THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER

“What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe . . . ” (Ephesians 1:19)

“Come, my heart, satisfy and delight yourself, this morning, with the thought of what your mighty God can do for you — the grace He is able to give you now — the glory He is reserving for you — the uplifting, upholding, strengthening, and preserving power which is all invested in His living hands on your behalf. Here is a storehouse of riches on which your largest demands can make no perceptible diminishment, and all this is YOURS!

EXCEEDING GREATNESS — Yes, Lord, more vast and wonderful than my poor finite mind can conceive. Your power bids the sun pour forth his radiant light and heat — your power holds the stars in space, and hangs the earth upon NOTHING — your power rules the universe with a WORD! Is it not exceeding great? All nature shows your handiwork, and your wondrous power is as much seen in the lowest forms of life and growth as in the higher developments of your creative hand. All the discoveries of science, all the revelations of its secrets which has so late surprised and delighted us, are but GLIMPSES of the infinite might and wisdom of the God whose ‘love is as great as his power, and knows neither measure or end.’

But, Lord, it is not on the majesty of your omnipotence as shown in your material world that I would meditate at this moment; it is the ‘power to us-ward who believe’ that enchains my heart, and thrills my soul with joy. Help me to draw near to you, dear Lord, humbly and reverently, that I may ‘see this great sight’; for though this is holy ground, and the bush burns with fire, there is no barrier as of old, to prevent a near approach to you, seeing that, now, we are made nigh by the blood of Christ…

Look to yourself, my soul. Is the exceeding greatness of your Lord’s power manifest in you as it should be? Blessed be his Name, you can say, ‘He has redeemed me from death and hell, pardoned my sins through the shedding of His precious blood, and given me a promise of life eternal in His presence.’ But what more? Those are gifts of His grace, the cornerstone of His mercy and love. What do you possess of the details of his mighty working, the filling up, as it were, of the great plan of his will and design concerning you? What does the ‘effectual working of his power’ produce in your heart and life? Are you wholly consecrated to his service? Have you given yourself and all that you have into his loving hands? Are you filled with his Holy Spirit? Does he control every thought, word and deed? Are all the powers of your being and all the possessions of both soul and body subject and surrendered to his absolute sway?

Put forth in me the mighty grace which will make my daily life a proof that you are working you own will in me, and giving me to know is some measure, ‘what is the exceeding greatness of his power to -us-ward who believe.” adapted from Susannah Spurgeon — Free Grace and Dying Love, published by our good friends at The Banner of Truth Trust.

Good words to consider today.

LIFE ON THE CUTTING EDGE

” . . . Who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness made strong.” (Hebrews 11:33, 34)

“Is faith a risk? Of course. But failing to step out in faith is to risk missing real life. I have been challenged by the following thought from an unknown author.

RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To place our ideas, our dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.

Risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing , has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love … live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave; he has forfeited freedom.

What a privilege for us to be able to walk by faith in God Himself, armed with all the promises of His Word. I suppose we all desire the security of the solid tree trunk, but the fruit is out on the limb. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The timid soul asks, ‘What do I stand to lose if I do it?’ The fruit-bearing Christian asks, ‘What do I stand to lose if I DON’T do it. Real life is lived on the cutting edge.” from DAILY IN CHRIST by Neil Anderson

Is God asking you to set out today BY FAITH to live on the cutting edge? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me an email today.
Great Quote: Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen. John Wesley

TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS PART 2

Here are ten more faith-builder truths from Dr. Neil Anderson’s devotional, DAILY IN CHRIST:

11. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is? (2 Corinthians 3:17)
12. Why should I ever feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ? (Romans 8:1)
13. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me? (Matthew 28:28; Hebrews 13:5)
14. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit? (Galatians 3:13, 14)
15. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances? (Philippians 4:11)
16. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him? (2 Corinthians 5:21)
17. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me? (Romans 8:31)
18. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through His indwelling Spirit? (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12)
19. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ? (Romans 8:37)
20. Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations? (John 16:33)

Allow these 10 truths to burn into your heart and mind today. If you did not get the previous ten, you can get them from our website. If Freedom Fighter has encouraged you, why not share it with a friend. They can sign up right from the Keswick website: http://www.americaskeswick.org

SUCCESS COMES IN CANS — PART 1

Dr. Neil Anderson shares in his book, DAILY IN CHRIST, that success comes in “cans” and failure in “cannots.” Here shares ‘TWENTY CANS OF SUCCESS” to expand your knowledge of our faith-object- the Almighty God.

