Acts 16:31 Revisited

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Acts 16:31 Revisited

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Acts 16:31 (NIV)

The ripple effect has been amazing. It started out with Bill getting saved during his time in the Colony of Mercy. During his 120-days in the program, one of our disciples had the joy of leading his Mom to the Lord. Months later she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is now home with the Lord.

The night of his graduation, his Dad and his Dad’s girlfriend both trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. That in itself was truly amazing. But there was more to come because of the testimony of Bill’s life. Weeks later, he had the joy of leading his two kids in the sinner’s prayer.

What an amazing example of how God works in people’s lives. A whole family has been rescued from the “kingdom of darkness” to the “kingdom of His dear Son!”

But today, I heard yet another miracle. Last week Bill and his son were on a retreat. Bill and his wife are separated. After returning from the retreat Bill’s son was so broken up about his Mom’s need for Jesus, all he could do was cry. Towards the end of the week, guess what — this 11-year old boy led his Mom to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! Is it real? Only time will tell — but what a thrill to see God at work. In fact, HE IS ALWAYS at work around us — and He invites you and me to join Him in that work. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 2; Psalm 60-62; Romans 5

Great Quote: Integrity is keeping my commitments even if the circumstances when I made those commitments have changed. David Jeremiah

VIctory

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VICTORY

Here is a wonderful prayer from the Puritans from THE VALLEY OF VISION, published by Banner of Truth. Watch for information about how you can order THINK VICTORY Resources from the Keswick Online Store …

O Divine Redeemer,

Great was thy goodness
in undertaking my redemption,
in consenting to be made sin for me,
in conquering all my foes;
Great was thy strength
in enduring the extremities of divine wrath,
in taking away the load of my iniquities;
Great was thy love
in manifesting thyself alive,
in showing thy sacred wounds,
that ever fear might vanish,
and every doubt be removed;
Great was thy mercy
in ascending to heaven
in being crowned and enthroned
there to intercede for me,
there to succour me in temptation
there to open the eternal book,
there to receive me finally to thyself;
Great was thy wisdom
in devising this means of salvation;
Bathe my soul in rich consolations
of thy resurrection life;
Great was thy grace in commanding me to come hand in hand
with thee to the Father,
to be knit to him eternally,
to discover in him my rest,
to find in him my peace,
to behold his glory,
to honor him who alone is worthy,
in giving me the Spirit as teacher, guide, power,
that I may live repenting of sin,
conquer Satan,
find victory in life.
When thou art absent all sorrows are here,
When thou art present all blessings are mine.
Amen

Great prayer for us men who desire to walk in VICTORY. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD: Proverbs 1; Psalm 57-59; Romans 4

Like art, like music, like so many other disciplines, prayer can only be appreciated when you actually spend time in it. Spending time with the Master will elevate your thinking. The more you pray, the more will be revealed. You will appreciate not only the greatness of prayer, but the greatness of God. Joni Eareckson Tada

Who Am I?

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Who Am I?

Years ago I received this power reading, and thought I would share it with you again for your encouragement:

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or 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, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, and popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. Leaning on his presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is 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 give up, I won’t shut up, I won’t let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Jesus Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all I know, work until He stops me and when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear because I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 31; Psalm 54-56; Romans 3

Great Quote: We humans are a hungry lot. We are driven by a craving to know who we are. Yet who we are is embedded in the heart of a holy God. Unless we seek for ourselves in the epicentre of God’s grace, we will be forever condemned to walk the arid edges of self-understanding. Calvin Miller

Peter Put In His Place

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PETER PUT IN HIS PLACE

“Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
(Mark 8:33b)

Peter was my favorite of the disciples because I think God made me a lot like him. You know, the sanguine personality who can’t stand quiet so we do the thing at which we are the best, we talk. It has been said of this personality that we talk 15 minutes trying to think of something to say. We are fun to be around, sometimes, for a while, occasionally.

That was Peter; leading with his ready-aim-talk approach to life. It can get you to the head of the class and it can just as easily create embarrassing and awkward moments. This is turn can produce a life of emotional ups and downs.

