Raising an Ebenezer

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Raising an Ebenezer.

1 Samuel 7:12  Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
God often used this concept throughout the Old Testament to remind His people of the great acts He had done on their behalf.  The raising of an Ebenezer was a way to remind the Israelites of God’s continuing work for them.  “Eben” is the Hebrew word for “stone” and “ezer” is the word for “help” so an Ebenezer is a “Stone of Help”.  Samuel raised this Ebenezer to remind Israel that God had helped them win a great victory over the Philistines. Samuel’s Ebenezer was certainly not the first time God used this visual aid for remembrance.
Joshua was also instructed to raise an Ebenezer after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.  Joshua 4.2-9 tells the story of taking stones from the midst of the river and then setting them up as a memorial to remember what God had done for them.
Even earlier Jacob used an Ebenezer for a pillow, even though it was a pillow first.  In Genesis 28.11-18 Jacob sets up his Ebenezer and calls it Bethel, “House of God” and vows that he will worship God alone if He returns him to this place.
The concept of the Ebenezer is indeed ancient and Biblical and finds its reflection in the New Testament as well.  On the night Jesus was betrayed He took bread and broke it and said, “This is my body which is for you, do this in remembrance of Me”.  I see this as an Ebenezer.  One that many of us do once a month to remind us of Jesus sacrifice in our place.  Our memories are so short that we so often forget the wonderful atonement Christ forged for us with His own blood.  We need always to keep this Ebenezer before our eyes.
So then, what of you, brother?  Do you have any Ebenezers to raise?  One of mine is when God reached down and pulled this poor sinner out of the miry clay and set my feet on solid ground, November 30, 1969.  I celebrate another Ebenezer when my wonderful wife took pity on a lonely young man and became my bride, February 21, 1987.  Beyond that was the birth of my children, for God helped us there as well.  Even greater yet was the day those children decided to be birthed again!  My ordination, graduation, and later elevation to pastor all deserve a stone of remembrance.  Another important Ebenezer is remembering steps of faith where God proved Himself mighty once again.  So often He met my needs by paying my bills when no money was to be found, helped us pay school bills that were beyond our salary to cover, healed the sick, saved a  sinner, purchased a building, and so on, and so on.  All these truly deserve an Ebenezer, and many are marked in the blank pages at each end of my Bible so that I can remember.  At my church we even changed the words of my favorite hymn back to the original.  Our hymnal opted for a more contemporary wording.  For us now, “Come Thou Fount” in verse 2 reads, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’m come!”
How many times do we let great answers to prayer slip from our poor memories and fade into nothing instead of raising an Ebenezer so the generations to come may marvel at God’s faithfulness?  At my church we try to mark these special occasions, some have even been recorded on a stone.  We have a wooden cross outside the church, and we lay these stones at the foot of the cross, because Jesus is the One who made those victories possible.
America’s Keswick has certainly become an Ebenezer to many men who have been set free.  It has become home to me in many ways as well and I thank God for raising that wonderful Ebenezer.  May it stand for many years to come.
How about you?  Can you think of the Ebenezers in your life?  I challenge you to raise an Ebenezer over it, praise God for it, and remind your children, “Thus far the Lord has helped us!” Pastor Paul Ort is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Egg Harbor City and is Chris Hughes’ Pastor! J
GPS – God’s Positioning System:  Genesis 38-40; Proverbs 25; Psalm 22:19-31

Compass Pointers: It is not so much our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all of our time and all our attention; it is ourselves. C. S. Lewis
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: Cold prayers do always freeze before they reach to heaven. Thomas Brooks