1. Why should I say I CAN’T when the Bible says I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength? (Philippians 4:13)
2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19)
3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind? (2 Timothy 2:7)
4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith? (Romans 12:3)
5. Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God? (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)
6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world? (1 John 4:4)
7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph? (2 Corinthians 2:14)
8. Why should I lack wisdom when Christ becomes wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it? (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)
9. Why should I be depressed when I can recall to my mind God’s lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness and have hope? (Lamentations 3:21-23)
10. Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me? (1 Peter 5:7)

Tomorrow I will share Part 2. Good principles for us to ponder!

Great Quote: I must confess that there are days when my circumstances don’t seem to lend themselves to worship. Days when I feel so caught up in my own problems or so pulled down by my own depression that entering into worship would almost feel hypocritical. What am I to do on those days? – On those days I am to worship anyway! I am to bring the Lord what the Bible calls sacrificial praise: ‘So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak His name.’ (Hebrews 13:15) Claire Cloninger

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHO I AM

Listening to the news last night before going to bed, I was interested to hear that many in the world consider today to be a significant day in history. Many see today as the day when the President of Iran will need to prove if he has the metal to be the world leader that he professes to be. Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad really believes that he is the one who will usher in the end times and is very passionate about who he is. Many fear that today is the day that he will attempt to follow through on his commitment to wipe Israel off the map.
One thing is certain about this Iranian President who needs Christ — he is passionate about what he believes. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be what Allah wants him to be and do. As I reflected on that last night, I was reminded of this reading, and was surprised to see it today in one of my devotionals.
Dr. Neil Anderson writes in his devotional DAILY IN CHRIST: “An African pastor was overwhelmed by rebels who demanded that he renounce his faith. He refused. The night before they took his life, he wrote the following lines on a scrap of paper:

I am part of the “Fellowship of the Unashamed.” I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I’ve stepped over the line. The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away and be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and
Dwarfed goals!

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, lean faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t shut up, let up, burn up till I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops.
And when He comes to get His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!”

Would that we had that passion for Christ. Good words to ponder today on this August 22, 2006.

DIG DEEPER — TEN THINGS ABOUT CLAIMING HOLY GROUND

Yesterday in church, my mentor and friend, Dr. Robert Alderman shared a powerful message from Exodus 3 entitled TEN THINGS ABOUT CLAIMING HOLY GROUND from the life of Moses. I want to share these ten principles with you with the prayer that you will dig deeper on your own:

1. Claiming holy ground is not vocationally dependent. (Exodus 3:1) Moses was tending sheep

2. Claiming holy ground is enhanced by our separation from the distractions of life. What steals my attention from pursuing God? Are you willing for a backside of the desert experience? (Exodus 3:1)

3. Claiming holy ground is dependent on our willingness to come just as we are to where God is. (Exodus 3:1) Moses didn’t get cleaned up before going to the mountain to meet God. He came just as we was.

4. Claiming holy ground is dependent on our willingness to come just as we are to where God is and where there is likely to be no one else but GOD! Nothing but God. (Exodus 3:1)

5. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to be approached by a messenger of God, which includes fire: to bring about purity, to make useable what is unusable, and to destroy that which is not useful. (Exodus 3:2)

6. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to approach God even where there are unexplainable and uncertain factors. (Exodus 3:3)

7. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to go one on one with God. (Exodus 3:4)

8. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to accept the limitations of God. (Exodus 3:5) God draws the lines! This principle is worth looking at. Even in our Christian circles we are uncomfortable with and forget that GOD does draw the lines in terms of what HE expects from us. (Exodus 3:5)

9. Claiming holy ground is based on our willingness to honor with my actions the holiness of God. (Exodus 3:5)

10. Claiming holy ground is base on our willingness to affirm my encounter with the God of history. (Exodus 3:6)

Good principles for your consideration. Take the text and principles and dig deeper.

