THE HOLY SPIRIT AS TEACHER

I am thankful for the way God is at work in people’s hearts, especially in the lives of the men who are in the Colony of Mercy, our 120-day residential program for men. One of our recent grads, now serves in our internship program. Chris did not grow up in any church. Has never been to church and at 34, his first exposure to church was when he came to the program.

During his time he, he trusted Christ as Savior, and what a transformation that is taking place. But the thing that has been so cool is to see the GROWTH that has occurred as the HOLY SPIRIT does HIS work in teaching Chris. It thrills me because that is exactly what Jesus told the disciples the role of the Holy Spirit would be in our lives: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things that I send to you.” (John 14:20) The Holy Spirit is STILL doing HIS job, even though there are some who believe that post-moderns and busters, etc. can’t handle truth like we used to! Some 2000 years since Jesus spoke those words, the HOLY SPIRIT is teaching and guiding.

As we prepare our hearts to worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit on this Lord’s day, reflect on this words from one of the prayers of the Puritans:

THE SPIRIT AS TEACHER

O God the Holy Spirit,

That which I know not, teach me,
Keep me a humble disciple in the school of Christ,
Learning daily there what I am in myself,
a fallen sinful creature,
justly deserving everlasting destruction;
O let me never lose sight of my need of a Savior,
or forget that apart from Him I am nothing,
and can do nothing.
Open my understanding to know the Holy Scriptures;
Reveal to my soul the counsels and works of the blessed Trinity;
Instill into my dark mind the saving knowledge of Jesus;
Make me acquainted with his covenant undertaking,
and his perfect fulfillment of them,
that by resting on his finished work,
I may find the Father’s love in the Son,
his Father, my Father,
and may be brought through Your influence
to have fellowship with the Three in One.
O lead me into all Truth, Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
that I may know the things that belong unto my peace,
and through you be made new.
Make practical upon my heart the Father’s love
as you have revealed it in the Scriptures;
Apply to my soul the blood of Christ, effectually, continually,
and help me to believe, with conscience comforted,
that it cleanses from all sin;
Lead me from faith to faith, that I may at all times have freedom
to a reconciled Father,
And may be able to maintain peace with Him
against doubts, fears, corruptions, temptations.
Your office is to teach me to draw near to Christ with a pure heart,
steadfastly persuaded of his love
in the full assurance of faith.
Let me never falter in this way.

Good prayer for this Lord’s Day.

Have a great day IN CHRIST!

ATTENTION: HAND SUPPORTERS NEEDED

“But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.” Exodus 17:12
The battle was intense and Moses was weary. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Israel was winning the battle. As soon as his hands came down, defeat! Aaron and Hur were clued into what was happening and realized that the length and intensity of the battle was wearing Moses’ down. He was bone tired and was having difficulty staying with the stuff. So they came alongside of him, put a stone under him to sit on, and these two friends, rather than stand by and criticize and “Monday morning quarterbacking” — got involved and became a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Notice they didn’t give Moses advice or even quote Scripture to him. They stepped up to the plate and stood by their man. Their encouragement and support not only helped Moses, it enabled the enemy to be defeated.
Last week I shared with you that I was pretty discouraged and felt the intensity of the battle. The Lord has sent several Aaron’s and Hur’s into my life in the past couple of days, and I want to share with you what happened yesterday. The mother of one of my leadership staff stopped in to see me yesterday to encourage me. She has been a very faithful prayer warrior and has such a sweet spirit.
Mrs. Beltle came into my office and I walked over to give her a big hug. She put her arms around me and said, “Now Bill Welte, I want to pray for you.” And for the next five minutes, this precious lady poured out her heart to God on my behalf and her faith and love strengthened my spirit in a special way. Mrs. Beltle did what the writer of Hebrews exhorted believers to do in Hebrews 12:12 “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble . . .” She became a “Hand-Supporter” for me and I praise the Lord for using her in my life to encourage me at just the right time!
There are people all around you who need encouragement. I have a burden for Pastors, and I want to encourage my Freedom Fighter family — become an Aaron or Hur to your Pastor. He needs your encouragement and prayers. Take some time this morning and ask the Lord to show you people who need your support. Your hand support can make a difference in someone’s life today. Stop standing on the sidelines. Get involved and make a difference!
Thank You, Lord, for Mrs. Beltle!
Great quote: A church that has passion is a church where discouraged folks cheer up, dishonest folks ‘fess up, sour folks sweeten up, closed folk, open up, gossipers shut up, conflicted folks make up, sleeping folks wake up, lukewarm folk, fire up, dry bones shake up, and pew potatoes stand up! But most of all, Christ the Savior of the entire world is lifted up.