The Transparency of Saints

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The Transparency of Saints

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”  Romans 12:3-5 (ESV)
Well I will soon be finishing up my second month of being unemployed and it ain’t too bad. The pay isn’t as good as I thought it would be but it has made me available to take on what I have come to understand as “Kingdom Work.” Pastor Andrew Dixon (of Christ’s Wesleyan Church in Egg Harbor City, NJ) coined that phrase to me one day during a conversation that we were having concerning what the church could do to introduce the community to the “Addictions Victorious” ministry. As time has gone by there are those times when God clearly speaks that He wants something done. It is an “all hands on deck” battle cry and I am humbled at those times to be one of those pairs of hands. I hear that this battle cry gets used by Bill Welte at America’s Keswick but when I hear God He does NOT sound like Bill. PTL!!!
I had been asked by some folks recently to lend them a hand with their move from one house to another. First I was asked by the lady of the house then her husband. I was kinda humbled by this considering that the lady of the house just happened to be Diane Hunt, THE Director of Development and Addiction Recovery for America’s Keswick. I thought to myself, “This is Kingdom Work indeed!” Her husband, John, and I have gotten to know each other through their work with the Families for Christ ministry. So helping John out seemed to be the guy thing to do, but to be allowed to even lift a finger for Diane…WOW!! I HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED, well not really and there is no sense to exaggerate this thought any longer. I found out that this husband and wife, who have worked at the top end of a ministry that God has used to save me from myself, are as regular as a 20 ounce coffee from WaWa.
As I left my house to travel to theirs I kept telling myself to mind my p’s and q’s, keep my infamous temper at bay and be gracious when offered anything even if it was a simple bottle of water. I have worked with Diane on the Freedom Walks in the past so I was expecting the same driven person when I got to their house. That Diane Hunt was not there and I was taken back. “Well there goes that strategy, now what?” So I just got to moving furniture. Just for the record…the furniture was your everyday kind of regular. Their son, Jake, and I made jokes about how if we only scratched the back of their stuff no one would ever see it in the new house. For those of you who ever lived a college or single guy life understands what I mean.
My moment of clarity with Mr. and Mrs. Hunt came during what I’ll call, “The Garage Scene!!” It was that moment where the two of them showed themselves as husband and wife. It reminded me of the way my wife and I are with each other. When the stress level is high, the task has to be done and the clock is ticking. It was there that these people, who I hold in high regard, became transparent. After that, the move picked up a whole different speed for me. It did become an “all hands on deck” moment and I found room to flex my own sense of getting something done. But this was going to be for them even if I had to use my own resources to help them out.
These aren’t the only folks from the Keswick ministry who have been this willing to show their transparency. I think of Stan and DeEtta Marsh, Jim and Carol Ann Freed, Stephanie and Sesky Paul…Bill and Jan Welte, even my counselor from my days at the Colony, Jan Savercool. Jan once told me about placing the saints on pedestal and that it was wrong thinking. He reminded me that we need to focus in on how Jesus is the One who will lift us up and places us on The Rock. It is not of our own doing. Praise God that He allows me to interact with His people more and more these days. Praise God that I get to do this. It is making being unemployed a whole better to bear. – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a regular contributor to Freedom Fighter
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 35-37; Proverbs 24; Psalm 22:1-18
Compass Pointers: “Those in the highest state of Christian experience desire nothing except that God may be glorified in them by the accomplishment of His holy will. But it is not inconsistent with this that holy souls possess that natural love that exists in the form of love for themselves. Their natural love, however—which within its proper degree is innocent love –is so absorbed in the love of God that it ceases, for the most part, to be a distinct object of consciousness. So much so, that practically and truly they may be said to love themselves IN and FOR God.” Article Twelve: Maxims of the Saints/Fenelon

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: Most of modern man’s troubles stem from too much time on his hands and not enough time on his knees. Ivern Boyett

