testament:

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
First Corinthians 1:22–24: “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Second Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Second Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Ephesians 3:20–21: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Second Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

This is power to live the victorious Christian life through Christ.
This is power to deal with sin in our life.
This is power to combat the enemy of our souls.
This is power to share the Gospel.

Paul wants you and me to experience HIS power in a POWERFUL way. Take a moment right now and ask Him to show you HIS power this week in your life.

Have a blessed week.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 37-40| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: “The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is operative within those who are Christ’s. The resurrection is an on-going thing.” – Leon Morris

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

Do it for Me?

06/09/201706/05/2017Leave a comment

“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory.” – Psalm 115a

There were many times after an ultimatum was given that I either obeyed or I was sent to my room. I, being as stubborn as I am, would often take the latter and spend some time in solitaire. Shortly after the decree was given, I would get a visit from my Grandmother. This would begin with the question “I wish you would listen.” Then she would pull the always dependable request, “Do it for me?” How could I tell Grandma no?

I think sometimes when I look at things from a horizontal scale it’s easy to get caught up in the “why should I” mentality when it comes to acts of service or even just doing the right thing. In a world that rewards us for doing our job with a pay check and benefits that support our lifestyle, why should I do anything for free or for the salary I get? I should at least get the praise I deserve.

I am a believer in the saying “If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.” The attitude of our service is what makes what we do profitable towards the kingdom of God. When I’m not feeling like doing a good work or fulfilling an obligation, I can usually find a reason why I’m not going to give it my best, after all, they don’t pay me enough or I see other people slacking all the time.

It’s not until I begin to think vertically and realize that since I’ve professed to be a follower of Jesus and will be judged as a Christian that I can say “Not unto them, but unto the Lord.” I would often give in to my Grandmothers request because of the kindness and love she has shown me, but my analogy falls apart when I consider the Lord and to look upon Jesus with His nail pierced hands and feet, how can I tell Him no? In a world that is so divided, the one place a person should be able to look and see unselfishness is in the church of Jesus Christ.

My guess is if you are struggling to serve others and to put forth your best efforts at work you probably have horizontal vision. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth”, this verse in Colossians 3 relates to a lot more than our acts of service. It’s a good reminder that we serve a God who made a way for us to be with Him for eternity and provides us with His presence here on earth.

When I live my life with an “Unto the Lord” mentality, I find joy in serving a God who loves me and is calling me to live my life to a higher standard to bring glory to His name. It’s a very good testimony if someone should ask, “Why do you do what you do?” Simply say, “I do everything as unto the Lord”.

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20,21

The Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 47-52| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “If we give God service it must be because He gives us grace. We work for Him because He works in us.” – Charles Spurgeon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

The Grace Test

06/08/201706/05/2017Leave a comment

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)

Some days I just didn’t feel it. Although it is around me in the commonality of everyday life, some days I just didn’t feel it. I’ve read books on it, heard sermons about it, and I do understand that it has been granted to me (though I don’t deserve it), but some days I just didn’t feel it. Living in a world that presses in from all sides will do what it can to squeeze it out of me, but in the long run, God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. So, when it comes to God’s grace in my life, the more you try to hold me down, the more I press on!! Deal with it!! …Wrong viewpoint huh?

In its basic definition, grace refers to a smooth and pleasing way of moving or a polite and thoughtful way of behaving, but these definitions are subjugated to what man considers to be smooth, pleasing, polite, or thoughtful. That’s not to say that man doesn’t have an idea on what grace looks like, it’s just my way of saying man has, at times, a flawed view. Even we Christians can maintain a “graceful value system” that is geared more towards Christian living rather than Christian relationship, and that really holds us back from showing the grace of God in our lives towards others. We tend to show the right and wrongs of life through Biblical wisdom instead of the person of Jesus Christ.

When we look at the events that are occurring around us right now, how many of us are finding ourselves in endless debates over the moral anarchy that has become a clear and present danger? So many of us American Christians lost our minds when the plaques that had the Ten Commandments engraved upon them were removed from courthouses that you would have thought the wrath of God was just around the corner. Yes, the Ten Commandments outline a moral code that reflects the righteousness of a holy God, but all they can do to the current American mindset is bring condemnation. They can pinpoint that we all have a spiritual disease but offers no hope for a cure.

Even in my own personal walk, I was at an unfortunate crossroads with extending the same grace of God that was shown to me. It is like I became this encyclopedia of what is just and fair and wanted EVERYONE around me to understand that we have to maintain our moral compass and that my role was to be that of a watchman. Now, this may have been a good thing when it started, but I got so rigid within the idea of it that when a major storm came I took an unnecessary thrashing for all the wrong reasons and have been left pretty beaten up by the experience. So much so that I have had to sift myself through the epistle of 2^nd Corinthians to see where I went wrong. And there it was, a single word, like a silent whisper in a cave…grace. I forgot to extend grace. C’est la vie….

The attributes of Jesus Christ aren’t hidden from us if we have a right relationship with Him but when we think we got this like I thought I did, all chaos and disorder breaks out. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to, “test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith.” And then he warns ‘Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need first hand evidence, not more hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you.”