In the story from Mark 8 we see evidence of those ups and downs. First Peter gallantly answered Jesus’ question about who He is, which resulted in a high five from the Savior. Immediately after that Jesus predicted His looming death only to be rebuked by the same man who just confessed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Do you see this personality I have described?

Jesus’ response was interesting and thought provoking. He said Peter was thinking like man thinks, not like God thinks. He was accusing Peter of seeing things from a human point of view, not from God’s point of view.

I’m sure it’s not true of you but I have to confess that I make a regular habit of doing the same thing. My first reaction to situations is usually and unfortunately from a human perspective.

The big picture of what Jesus was saying was exactly God’s plan for the ages but Peter saw it from a human point of view. That will always get us in trouble.

We need to work at divorcing ourselves what our culture says, what our society thinks, what they are saying on television and writing in the newspapers and concentrate on seeing things as God sees them.

What is going on right now in your life that you are trying to get a grip on? Are you working at seeing it through the eyes of the one who loved you enough to die for you, cares for you and wants the best for you? — Walt Wiley is President of Winning with Encouragement and a favorite speaker at America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; Psalm 51-53; Romans 2

Great Quote: The Word of God I think of as a straight edge, which shows up our own crookedness. We can’t really tell how crooked our thinking is until we line it up with the straight edge of Scripture. Elisabeth Elliot

Ups and Downs

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Ups and Downs

Singer-songwriter, Mark Lowry, often shares in his concerts that Christ has come to give us abundant live — UPS and DOWNS — Mountains and Valleys …

Fenelon wrote this about ups and downs:

Let the ups and downs of your spiritual life come and go. If you were always down, you would become hardened and discouraged. God gives you seasons when you can catch your breath.

Let me tell you about myself. When I suffer, I can never see an end to my trials. And when relief comes, I am so suspicious that the suffering is not really over that I hesitate to accept my rest. It seems to me that to accept both “good” and “bad” seasons alike is to be truly fruitful. Accept both comfort and correction from the hand of God.

Of course, this is all very easy for me to say to you, but I want you to know that I cringe at the very thought of the cross coming to work in me. I am not tellign you that experiencing the cross will be easy. Outwardly it will be difficult, but inwardly it can be worse — a time of agony and dryness.

If I sound a bit pessimistic, it is because I am writing to you in the midst of a spiritual dry spell. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. God will do what seems good to Him. Sometimes what He wants is hard to accept. Listen to God — there is true freedom, peace, and joy in Him.

This was pretty timely and meaningful to me. I needed to hear this. How about you? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 29; Psalm 49-50; Romans 1

Great Quote: One who commences prayer should imagine that for the delight of his Lord, he is starting to plant a garden in some very unfruitful soil, full of weeds. His Majesty must be asked to pull up the bad plants, and put good ones in their place. But we will suppose this is already done, when a soul has not only determined, but is resolved to make use of mental prayer. And now, by God’s help, we must endeavour, like good gardeners, to make these plants grow. We should take care to water them, so they will not wither, but bring forth flowers of such sweet fragrance as may please our Lord. Then He may take pleasure in often coming into this garden, and delighting Himself with our virtues. Teresa of Avila

Where Your Treasure Is

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Where Your Treasure Is

“For where YOUR treasure is, there YOUR heart will be also.” Luke 12:34

What is it that YOU treasure most in life? I am not looking for you to give me the answer that I want to hear — but let’s get real, brothers … What is it that has really grabbed your heart? Is it money? Possessions? Career? Sex? Cars? What is the idol of your heart?

Dr. Henry Blackaby really nails it when he writes: What you value MOST is your treasure. Where you spend YOUR time and money is YOUR treasure. Whatever dominates YOUR conversation is what YOU treasure. What others know YOU for is a good indication of what your treasure is.

Most Christians are quick to claim that God is their first priority. Yet often their actions reveal that their treasure is not God but THINGS OF THE WORLD. Some Christians find it difficult to discuss their relationship with God, but they can chatter easily about their family, friends, or hobbies.