Living a Life of Worship

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LIVING A LIFE OF WORSHIP
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;” (Psalm 95:6)
            Can you imagine how bland worship would be if it meant that we merely showed up at church on Sunday morning, dressed just right, smiling as we go in, observing people going through the motions of the program, the choir sings, preacher speaks and of course we collect a little money – what a mundane experience that would be week after week.  I am so grateful that God desires so much more for us.  In fact I believe that all of life is a worship service. 
            Some miscellaneous thoughts on worship:
1)  Worship takes preparation – Psalm 24:3-4; Psalm 51
2)  Worship has an audience of One – Psalm 63:1-5
3)  Worship is active, not passive – Psalm 95:1-6; Psalm 96; Psalm 100
            Psalm 46:10 (Be still… that’s is an interesting action)
4)  Worship requires living a life of obedience – Romans 12:1-2
5)  Worship is a choice – we don’t always feel like worshipping.  Acts 16 is the story of Paul and Silas in prison — they prayed and sang despite their circumstances.
            When we rehearse and remember all that Christ has done for us, and appreciate the fact that He desires to have a personal relationship with us, our life is so much more meaningful when we actively spend TIME with Him – not just on Sunday, but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Warren Weirsbe said “When the heart is set upon God, true worship will not depend upon outward stimulus, it will be in constant progress.  Exhortations like “Pray without ceasing,” and “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually,” or “All you do in word and deed, do to the glory of God,” will take on their intended meaning.  This means that all of life becomes a worship service. 
              If Christians were devotedly practicing this lifestyle, a corporate service could not miss being a great blessing, for it would simply be a continuation of a worship service begun days, (or weeks or months) before.” – Robert Hayes is Director of Program Ministries at America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 32-34; Proverbs 23; Psalm 21
Compass Pointers: Self, service, substance is the divine order, and nothing counts until we give ourselves. Vance Havner
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 4:18; Level 2: Proverbs 4:20-27
Anchored to the Rock: The little estimate that we put on prayer is evident from the time we give to it. E. M. Bounds

Looking Into the Perfect Law of Freedom

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Looking into the Perfect Law of Freedom

James 1:12, Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
We are probably familiar with “Beatitudes” from the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest Preacher to ever live: Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5:1 – 12). It is interesting to note that James uses the term “blessed” (makarios) three times in this practical epistle on living out the faith. God inspires him to use it at the beginning of his letter (our text) and toward the end of his letter as he writes in 5:11, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure.”
It is an amazing thing that we, in our human frailty, can be called “blessed” as this was attributed by the secular society of that time as an attribute of the gods. In biblical Christianity, God calls His self-crucified disciple “blessed.”
James “bookends” this letter with the pronouncement of who is “blessed.” Yet, sandwiched between these two pronouncements is the key to living in this freedom of Christ:
James 1:25, But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
The key to living out the Christian faith, the foundation to enduring temptation, the ability to persevere until we receive the crown of life, the stride of the walk in freedom is found in this passage that stresses the look, hear, and do of the crucified life. It is the reading, memorization, and meditation on God’s Word, the perfect law of liberty, that allows us to, “…be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (5:7). Be mindful that the “…the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). We desperately need that systematic, serious, and sincere daily time in the Word of God in order to live out true freedom in Christ! – Dr. Joe Olachea is the Senior Pastor of Lakes Community Chapel, Medford, NJ, a n instructor for the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies, and a member of the America’s Keswick Board of Trustees.
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 30-31; Proverbs 22; Psalm 20
Compass Pointers: He doth not bid us take a taste of all sins and vanities, as Solomon did, to try them:  for they are tried already; but that we should set the Word of God always before us like a rule, and believe nothing but that which it teacheth, love nothing but that which it prescribeth, hate nothing but that which it forbideth, do nothing but that which is commandeth, and then we try all things by the Word. – Puritan Henry Smith
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him. – C.H. Spurgeon 

Why Do We Give?