This week on KESWICK TODAY, Diane Hunt, our Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries for Women, shares our vision for reaching women in addiction as we seek God’s timing for our residential program for women. You can listen to KESWICK TODAY right from our website: http://www.americaskeswick.org.

THE DANGER OF FRIENDSHIPS … The Other Side of the Coin

We have been talking the past couple of days about the value of friendship. Here is the “other side of the coin” so to speak written by the late theologian, FENELON:

“It is natural to want to have a good friend whom you admire and like. It is a great pleasure in life to have friends, but friendships can be full of danger, especially if you line in community with a close circle of people.

As a member of the Body of Christ, you no longer belong to yourself. In a group that meets to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, you must guard against special friendships. These will lead to cliques or a party spirit. Sometimes, when someone you like has been hurt, you become emotionally involved and ‘pick up their offense.’ This will cause division in a house faster than anything I know. You are soon plotting and chatting in secret and a sense of divisiveness permeates the entire affair. Of course you appear to yourself without blame, and insist you are only standing up for what is right.

Others watching this are harmed. You set a bad example for them and usually force them, in a way, to take sides. On top of this I just want to tell you that jealousy comes between two people who are devoted to the same friend. Each fears the other will be preferred. And what problems that causes!

Furthermore, when you have a special or favorite friend, it puts that person in a difficult spot. A person who is loved by another often makes the whole community jealous or critical. They either want to enter into a special friendship also, or are critical for what they think that person to be. Often there is suspicion and misjudgment. Everyone is caught up in looking at someone other than JESUS.

Finally, you harm yourself. You can become so preoccupied with others that you lose sight of the lordship of Jesus in your life. You spend less time alone with Him. You think of your friends and neglect your Lord.

Try not to single people out to love them. Love equally all those God asks you to love. If you know you are preoccupied with a friendship, try to cure yourself little by little. See all people as they are — with their good and bad points. Then you will not romanticize them. What is your self-nature getting out of these unhealthy attachments? There is something you ought to look at. Love your friends in and for God, and not for what they give you. Don’t be so selfish.” from THE SEEKING HEART by Fenelon.

Good words to ponder as you think about “the other side” of friendship. Have a great Lord’s day.

THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

It never ceases to amaze me how what I am reading seems to always get tied into my devotional readings. Yesterday’s Freedom Fighter was on VITAL FRIENDSHIPS. “Coincidentally” here was the reading today from the devotional, OUR DAILY WALK, by one of the great KESWICK speakers, the late Dr. F. B. Meyer:

“Two are better than one … for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” — Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10

“We cannot have many inner friends, but sad is the life that has not been its other self. The friendship of David and Jonathan, has passed into the current talk of the world. It is especially good for the Christian disciple to travel to heaven with a comrade.

A friend is INVALUABLE if we stumble or fall on the path of life. “Woe to him that is alone when he falls.” “Brethren,” says the Apostle, “if a man may be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.’ Let us watch for each other’s souls; if any is falling away from the truth or into some insidious trap, let us lift him up. Let us exercise the brotherly solicitude that Barnabas, the encourager, did for Paul.

Friendship should make our spirits glow. “How can one be warm alone?” Of course, in a spiritual sense there are divine resources of spiritual heat. The love of Christ kindles to vehement heat. But it is certainly easier to keep up the temperature when we have a kindred heart beside us. Perhaps this is one reason why our Lord sent forth His disciples by two and two. (Mark 6:7)

Without companionship material things cannot satisfy. The ties of nature, friendship and religious communion give a zest to a poor man’s life, which the miser with all his wealth forfeits. It is all-important, not only in ordinary life, but pre-eminently in the pilgrimage of the spirit, to have fellowship with some kindred soul.

