Jesus: A Gift of Humility

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JESUS: A GIFT OF HUMILITY
“He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 
(Luke 2:5-7)

            Oftentimes we’re attracted by things that glitter. That’s what stands out when we look at Christmas presents. So much so, we often overlook that which is meek, yet mighty. It’s important for us to remember that the first Christmas gift came wrapped quite simply in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. God came to this earth to a peasant people and spent His first night on earth in an obscure village. Most kings are on a throne in a palace, but not that first Christmas. Jesus was born in a stable and He ruled from an animal’s feeding trough.
            We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ and yet, the greater miracle is the fact that He’s God at the same time. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5-6) You see, He was equal with God; Jesus wasn’t vice-president. He wasn’t the associate. He was equal with God. The verse goes on to say that He humbled Himself and became obedient to death. Even though it’s years later, it’s tough for us to look at a manger without looking ahead to see a wooden cross because that’s why Jesus came in the first place.
Jesus was born in a manger but came to bear the cross. Not only did He enter this life in humility, but He lived, died, and arose with humility. The Bible calls us to humility as well in 1 Peter 5:5c “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” We are most like Christ when we humble ourselves before God. A life of obedience is truly a life of humility. Dr. Glen Martin is Pastor of Journey of Faith in California and has been a speaker at America’s Keswick. Today’s devotional is from Real Victory for Real Life – our Keswick Devotional

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 7-10; Psalm 142; Proverbs 22
Compass Pointers: Christ veiled His deity but He did not void it!
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5
Anchored to the Rock: The power of prayer consists in the knowledge of God. Friedrich Tholuck

A Prayer about the Perfect Birthing Experience

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A Prayer About the Perfect Birthing Experience

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child, and since you are His child, God has also made you an heir.” – Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)


I have been working through a wonderful book of prayers this year written by Pastor Scotty Smith, pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN. May of the contemporary artists attend his church.

The book is called EVERYDAY PRAYER – 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (Multnomah). These words today captivated my heart:

Dear Lord Jesus, the details surrounding your birth seem quite happenstance, even tragic. It’s easy to criticize innkeepers for gross inhospitality, pity Mary for the birthing room she had to endure, and judge Jerusalem for missing their moment. Yet everything happened just as you, our Father, and the Holy Spirit planned.

“Doing all things well” (Mark 7:37) didn’t start happening after your resurrection. “Working all things after the counsel of your will” (Eph. 1:11) includes the delightful and the most difficult things in life. Just as you could have called down 12 legions of angels to rescue you at your arrest (Matt. 26:53), so you could have arranged a palatial circumstance for your birth. Lord, please give me greater grace and faith to accept this liberating, if complex truth. You reign… you rule over all things.

“When the time had fully come” you came, Lord Jesus, not a day early and not a day late. And as humbling as it was to be born under the ceiling of a stable, being born under the weight of the law was a far greater burden. Yet that’s exactly why you came into the world—to be born under God’s law to redeem us from our sin and rebellion… to rescue me from my unwillingness and inability to love God as he deserves.

There’s no way I could have ever fulfilled the demands of God’s righteous, perfect, and holy law. Only you could do so and only you did so. I worship, praise, and adore you, Lord Jesus. I must not see the manger without seeing your cross.

Jesus, because you lived in my place and died in my place, I’m no longer a slave to sin but a son of God. This self-indulgent prodigal and self-righteous man, has been robed in your perfect righteousness. And as surely as he sent you into the world, so God has sent his Spirit to live in my heart—by whom I cry with glee, “Abba, Father!” My future looks quite amazing as well, for I will co-inherit the new heaven and new earth with you, Lord Jesus. How can I possibly keep from singing and shouting, “Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation!” I will not judge innkeepers, but I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. So very Amen I pray, in your merciful and matchless name.