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Why Do We Give?
Now that Christmas is over, do you ever wonder why we give? And why we even want to give?
From my experience, I find that most believers (and many non-believers) have a desire to give and help other people. Think about this past Christmas and how many people stop at the Salvation Army kettle and deposit a dollar or two. Think about the millions of dollars that are put in church offering plates each Sunday. Think about the relief efforts around the world that are funded by the generous donations of individuals from all walks of life. Why is giving part of our nature?
I believe the answer to that question is found in the very beginning. Genesis 1:27 says very clearly that man was created in the image of God.If we are created in the image of God, we need to understand God’s character. It doesn’t take a lot of digging to see that one of the main characteristics of God is giving. God’s love and His desire to express it to mankind through giving is continually presented throughout the Bible. Look at all spectrums of time from eternity past to eternity future and we see God’s loving nature consistently expressed by giving.
In creation we see that God gave us this world to enjoy and inhabit. We often lose site of the local beauty of the creation around us as it becomes too familiar. But when we travel we are reminded of the beauty of the earth God gave us. But how many of us have really taken in the beauty of the creation of the heavens? 
Recent technology has given us a small glimpse into the beauty of the universe. Here is a link to just one website that has some incredible pictures taken with the Hubble telescope.
And God certainly did not stop at creation. All through the Old Testament we see how God gave to Israel and consistently met the needs of individuals. There is no verse that expresses God’s incredible heart for giving more than John 3:16. God stopped at absolutely nothing in giving His son so we could have a personal relationship with Him. And not only did Christ just give up heaven, He gave up being God in Heaven, where every knee bows and every being worships Him, to come and live as the lowliest of man on the earth (Philippians 2:7). 
There is no greater example of sacrificial giving that even comes close to actions of God the Father and God the Son.John 14 tells us that even now God is preparing mansions or dwelling places for us to live in heaven. So not only is God giving to us now, He continues to give throughout all eternity.
God has always expressed His love to us by giving, and He always will. As believers in Jesus Christ, Romans 8:29 tells us that we are predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son. This is what we call sanctification. And if we are going to take on the character of Christ, we will be givers. This is why we give.
Here is just one more reason to get our financial house in order so that we can participate in one of the highest callings we have as followers of Christ and that is to give. – Today’s Freedom Fighter was written by George Hutchison, Board member of America’s Keswick and Instructor for Crown Financial. Click here to subscribe to George’s STEWARDSHIP INSIGHTS
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 27-29; Proverbs 21; Psalm 19:7-14
Compass Pointers: God can’t bless us until He has us. When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, He claims all. There is no bargaining with Him. C. S. Lewis
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: Straight praying is never born of crooked conduct.  E. M. Bounds

A Threefold Victory

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

Today’s Freedom Fighter comes from the pen of Pastor Bob Alderman, a popular speaker at America’s Keswick. He is man who I deeply admire and respect:

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

            For some the “victorious life” appears to be a mystery solved by only a few.  Yet “victory” is the theme of our Bible and the provision of our Lord.  Examine our verses for the day as an illustration.
            “For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21)
            Here is a threefold victory. First, our Lord shall “change our vile body.”  We may have difficulty in acknowledging that our body is vile, that it is humiliated to the degree of such serious need.  We may have difficulty in understanding that our Lord can in fact change such a body. We may call it a “key” but it is certainly no “secret,” that acknowledging both our need and His provision are essential to victorious living.
            Secondly, our Lord shall “fashion” our new body “…like unto His glorified body….” The design of our life belongs to Him. That must be our expectation and our willingness.  We must cooperate but not dictate.  When He begins to perfect the changes inherent in our redemption and along the lines of His design, we must give to Him our Will but not our opinion.
            Thirdly, our Lord shall “subdue” our changed body – and “all things unto Himself.” If we are to have victory now we acknowledge our de-crowning in submission to His subduing. That is grace on His part, yieldingness on ours, and victory in all. – Pastor Bob Alderman is the Minister-at-Large, Shenandoah Baptist, Roanoke, VA
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 25-26; Proverbs 20; Psalm 19:1-6

Compass Pointers: Sins are like circles in the water when a stone is thrown into it; one produces another. When anger was in Cain’s heart, murder was not far off. Philip Henry

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: Other duties become pressing and absorbing and crowd out prayer. ‘Choked to death’ would be the coroner’s verdict in many cases of dead praying if an inquest could be secured on this dire, spiritual calamity. – E. M. Bounds