Some find it impossible to rise early in order to spend time with God, but they are willing to get up at dawn to pursue a hobby. Some find it difficult to give an offering to God but readily spend lavishly on recreation. Some boldly approach strangers to sell a product, yet they are painfully timid in telling others about their Savior. Some give hundreds of hours to serve in a volunteer organization but feel they have no time available to serve God.

If you are unsure of where YOUR treasure is, examine where YOU spend YOUR available time and money. Reflect on what it is that you most enjoy thinking about and discussing. Ask your friends to tell you what they think is most important to YOU. Ask your children to list the things most valuable to YOU. It may surprise you to know what OTHERS consider to be YOUR treasure.

Something good to think about as you go about today. Think about it! — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 28; Psalm 46-48; Acts 28

Great Quote: “The true Christian cannot be hid, he cannot escape notice. A man truly living and functioning as a Christian will stand out. He will be like salt; he will be like a city set on a hill, a candle set upon a candlestick. But we can also add this further word. The true Christian does not even desire to hide his light. He sees how ridiculous it is to claim to be a Christian and yet deliberately to try to hide the fact. A man who truly realizes what it means to be a Christian, who realizes all that the grace of God has meant to him and done for him, and understands that, ultimately, God has done this in order that he may influence others, is a man who cannot conceal it. Not only that; he does not desire to conceal it, because he argues thus, ‘Ultimately the object and purpose of it all is that I might be functioning in this way’.” Martin Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

All Came with Itching Ears

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“All Came with Itching Ears”

“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ” Nehemiah 8: 1-3 (ESV)

I like hearing God’s word preached. I’ve listened to Pastors who are monotone to the ones that do a stand-up routine. If they are preaching Christ crucified and resurrected they’ll have my ear. At America’s Keswick I’ve heard some Pastors who are famous and some not so famous. I’ve had been to churches to listen to a different Pastor because of a friend’s recommendation. On television there are quite a variety of them to choose from and I like to listen and watch them all and use this as an exercise in apologetics.

I have been listening to John Bevere’s “The Fear of the Lord” series. One of the issue’s he covered was the wanting and hunger of God’s people to hear God’s word. “If you’re hungry you’ll never get tired of chicken!!” was one of his points. He went on to say that those Christians who hunger for God’s word will be in church Sunday night, a Bible study once or twice a week, Wednesday night prayer meetings and Saturday morning men’s/ladies breakfast. I , myself, am guilty of not doing this list in a vigorous way but I will take the time to go in depth in my walk.

Ezra had been in Jerusalem sometime before Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of the city. And although it’s not very clear to me on how long that might have been it is clear to me that Ezra rebuilt the Temple and began to instructed and teach the people who were coming back from exile. By the time Nehemiah finishes the work on the wall the appointed time has come. Ezra is called to the square and he, along with the Levites, open the Book and they begin to read from it. All the people rose up from their sit down position to listen to the Law of Moses and after this had happened there was a great revival. For days they held solemn assemblies with people confessing their sin and offering up sacrifices. The feast of Tabernacles was kept with a great solemnity and enthusiasm, the nation of Israel renewed their national covenant and the walls were dedicated. But I think, and if any of my apologetic brothers would agree, the fear of the Lord came back to the people of Israel.

I have spent almost a solid month listening to Bevere’s “The Fear of the Lord” CD series. I do have several of his CD’s and I have read his book “The Bait of Satan”. There are a few things he goes into that I have raised an eyebrow or two over but when I finish listening to him I begin to wonder about my own “Fear of the Lord.” Am I saying that I am being convicted? I believe that God will use whoever and whatever to convict my heart when something about my heart condition needs to be addressed that’s what I am saying.

So what convicted the people of Nehemiah and Ezra’s time? I think it was a very real separation from God. Do you think being in exile made a nation realize that a healthy fear of the Lord had to be a way of life? I have spent the past few months working long hours and not spending the kind of time I am used to in God’s Word. I think my time in exile has to come to end and I need to get back on that narrow path that keeps me right.