May that be the prayer of YOUR heart and MINE today. Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
 GPS – God’s Positioning System: Hebrews 1-6; Psalm 141; Proverbs 21
Compass Pointers: The Son of God … came to seek us where we are in order that he might bring us to be with him where he is. J. I. Packer
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5
Anchored to the Rock: When I pray coincidences happen, and when I do not, they do not! William Temple

If Jesus Came Today

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If Jesus Came Today
“We will not have this man to reign over us.” Luke 19:14
I read this devotional by the late A. W. Tozer.  I thought it was right on for where we are in our world right now:
People have asked me if our present generation would gladly accept Jesus if He came at this time, instead of 2000 years ago. I have to believe that history does repeat itself!

In our own day, many who want to follow the Christian tradition still balk and reject a thorough going spiritual housecleaning within their own lives.

When Jesus came, many realized that it would mean probable financial loss for them to step out and follow Christ. Also, many of those men and women who considered the claims of Christ in His day knew that following Him would call for abrupt and drastic changes in their patterns of living. The proud and selfish aspects of their lives would have been disturbed.

Beyond that, there was an almost complete disdain for the inward spiritual life which Jesus taught as a necessity for mankind; that is the pure in heart will see God!

I am afraid that humanity’s choice would still be the same today. People are still more in love with money and pride and pleasure than they are with God and His salvation!

If Jesus came today, how would you respond? Something to think about today. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: 1 Peter 1-5; Psalm 140; Proverbs 20
Compass Pointers: The Christian story is precisely the story of one grand miracle. C. S. Lewis
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1:John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5
Anchored to the Rock: Time spent on the knees in prayer will do more to remedy heart strain and nerve worry than anything else. George D. Stewart

The Joy in Vertical Concentration

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The Joy in Vertical Concentration  
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” Psalms 32:1-4 (ESV) 
Blessed are the Forgiven. Not exactly what we would find Jesus saying during His Sermon on the Mount but David gives us that sense in Psalm 32. This maskil of David begins with the uplifting of verse one and it doesn’t look back. In The Message (take it easy with this theologians) Peterson wrote verse’s one and two like this, “Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be-you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Count yourself lucky-GOD holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from Him.” Praise God in this very idea of forgiveness indeed. 
But with this forgiveness comes a confession and David tells us how he felt with his un-confessed sin. The NLT puts verse three of Psalm 32 like this, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” David examined his heart when he wasn’t experiencing that vertical joy in the Lord. Maybe, just like you and I, he knew holding on to some sort of sinful attitude or holding on to a critical spirit kept him from enjoying the fruit of godly joy. In Psalm 51 David says to God to, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Quite a bold request coming from a murderer and an adulterer, huh?  
David understands that with the discipline of Gods hand as he expressed it in verse four of Psalm 32. “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me” it lead to his strength “evaporating like water in the summer heat.”(NLT) And once there was acknowledgement of sin in his life David cranks up the volume in Psalm 32. Check out the contrast in verse eight of Psalm 32, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” to that of Psalm 51:13, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.” Now that’s good stuff. 
For me, this all can fall back on what we read in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You see there has to be a vertical concentration in Kingdom worthy things. The Holy Spirit uses this very cool promise of God to promote joy in our hearts and if we are not steeping ourselves in God’s Word we can lose track of our steps in everyday living. It will be a burden for us to carry and if the everyday is a burden to us then what of our carrying our Cross daily?
We need to trust God in order for Him to fill us with joy and peace “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13) We need to take a long view of things “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18) We need to be thankful with everything “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess 5:16-18)
Good verses to ponder as you concentrate vertically. Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Titus 1-3; Psalm 139; Proverbs 19
Compass Pointers: “To be joyless is to dishonor God and to deny His love and His control over our lives. It is practical atheism. To be joyful is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit within us and to say to a watching world, “Our God Reigns.” The Practice of Godliness Jerry Bridges
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1 Luke 4:18; Level 2: John 17:20-26
Anchored to the Rock: I know no blessing so small as to be reasonably expected without prayer, nor any so great but may be obtained by it. Robert South

Where Does Sin Begin

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WHERE DOES SIN BEGIN?
“And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’  So he divided to them his livelihood.”  (Luke 15:12)