In temptation a true friend makes us more able to withstand the devil. It is a help in the hour of trial to have a friend who will appropriate the words of our Lord, saying, ‘ I have prayed for YOU, that your faith will fail not.’ There is no fellowship like that of Jesus, our Faithful Friend, who lifts us when we fall, chafes us when chilled with cold, and assists us against the tempter. Does He not make the third in the THREEFOLD cord? “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Good word for today. Take time today to thank that special friend in your life.

Great Quote: If the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural. Andrew Murray

FRIENDS

I just read an article in the USA Today about a new book entitled VITAL FRIENDS … THE PEOPLE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WITHOUT. Men are not usually good with the friendship thing. Many of us have “acquaintances” but few have allowed themselves to get close and personal with someone who they can call “friend.”

In the book, the author lists 8 characteristics of a friend that I thought were worth sharing with you this morning. They are good things for you to consider if you are looking for a friend or if you are someone’s friend.

A vital friend is a:

1. Builder — one who motivates you in your life.
2. Champion — one who sings your praises.
3. Collaborator — one who shares his passions and dreams.
4. Connector — one who always widens your circle.
5. Companion — one who is always there for you.
6. Energizer — one who gives you a boost and makes you laugh.
7. Mind-Opener — one who helps you to expand your horizons and embrace new ideas.
8. Navigator — one who helps you to make decisions.

As you think about your role as a friend today, which one of these characteristics describe you? Good thoughts to ponder for today. Your friendship CAN make a difference in someone’s life.

Have a great day.

WAITING

I do not know about you, but over the years I have not been good at waiting. It can be waiting in line at the grocery store or waiting in traffic — I tend to be impatient. Yesterday’s reading in STREAMS IN THE DESERT addressed this issue. Some of us also have trouble waiting for the Lord. What struck me was that waiting and patience seem to go hand in hand . . .

“I waited patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 40:1 “Waiting is much more difficult than walking, for waiting requires PATIENCE (I knew it!), and patience is a rare virtue. We enjoy knowing that God builds hedges around His people, when we look at the hedge from the aspect of protection. But when we see it growing higher and higher until we can no longer see over it, we wonder if we will ever get out of our little sphere of influence and service where we feel trapped. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand why we do not have a larger area of service, and it becomes difficult for us to “brighten the corner” where we are. But God has a purpose in all of HIS delays for ‘the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord’ (Psalms 37:23).

Next to this verse, in the margin of his Bible, George Mueller made this note: ‘And the stops too!’ It is a sad mistake for someone to break through God’s hedges. It is a vital principle of the Lord’s guidance for a Christian never to move from the spot where he is sure God has placed him, until the ‘pillar of cloud’ moves. (Exodus 13:21)

Once we learn to wait on for the Lord’s leading in EVERYTHING, we will know the strength that finds it HIGHEST POINT IN AN EVEN AND STEADY WALK. Many of us are lacking the strength we so desire, but God gives complete power for every task He calls us to perform. Waiting — keeping yourself faithful to His leading — this is the secret of strength. And anything that does not align with obedience to Him is a waste of time and energy. Watch and wait for His leading.

Must life be considered a failure for someone compelled to stand still, forced into inaction and required to watch the great, roaring tides of life from shore? No — victory is then to be won by standing still and quietly waiting. Yet this is a thousand times harder to do than in the past, when you rushed headlong into the busyness of life. It requires much more courage to stand and wait and still not lose heart or lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up opportunities for work and leave honors to others, and to be quiet, confident, and rejoicing while the busy multitude goes happily along their way.”

The greatest life is: ‘after YOU have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)

Powerful words for you and me to ponder today.

We are now accepting registrations for the fall semester of KESWICK INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES in partnership with Lancaster Bible College. For information, visit our website: http://www.americaskeswick.org.