The Discipline of Scripture Memory

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The Discipline of Scripture Memory
“Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly …” Colossians 3:16
Most of us don’t like the word “discipline.” No, I am not talking about the kind of discipline where we are chastised for something we have done wrong. I am talking about the sense of the word where we discipline ourselves to accomplish a certain task. I know of a friend who is my age that has been disciplining his body so that he can run in a marathon. I am very proud of him.
One of the disciplines that is important in our Christian life is the discipline of Scripture memorization. The men who are residents in the Colony of Mercy have a daily assignment that is quite a challenge. Every day they are required to memorize a Bible verse. From 18 to 80 – they are expected to commit a verse to memory. At the end of their stay, they will have memorized 120 Bible verses.
When was the last time you or I memorized a Bible verse? Like most things in life, we can come up with all the excuses in the world why we can’t do something like this. “I am too old!” “I don’t have enough time.”
But think what we memorize: many of us can quote the baseball line-ups of our favorite teams. We memorize lines from movies and TV shows … but memorize a verse of Scripture?

Dr. Jerry Bridges wrote this about Scripture memory: “To influence our minds with the Word of God, there’s simply no better way than through the discipline of Scripture memorization. I know that it requires work and is sometimes discouraging when we can’t recall accurately a verse we’ve worked hard to memorize. The truth is, however, all forms of discipline require work and are often discouraging. But the person who perseveres in any discipline, despite the hard work and discouraging times, reaps the reward the discipline is intended to produce.”

At the end of each Freedom Fighter there is a section called Navigational Rules. There are two levels. One is a verse a day and the other is a longer passage. These are included for you to use in developing the discipline of Scripture memorization.

Last year a number of my staff memorized Scripture and received a nice bonus for doing so. At least five of them are in their 50’s! Now I can’t promise you a financial bonus at the end of the year for memorizing with us, but I can promise you this: This discipline will change your life. No, it will transform your life. You will be amazed at the way it will impact your life. Will you join me in the journey? – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick 

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 22-24; Proverbs 19;  Psalm 18:25-50
Compass Pointers: Our extremities are God’s opportunities. Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Navigational Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11

Anchored to the Rock: Many of us have prayed that dangerous prayer, “Here I am Lord, change me, I want to do Your perfect Will Lord, no matter what the cost.” The Lord looks down from Heaven with a smile on His face because He has such great plans for you. Then “suddenly” you find yourself right in the middle of His wheel. He begins to work with you, pushing here pulling there and pinching over there…It may be a bad temper, pride, a critical spirit, religious spirit, or any number of things. God gets your attention and makes you aware of it. This is no fun!!! God is exposing what needs to be taken care of. We can either stay on the wheel and allow God to continue or we can get in the flesh and eject ourselves from the wheel and run from God. Jim Clark

2000th Freedom Fighter Post

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2000th  Post
“The the Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly describe it on tablets so one may easily read it.” Habakkuk 2: 2

Today’s post is the 2000th Freedom Fighter post on our Keswick website. The very first Freedom Fighter was email on September 24th 2004.

This has been an incredible journey for me personally. Freedom Fighters was born out of my own personal quiet time with the Lord and what He had been teaching me from the Word and through other books I was reading. For years I would read and underline and then wonder, “Why did I do that?”

A dear friend, Dr. B, now with the Lord, encouraged me to start writing down my thoughts, and the rest is history. Many of you have been on the journey with me since 2004, and I thank you for being a part of my life.

I am happy to have a team of men who have joined me in writing over the past couple of years: Chris Hughes, Pastor John Strain, and Pastor George VanSandt have been very faithful contributors. It has been fun to introduce you to the writings of Pastor Jason Walsh, and occasionally, Pastor Paul Ort (hint hint – Paul!). And I am thankful for George Hutchison’s blogging Stewardship Insights which I share with you. Very shortly you will be hearing from Dr. Joe Olachea, a dear friend and Board member of America’s Keswick. Dr. Joe is the Senior Pastor of Lakes Chapel in Medford, and also a faculty member of the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies.
Our passion remains the same – we are in this journey together. Iron sharpens iron and we want to encourage each other to walk in victory and to be more than a conqueror.
Thanks for allowing us the joy of being a part of your life. We look forward to many more years of growing together IN CHRIST! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 19-21; Proverbs 18; Psalm 18
Compass Pointers: Faith is not sense, nor sight, nor reason, but simply taking God at His Word. – Christmas Evans

Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: Prayer must not be our “chance” work, but our daily business, our habit, our vocation. – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Discover the Real Truth About Sin

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Discover the REAL Truth About Sin
“You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5
If you haven’t figured this truth out yet, the enemy of our souls is constantly feeding us lies! You might scratch your head and say, “Bill, are you serious? You are just finding that out?” But the truth be told, many of us who have KNOWN the truth find ourselves in compromising situations where we DO believe the lies of the enemy.