            This morning’s devotional was written by our good friend, Dr. Roger Willmore:
The parable of the Prodigal Son is probably one of the best known portions of our Lord’s teaching.  Down through the ages many have identified with this young rebel.  
            The question that always comes to my mind when I read the parable is, “Where did his sin begin?”  When his rebellion surfaced and expressed itself, it seemed to come forth full grown.  Surely what was articulated had its beginning somewhere else.
            The answer to my inquiry is critical to our understanding of the nature of sin.  It is equally critical to our defense against it.  Solomon, in Proverbs 4:23 said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  Sin begins in the heart.  Its seed is a thought and it’s fruit results from contemplation of that thought.  Sin is committed in the heart, before it ever committed in deed.
            When you look into the heart of the prodigal the first thing you see is greed.  His first words to his father were, “give me the portion of goods…”   He was consumed with his own self interests.  His primary drive at this point is his own personal desire for things.
            His greed was followed by his pride. His greedy request of his father financed his rebellion.  He quickly left home with his pockets filled with his father’s money.  The prodigal’s desire was for a life of freedom from authority and a freedom to do as he pleased.  Pride, the mother of all sin, told him to live his own life, there was no need to yield to the wishes of his father.
            The prodigal’s greed and pride produced a life of carelessness.  We are told that he wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  With greed and pride at the helm of his life he threw morals and money to the wind. Would you take a moment to consider the devastating results of careless living?
            Lastly, we find the prodigal feeding the swine and eating with them.  He hit bottom and he was all alone.  What began as dream has turned into a nightmare.
            Deal with sin where it begins…in the heart.  Dr. Roger Willmore
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Ephesians 1-6; Psalm 136; Proverbs 16
Compass Pointers: Let your condition be ever so extreme; human friendship disappointing you, earthly supplies failing you, human sympathy refused you, and dark despair enthroned grimly and coldly upon your heart; there yet is hope in God! Octavius Winslow
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19
Anchored to the Rock: John Knox was a man famous for his power in prayer, so that Queen Mary of England used to say that she feared his prayer more than all the armies of Europe. – Charles Finney

Knowing The Unknowable

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Knowing the Unknowable
Ephesians 3:19, “…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (NKJV)

In another of the Apostle Paul’s prayers in this book concerning the walk of the believer he now offers a paradox of intercession. His request is that they may know a love that “…passes knowledge;…” He has prayed for strength in their inner man based upon the Spirit of God dwelling in their hearts through faith to produce a foundation based in love (vv. 14 – 17). This foundation allows them to further “comprehend…what is the width and length and depth and height…” of that love (v. 18).
The emphasis of the prayer is that the disciple be strengthened in the Spirit (v. 16), indwelt by Christ (v. 17), and experience the fullness of God (v. 19). In doing so, the believer will gain a greater understanding of the love of God. Paul relates that as Christ becomes more at home in the heart of the disciple (v. 17) there will be spiritual strength (v. 16) and the development of a greater love in response to that love of God since, “We love him because he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). This is a circular movement spiraling to a greater depth of spiritual transformation. 
As we grow closer to God He reveals more of Himself to us causing us to desire to grow even closer to Him. The practice of the biblical spiritual disciplines moves us beyond where we are to even greater depths of faith and understanding. This is the “abundant” life that Jesus offers to us (John 10:10).
The potential of the disciple’s life is that of moving from a “servant” to a “friend” of Jesus (John 15:14 & 15). God’s desire is that we might have intimacy with Him and He has made that possible. Our love for Him motivates us to obedience which allows Him to reveal more of Himself to us increasing our desire to love and obey Him. Jesus stated this very truth in John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” We will gain a greater knowledge of, “…the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” Is God manifesting Himself in my life today? That will be based on my loving obedience to Him and His Word. – Dr. Joe is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of America’s Keswick
    
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Colossians 1-4; Philemon; Psalm 135; Proverbs 15

Compass Pointers: God’s capacity to meet his people’s spiritual needs far exceeds anything they can either request in prayer or conceive by way of anticipation (Phil. 4:7). It is actualized through his power, which continually operates within the lives of believers.  A. Skevington Wood

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19

Anchored to the Rock: There is no power like that of prevailing prayer. It turns ordinary mortals into men of power.