What about you brother/sister? Do you feel like you are in exile? It would be a great thing if you allowed the wide open arms of the Savior to steer you back on the path. As for me and mine we are getting some “rest”!!! — Chris Hughes is a Colony Grad and a frequent Freedom Fighter Contributor

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 27; Psalm 43-45; Acts 27:27-44

Great Quote — “Christ leaves no emptiness within you. You will be led to do things which you will find enjoyable, and you will like them better than doing all the things which have led you astray. How happy you will be when you do not possess anything of your own but give yourself completely to your Lord. Bride of Jesus, how beautiful you are when you no longer have anything of your own, but seek only His beauty. You will then be the delight of your Bridegroom, and he will be all your beauty! He will love you without measure. He will put His own life in you.
The Seeking Heart by Fenelon

God is Always at Work Around You (Part 8)

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God is Always At Work Around You (Part 7)

“He comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction through the comfort we ourselves have received from God …” 2 Corinthians 1:4

I love to watch God work. Get you head out of the sand, brothers, and see Him work. Let me share a neat story with you.

On our recent Alaska trip we connected with some friends traveling with us and learned that they had a tragedy in their family several years ago. Their daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren were killed in a tragic accident. I learned that their kids attended a church in Pennsylvania. That church started in the basement of our Board Chairman. His kids and their kids were good friends. Coincidence?

On the way home the man asked where I attended church growing up. When he heard the name of our church, he asked me if I knew a friend of us — friends who worked together and attended a Bible study at work — co-workers for over 25 years!

Well his friend is one of our “adopted” Uncles! This week, Uncle Ted and Aunt Marge were at America’s KESWICK. In fact Marge and Ted were at our first Sunday afternoon concert, and sitting 25 yards from them in the room was this other couple. They never saw each other.

I invited our friends to join Marge and Ted for lunch on Wednesday and discovered that the husband was celebrating his 79th birthday, but they had stopped celebrating birthdays because his birthday was the day that his kids were killed in the accident. For the past several days they were contemplating what they would do on this anniversary day. How thrilled they were that they were now coming to America’s KESWICK.

Both couples had a delightful time together. And then it hit me how God was really at work. Yes, our friends lost four family members in a tragedy. But Marge and Ted encountered a horrible tragedy when their grandson was killed in a tragic automobile accident, and then a week later, their daughter (their grandson’s Mom) died from pancreatic cancer.

My friend, what are the odds that two old friends who worked together for 25 years, would reconnect, and both lost children. If you read 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, you see that Paul teaches that when we suffer, God uses that suffering in our lives so that we can come alongside and comfort others. If you are willing to open your eyes, you too can find those God encounter moments where He is at work — right under your nose. Are you willing to experience Him? — Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s KESWICK

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Psalm 37-39; Acts 26

Great Quote: People who are lazy, careless, doubtful-minded or arrogant need not expect God to reveal His secret or covenant to them.Watchman Nee

I Never Quite Realized

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I’ve Never Quite Realized

I have a good friend who has a ministry called Gospel Friendships. He is a great mentor to many disciples. Here is something he wrote in a recent newsletter:

I never quite realized,

that what I’ve been looking for all my life, is unconditional love. What I thought I was looking for, was happiness, and what I thought would bring me happiness, was success, in the eyes of others, but also in my own eyes. How much success does a success-addict need to be happy? Just a little bit more. A success-addict becomes a highly-competitive person, always wanting more, always comparing himself to others, wanting “competitors” to fail, so he can succeed. But sadly, always noticing others who are yet more successful, and tasting the bitterness of failure, by comparison.

And moving vocationally from the business world into ministry, enables a success-addict to have sanctified ambition, be considered worthy, successful in the eyes of other Christian leaders, and followers. But even in ministry, success does not lead to happiness. Like Ecclesiastes says, nothing leads to happiness. Not in a world that has been Cursed by the Creator.