The Puritan preachers didn’t pull punches like some of the “sugar-coated-tongued” preachers of today who are afraid to call sin, sin – and warn us of the dangers of sin.

Thomas Brooks lays it out plain and simple in the January 15th reading found in VOICES FROM THE PAST (Banner of Truth):

One of Satan’s devices to draw the soul into sin is to present the bait, and hide the hook; to present the golden cup, and hide the poison; to present the sweet, and the pleasure, but hide from the soul the wrath and misery that will certainly follow. He hides from us, like he did with Adam and Eve the shame, the wrath, and the loss that certainly follows when we yield to sin in our lives …

Keep a great distance from sin (Romans 12:9). Joseph did and stood. David drew near, and fell. SIN IS THE MOST INFECTIOUS PLAGUE IN THE WORLD! How few tremble at it and keep a distance from it! The seeming sweet that is in sin will quickly vanish, and lasting shame, sorrow and terror will come in its place. When an asp stings a man, the poison, little by little gets to the heart. So does sin – it may please a little at first, but it will pain the soul at last.

Sin will usher in the greatest and the saddest losses that can be upon our souls. It will usher in the loss of divine favor that is better than life, and the loss of joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, and the loss of peace that passes understanding, and the loss of the divine influences by which the soul has been refreshed, quickened, raised, strengthened, and gladdened, and the loss of many outward desirable mercies, which otherwise that soul might have enjoyed.


Go back and reread that paragraph. We need to burn this truth into our hearts. Today I will officiate at the funeral of a 27 year old young man that didn’t grasp this truth. His sin cost him his life. I need to remind myself of this truth daily. The enemy wants to hide the hook! The Holy Spirit wants to reveal it. Is he hiding the hook in your life? Let’s open our eyes brother! Let the Spirit show you the truth about your sin! – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 16-18; Proverbs 17; Psalm 17
Compass Pointers: I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done. James Hudson Taylor
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: Precious things lie in a small compass, and that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as Peter’s: “Lord, save me!” Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I Surrender … Some?

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I Surrender … Some?

“We have left everything to follow you.” Mark 10:28

Today many of us will gather to worship the Lord in our churches. We will stand and sing hymns of praise. Will we sing the hymns, praise choruses on auto-pilot or will we actually THINK about what we are singing?

Judson Van De Venter wrote a powerful hymn in the late 1800’s. Most likely the words are familiar to you …
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow.
Worldly pleasures all forsaken,
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine.
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee.
Fill me with Thy love and power,

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain
I surrender ALL.
I surrender ALL.
ALL to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender ALL.

I have to be honest, I am not sure that I can always sing that and mean it. It is much easier to sing, “I surrender some” versus “I surrender all.” The problem is that He doesn’t want a part. He doesn’t want some – He wants ALL.

My prayer is similar to one I read this week by A. W. Tozer:

Father, I want to know You, but my cowardly heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from You the terror of parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that You may enter and dwell there without a rival. Then You shall make the place of Your feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Yourself will be the light of it, an there shall be no night there.

That’s my prayer, Lord. – Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick

GPS – God’s Positioning System: Genesis 12-15; Proverbs 16; Psalm 16
Compass Pointers: It is when God appears to have abandoned us that we must abandon ourselves mot wholly to God. Francois Fenelon
Navigation Rules: Level 1: Proverbs 3:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 3:1-11
Anchored to the Rock: If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wings, they would be all the better! Charles Haddon Spurgeon