Davon Huss

THE BIBLE . . . A TREASURE

Yesterday I received a treasure from one of my friends who is now in her nineties. She believes that she is going home to be with the Lord and has been giving away some of her possessions. I was given her Bible — her friend and companion for these many years. You can learn so much about a person by looking at in their Bible. For the next couples of days, I want to share some of the precious nuggets that I have found within the pages of her Bible.

Here is a poem pasted into the flyleaf of her Bible:

“Now, said this Book to me,
Open my pages and you shall see
Jewels of wisdom and treasures fine
Gold and silver in every line
And you may claim them if you will
Open my pages and take your fill.

Open my pages and run them o’er
Take what you choose of my golden store
Be you greedy, I shall not care
All that you seize I shall gladly spare
There is never a lock on my treasure door
Come, here are my jewels make them YOURS.

I have just been a book on your shelf
But I can be part of your living self
If only you’ll travel my pages thru
Then I will travel the whole world with you.

As two wines blended make better wine (not a good Keswick phrase!!!)
Blend your mind with these truths of mine.
I’ll make you better to talk with men,
I’ll touch with silver the lines you pen.
I’ll lead you nearer the truth you seek
I’ll strengthen you when your faith grows weak
This place on the shelf has been a prison cell
Let me come into your mind to dwell.

Make THE BOOK live to me, O Lord.
Instill with my heart, dear Lord,
A deep desire to know Your Word;
I want to learn to hear YOUR voice
And always make YOUR will my choice.

Good words to consider today. Well this has been an exciting week at America’s KESWICK and I want to make you an offer that will be hard to refuse. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung has been sharing God’s Word in light of Bible prophecy and this is a series that you don’t want to miss. I am willing to give to my Freedom Fighter friends, a set of CD’s (8 messages) but ask that you consider a gift to the ministry to help us this summer with the many expenses we face. Here is how it will work . . . If you will respond to this email, we will send you the CD’s and it will then be between you and the Lord to send your gift. I am telling you … this is a “must hear” series for every believer. I look forward to hearing from you today. To order your CD’s … simply respond to this email. Your gift will be much appreciated. Thanks.

BENEFITS OF FEARING THE LORD

Here are twelve more benefits of fearing the Lord:

13. He gives food to them that fear Him. (Psalm 111:5)
14. He fulfills the desires of them that fear Him. (Psalm145:18-19)
15. He hears and saves those who fear Him. (Psalm 145:18-19)
16. The fear of the Lord produces healing to our bodies and health to our bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8)
17. The fear of the Lord creates a hatred for sin. (Proverbs 8:13)
18. The fear of the Lord prolongs life. (Proverbs 10:17)
19. The fear of the Lord brings godly confidence. (Proverbs 14:16)
20. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27)
21. The fear of the Lord is from envying sinners. (Proverbs 23:17)
22. Mercy is on those who fear the Lord. (Acts 9:31)
23. The fear of the Lord allows for growth and peace. (Acts 9:31)
24. The fear of the Lord helps us to persuade men by the example of our godly lives. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

And I discovered a 25th one yesterday as I read through Proverbs 19

25. The fear of the Lord leads to a peace-centered life. Proverbs 19:24

Take time today to read these verses and allow them to penetrate your HEART today.

Are you free this weekend? Enjoy a weekend away at America’s KESWICK. Special rate available for our Freedom Fighter family. Call today for information. We’d love to serve you.

HOW WILL YOUR WORSHIP TODAY?

Today is the day we call the LORD’S DAY. It is a day when we gather together as a body of believers to celebrate who God is and rehearse His goodness. This morning in my Bible reading, I read again Psalm 100 from The Message:

Psalm 100

“On your feet now — applaud God!
Bring your gift of laughter,
Sing yourself into his presence.

Know this: GOD IS GOD, and God, God.
He made us; We didn’t make him.
We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

For God is sheer beauty,
All-generous in love,
Loyal always and ever.”

How will you worship today? Reflect on the words of this Psalm that many of you have committed to memory. Enjoy Him and his people today as you gather together to worship HIM — He is the Audience of One!!!

Check out a new feature on our website: Addiction in the News: Find Truth in the Midst of Chaos. Up-to-date information to help you understand addiction. http://www.americaskeswick.org/AddictionintheNews.htm

A WEEK OF ENCOURAGEMENT

This past week was one of intense struggle and discouragement for me. My staff can tell you that just before God is going to show up to do something incredible, we seem to go through all kinds of difficulties from equipment breakdowns to interpersonal relationship struggles. Little things seem to grow into big things.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were very difficult and by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, I have to confess, I was ready to throw in the towel. In fact, as I walked into the Colony Chapel for our weekly staff chapel, I looked at one of our staff who was aware of some of the stuff I was facing, and said, “I’m done!”