I have concluded that I have an insatiable appetite for unconditional love, and that the only place I can find that kind of love, is in a relationship with the Lover of my soul, the God of the Universe who created everything. Others fail me, over and over, and I fail myself, over and over. Jesus, the Lover of my soul has never ever failed me. Not once. He does for me, what no one else can do, what I cannot do for myself. He loves me with a patient, forgiving, forbearing, limitless love. I am precious to Him, no matter how much I embarrass Him, ignore Him, fail Him. He cherishes me, enjoys me, just as I am, warts and all. Unbelievable. Inconceivable. Nothing in this life, compares to the preciousness of His unconditional love. My limitless need is met, by His unlimited capacity to love, even the likes of me.

He who has a sense of having been forgiven much, has a sense of having been loved much. It has been God’s grace to me, His favor, His blessing to me, that He has so loved me over and over and over, through the years, that I have been increasingly secure enough in His love, for Him to enable me to look honestly inside, and see how much worse I am, than I ever imagined. I have needed a growing self-awareness, to appreciate the unconditionality, the immenseness, of His love. When I was more clueless, I barely grasped the immenseness of His love. I suspect I am still woefully deficient, but what I know today, is that I am overwhelmed by His love far more than I used to be, and recognize, far more than I used to, my need for a kind of love that only He can give. No one else does for me, what He does for me. He is the Pearl of Great Price, worth selling all to get, because happiness is found nowhere else. Except when I’m living in denial of how bad I am, and how bad it is in the world around me. — Dave McCarty, Gospel Friendships

God’s Word for YOU: Proverbs 24; Psalm 35-36; Acts 25

Great Quote: Many of us place top priority not on becoming Christ like in the middle of our problems but on finding happiness…. I must firmly and consciously by an act of my will reject the goal of becoming happy and adopt the goal of becoming more like the Lord. The result will be happiness for me as I learn to dwell at God’s right hand in fellowship with Christ. –Larry Crabb

Yesterday I shared a devotional with you written by our good friend, Jorge Zambrano. Yesterday morning, Jorge went home to be with Jesus after a long battle with cancer. Please keep Jorge’s family in your prayers.

Obstacles on the Road

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OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD

“But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, ‘What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish–stones that are burned?’” (Nehemiah 4:1-2)

I have traveled through many countries and many different types of roads. Most places try to provide good roads or at least good signals that make one aware that there are obstacles coming up. This is not the case between the towns of Ambato (Ecuador) and Baños in the Tungurahua province. There are so many speed bumps on the road that are not technically designed that, they make you not only slow down and stop but also hurt the bottom parts of one’s vehicle. The worst part of it is that there are no signs telling you that there are obstacles coming up on the road.

That was the experience of Nehemiah when he returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. He ran into some big obstacles. People began to make fun of him. They did not want the walls or the altar to be fixed, because that would have meant a return to the nation-wide worship and intercessional sacrifice through the high priest. Through their spiritual ignorance, those who opposed Nehemiah were confronting God trying to impose their timeline (can they do it in a day?) for the reconstruction. They were sure God could not use burned stones for the reconstruction of the walls.

One of the unfortunate realities in our Christian lives today is that we have allowed the secular world to influence us to the extent that God’s plans for us are almost unnoticeable. Besides the administration of time when we work (those of us who do it willfully) and sleep (most of us should dedicate more time to this activity), we have virtually abdicated our time to unwholesome entertainment and worthless pursuits that do not bring glory to our heavenly Father. Let us be aware and trust God to help us at the times when people make fun of us because God is the first priority in our lives. Let us define clearly our times of personal and family praise and worship. Let us not disregard the meetings with our congregation.

Most of all, let us trust God to forgive us so that being new creations in Christ we can use our past experiences (burned stones) and rebuild our walls. As we continue to make progress in this wonderful pilgrimage that God has shown us, we must remember that we will encounter obstacles in our path. Let us not allow them to stop us. — Jorge Zambrano. Jorge and Denise have served for many years with HCJB. Pray for Jorge as he is now in hospice care due to a long battle with cancer.

God’s WORD for YOU: Proverbs 23; Psalms 33-34; Acts 24

Great Quote: It is not the bee’s [mere] touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most, that will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.Thomas Brooks