The damage from the storm is still in need of repair, I’m disheartened to tell you, but I am better in understanding God’s grace because of it. My guess is that if we don’t do a regular “accounting of ourselves” instead of accounting others, God will do it for us and we better be ready for that day. It is a humbling thing to have been brought down from the watchtower to be sifted like wheat, but God was faithful through it and He once again showed me undeserving grace. If you feel like you are being sifted be of good cheer because “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b) Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 1| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have been delivered from the law. We are no longer required to live under a system of rules that outline right and wrong behavior. We are now free to enjoy life in the Spirit. God promised the Old Testament saints that a day would come when He would write His law on the hearts of His people. That day has come!” — Steve McVey

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

God’s Presentation

06/07/201706/02/2017Leave a comment

Don’t forget about

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP NIGHT TOMORROW AT 6:15PM.

Call today for more information – 800.453.7942

“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:13)

I learned a few things in my short time here in the world, some profound, other general information, and some are just useless facts. One of those things, though I don’t know what category it falls in, is to dress according to the place, situation, occasion, and the like. If I’m in a court room, I must present myself in regards to the court. Job interviews alone require various attire on their own. Sports, parties, work, beach, even going to Church has a… I’m going to leave that alone. A costume for every event is a presentation.

The presentation or the representation of our members are extremely important for ourselves, the gospel, and moreover to glorify Our Lord and Savior Jesus of Christ. The way we present our members demonstrates the impact Christ has had on our life. It gives a lost world hope, a struggling believer a purpose, the name of Jesus magnified.

In my luxurious career in sin, you never had to question my level of depravity. It was obvious and I represented well, how much more should we present these new members to for the kingdom. The New Living translation states it like this, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) We are God’s presentation, masterpiece, artwork; represent.

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 63-65| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: The clothes we wear are what people see. Only God can look on the heart. The outward signs are important. They reveal something of what is inside. If charity is there, it will become visible outwardly, but if you have no charitable feelings, you can still obey the command. Put it on as simply and consciously as you put on a coat. You choose it; you pick it up; you put it on. This is what you want to wear.”

– Elisabeth Elliot

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

Confidence In The Dark

06/06/201706/02/2017Leave a comment

Don’t forget about

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP NIGHT THIS THURSDAY AT 6:15PM.

Call today for more information – 800.453.7942

“Father, Into your care I commit my spirit.” ~ Jesus

At the darkest moment of anguish, bearing the signs of despair, loneliness, and grief… Jesus, by faith, committed what was most precious about Him into the care of our Heavenly Father.

He knew no matter the circumstance, no matter how dark life ‘seemed’ at the moment, Our God is Faithful.

In these moments, words are few. Grief is a silencing entity that takes almost all expression away. The only defense we have against it is our faith in ‘The Sovereign and Holy God who is there.’

As Christ took His final breath and entered death on our behalf, it was His faith in the ‘God who is there’ the sustained Him.

I pray you have this confidence in you that was also in Christ at His moment of crisis. I pray you will turn to Him… The God who is there.

Choose wisely…

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalms 46:10)

Praying 4 U

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1-4| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “One way to get comfort is to plead the promise of God in prayer, show Him His handwriting; God is tender of His Word.” – Thomas Manton

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

I WANT TO KNOW HIM (PART 2)

06/05/201706/02/2017Leave a comment

Don’t forget about

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP NIGHT THIS THURSDAY AT 6:15PM.

Call today for more information – 800.453.7942

“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] …” – Philippians 3:10 Amplified Bible

I started to share some thoughts from this text two weeks ago, then the 9^th annual Family Freedom Walk came and I had to share what God did. As of today, we are at $70,000 that our great God has brought in.

This powerful mission statement written from the pen of the Apostle Paul has some amazing implications. I shared with you 7 things we need to know about Christ and what He is doing now. If you missed it, go back and re-read it.

There are four things about knowing Him that I want to share with you. Here’s the first one: Knowing His is a PERSONAL experience. I love to read and one of my favorite leadership authors is Dr. John C. Maxwell. I have literally read every one of his books. I love good fiction and I have read every one of John Grisham’s novels. While I know their books, I don’t know them personally. I probably will never have the opportunity to meet them face to face.
We will get to see Jesus face-to-face someday, but He desires that we know Him now. Personally. And we do that by:
Reading His Word daily
Meditating on His Word
Memorizing His Word
Praying—our speaking with Him
Praying –our listening to Him

We fall more and more in love with Jesus by spending time with Him. And it is all because we learn to love Him and we’ve never even seen Him. Peter wrote: “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcomes of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

It is sort like a relationship with a pen-pal. You write each other and get to know each other through words of a paper. When you finally meet that pen-pal face-to-face, you find that you already know that person so well that you just enjoy the pleasure of that fulfilled relationship that has been cultivated.

Paul’s desire to know Him came from a deep abiding relationship with Christ. He fell in love with Jesus and what an impact he had on the world.

My prayer for you today is that you will KNOW Him – really know Him by personal experience. If you have never had a personal relationship with Jesus, you can start today. For some of you, that means trusting Him as your personal Savior. Don’t know what that is all about? Well you can check out our salvation brochure.

Have a blessed week.

Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!

Bill Welte, D.D.
President/CEO of America’s Keswick

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 33-36| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: God has called us to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium. Pastor Ken Carlson

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

Freedom Fighters

A Daily Email Encouragement for Men!

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Expect Illumination

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I WANT TO KNOW HIM (PART 3)

Do it for Me?

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I WANT TO KNOW HIM (PART 2)