Serving God in the Midst of Godlessness

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Serving God in the Midst of Godlessness

“Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.”   Isaiah 8:16 (NKJV)
Isaiah served God at a most difficult time. The Lord revealed that, as a prophet, he would see his audience, outside of a small remnant, reject the word from God (6:10 – 13). Even so, Isaiah remained faithful preaching the message of His God over several decades under different earthly kings. How does one remain so faithful in such a God—rejecting culture?
The key to remaining strong spiritually is found in verse 11 of our chapter, “For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people…” To walk God’s narrow way in opposition to the broad way of the surrounding culture demands the resolve to love and obey our God. In his obedience Isaiah was mentoring others to walk the same path as he states, “…among my disciples.” As the Word from God had gone forth and been rejected by the majority, God’s man determines that his mind would be staid on the revelation of God declaring further that he would go, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, It is because there is no light in them” (v. 20). 
   
To walk godly in a godless culture requires unwavering faith in the revelation of God as the Truth to be accepted and acted upon each and every day. Isaiah was able to remain faithful in the face of great opposition because he had been allowed a glimpse of God which revealed his own sinful and needy condition (chapter 6). Such an ongoing revelation is necessary for the disciple to understand the need of total reliance upon God. Jesus would state it this way, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). 
Our revelation is God speaking to us through His word. Our daily time in the word and in prayer is our “conversation” with a God Who reveals His love to us in such a way that we grow in love toward Him. The outworking of this is a life of loving obedience lived out as light in the midst of the cultural darkness around us.  Dr. Joe Olachea is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of Trustees of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 27-28; Psalm 134; Proverbs 14
Compass Pointers: “…from the moment we receive Christ into our lives as Savior and Lord, Life becomes a ministry. No longer is it an aimless existence to satisfy ourselves; it becomes a ministry for the blessing of other people.”  Alan Redpath 
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19
Anchored to the Rock: Jesus didn’t pray about things, He brought this about by prayer. Armin Gesswein

A Work in Progress

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A Work in Progress

Romans 1:7, To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:…(NKJV)
The wording of the Spirit—inspired Scriptures is very important. God has chosen to give us a library of 66 books in one book – the Bible. Even so, much concerning this life and spiritual things is left unsaid. God has chosen to give His message for us as we have it.
In the Gospels and Acts we find the word most often used of believers is from the root for disciple (mathētēs). It is used over 265 times in Matthew through Acts. In the book of Acts the word disciple is interchangeable with the word believer. “Christian” in singular or plural form is used only three times in the whole of the New Testament.
When we come to the remainder of the New Testament, Romans to Revelation, a new word appears for the believer, the word saint. Several of the books open with the words “To the saints of…” and then references the location of the recipients. God is revealing what we are positionally as His followers. However, practically we are not there yet as this will take place only when we are in His presence.
A disciple can be defined as “a disciplined one.” This description used most often of believers carries with it the idea of one who practices the biblical spiritual disciplines. As disciples we are in the process of moving from where we are practically: disciples, toward what we are positionally: saints. Spiritual transformation is moving toward sainthood as we have been admonished to “…exercise yourself toward godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). The word “exercise” has also been translated as “train” in some of our English versions.
So often I hear believers say, “I try to live the Christian life” or “I try to do what is right.” Scripture admonishes us that we don’t just try to be Christlike, we must train to be so! The Apostle Paul reminds us that the transformation in our lives is directly related to   our contemplation of “…the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 3:18 – 4:6). This is only accomplished through the implementation of the spiritual disciplines in our lives as a result of our love for Him. Dr. Joe Olachea is the pastor of Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ and serves on the Board of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 24-26; Psalm 133; Proverbs 13
Compass Pointers: The church is the only organization in the world which exists entirely for the sake of those who are not members of it. Alan Redpath
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19
Anchored to the Rock: More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. Sir Alfred Tennyson

What’s Real

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WHAT’S REAL!
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”  (Proverbs 20:7)

            The Lord taught me a great message while going through an ordeal of paralysis.  I had felt as though I had nothing left that was real.  I could not breathe on my own, eat, scratch an itch, or wipe a tear.  What did I have that was real?  Spell the word REAL and discover what God showed me.
            Relationships: 1) Friends and relatives (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).  Real friends and relatives loving and supporting me via cards and calls from everywhere in the world, all praying for me.  2) Children (Psalm 127:3).   My sons prayed with me, held me, exercised me, red me, cried with me.  They were my heritage and reward from the Lord.  Now, that’s real!  3) Spouse (Proverbs 18:22).  Though suffering with a muscle disease herself, she was always there for me: visiting, praying, helping.  Her relationship was real!  4) God and Jesus.  Most important!  A relationship with God?  Really!  (Leviticus 26:12).  He kept His promise: He was with me, and I was His (John 10).  Jesus shepherded me constantly (Romans 8:14-71).  I was His.  For real!
            Eternal Life: I was reminded that I had nothing to fear – I had eternal life (John 10:28-29).  It was just me and God…and where I would spend eternity.  Countless verses in the Gospel of John instruct to believe and have eternal life.  That was real to me that no on could take from me.
            Activity: I thought about the greatest times in my life when I was doing things with others for the Lord.  I thought I might lose it all.  But I was becoming aware that all the activity in my life up to that point could not be taken away from me.  Every activity had been real! 
            Legacy: What would I leave behind?  What impact have I made on others?  My life – had it been real? Proverbs 20:7 says that a righteous man blessed those after him.  My legacy was for real – not even the enemy could steal that from me.
            God has restored all back to me.  Real things cannot be taken from you.  What is real for you today?  Relationships, Eternal life, Activity, Legacy – they can be yours!
Call today for your copy.
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Chaplain Jack Noel served at America’s Keswick for 18 years. He is now retired and living in Lancaster, PA.

Today’s devotional is from REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE. Great devotional for you to begin next year. Call today for you today — $10 plus shipping and handling (732-350-1197)

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Acts 20:4-23:35; Psalm 132; Proverbs 12
Compass Pointers: The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it. A. W. Tozer

Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:21; Level 2: John 17:12-19
Anchored to the Rock: Restraining prayer we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian’ armor bright; and Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knee. William Cowper

The Danger of Social Media

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The Danger of Social Media
Being in leadership at age 57 is interesting. I am finding that I need to work really hard at understanding the various generations that we are serving. Each group are unique and the opportunities for ministry are endless.
A part of understanding our “world” and how we communicate is grappling with the whole concept of Social Media. Facebook has become one of the world’s fastest growing means of communication. It has been said that right now Facebook is the 5th largest country in the world.
What started out as a mean for college kids to communicate has turned into a diverse group of users from all walks of life. There are many good uses for Facebook. I now a place to see all my grandkids pictures and sharing pictures is really convenient. I have been able to connect with kids I went to school with and hear their stories. That has been fun.
One of the dangers is that we have begun to use Facebook to freely comment about anything and everything for the world to see. If I am happy, I broadcast it. If I am frustrated about something, I broadcast it. If I am disgruntled about work, or if I am ticked off at someone, I can voice my opinion for the whole world to see.
The problem is that we have replaced face-to-face communication with the ability to say what we want, how we want, when we want. Like email, Facebook can be the means to say things to people that we would never have the courage to say to someone’s face. Maybe that confirms what someone said: “the pen is mightier than the sword.”
We need to be reminded that we ARE accountable for our words whether they are spoken or written. Spoken or written words are never easy to pull back once uttered. And how damaging our words can be.
I find myself mostly posting Scripture. The good news about those words are that they will NEVER return void! Lord, let the words of my mouth, the words that I write, be acceptable in Your sight – O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Romans 8-10; Psalm 129; Proverbs 9
Compass Pointers: There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to things is one of the most harmful habits in the [Christian] life. Because it is so natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is. But its outworking’s are tragic. A. W. Tozer
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: John 17:3; Level 2: John 17:1-5
Anchored to the Rock: Intercession is the link between man’s impotence and God’s omnipotence. Andrew Murray