But God showed up at Chapel and did a mightily work in our midst, and from that point on, the rest of the week was one amazing victory after another. The conclusion of our Prophecy Week conference was an outpouring of God speaking to hearts and transforming lives.

Looking back now, today’s verses from the WORD OF GOD as recorded in the daily devotional, DAILY LIGHT, have significant meaning for me. Maybe someone reading today’s Freedom Fighter needs the reminder too:

“You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me’, says the Lord. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in HIM! O, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.” (Psalm 61:1; Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 34:7-10; Psalm 16:6)

The Lord knows WHAT we need WHEN we need it. I pray that if you are discouraged today, under attack by the enemy, that your soul will be comforted by the encouragement from HIS WORD to you today.

I made an offer this week for your to secure the messages that were presented on Bible Prophecy by our speaker, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung. I would like to make them available to my Freedom Fighter friends — 8 messages which includes a Q & A. This is a must-hear series for every Christian. I’d be happy to send them to you and ask that you consider a special gift for the ministry of America’s KESWICK. You can make a donation right from our website: http://www.americaskeswick.org. To order the eight CD-set, simply respond to this email and we will ship them to you. Please include your mailing address.

Tomorrow afternoon’s concert: THE GREINER FAMILY. 2:30 PM Hymnsing followed by the concert at 3:00 PM.

Freedom Fighter is a daily ministry of America’s KESWICK. Thank you for the support of this ministry.

MORE NUGGETS FROM A FRIEND’S BIBLE

Yesterday I shared that dear friend in her nineties, gave me her Bible. It contains so many precious notes, poems and outlines that she has written throughout her life. She loves the Book, and yet because of her loss of vision, cannot read it. She holds onto the Word that she has memorized over the years.

Here is a precious poem I found on one of the inner pages of her Bible:

O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me,
And all things else recede!
My heart be daily nearer Thee,
From sin to be daily freed.

Each day let Thy supporting might,
My weakness still embrace,
My darkness vanish in Thy light
Thy life my death efface.

In Thy bright beams which on me fall,
Fade every evil thought,
That I am NOTHING, Thou are ALL,
I would be daily taught.

More of Thy glory let me see,
Thou, Holy, Wise, and True!
I would Thy living image be,
In joy and sorrow, too.

Fill me with gladness from above,
Hold me by strength Divine.
Lord, let the glow of Thy great love
Through my whole being shine.

Make this poor self grow less and less
Be Thou my life and aim;
Oh, make me daily thru Thy grace
More meet to bear Thy name.

What a wonderful prayer for today!

I want to offer once again to send my Freedom Fighter friends a set of the messages that Dr. Jimmy De Young has presented at America’s KESWICK this week on Bible prophecy. It is a timely series in light of all that is taking place right now in the Middle East. We ask that you consider a special summer gift to help us with our summer conference expenses. Respond to this email to let me know you want the CD’s and be sure to include your mailing address. If you’d like to make your gift on-line, you can do so right from our home page: http://www.americaskeswick.org. Mark your gift “Prophecy Series.” Your help at this time will be greatly appreciated.

God bless.

DEPEND ON GOD

From the writings of FENELON — THE SEEKING HEART

“I know I talk a lot about being totally detached from yourself and about loving in a completely unselfish way. Since this is such a difficult thing to do, I don’t want you to feel so guilty when you fall short. Your failures don’t make you displeasing to Him. It is a long process toward being completely dead to your selfishness. There will be self-seeking in many things that you do. You can tell if your old self is involved in a situation when something stands in the way of what you want and your are upset or disgruntled.

You cling to yourself without realizing it, but see how you cry when something is taken away! You do not deliberately hang onto your bad intentions, but you do not look at them too closely for fear of what you might find out! God reveals a thousand things in your heart which you will swear are not there, but He will help you to deal with them.

Do you think you want to discover all your weaknesses at once? God tenderly spares you this frightening discovery. He does not send too much light too quickly. Do you see how admirable and good God is not to ask you to change something which He has not given you the resources to change?

The people who watch their faults the most are still in the dark about how to give up certain weaknesses. God reserves this wisdom for a more advanced state.

Be faithful to what God has given you — not what He hasn’t. God will show you, in HIS time, everything you need to know. Meanwhile, God hides your own imperfections behind a veil lest they overwhelm you. You impatiently want to be perfect, but it is much better to wait humbly under the hand of God. Bear yourself without condemnation or flattery. The process will work a deeper death to your self-nature than instant perfection.

God wants to foster your dependence on Him. He gives you light as a wise mother would give her child tasks to do. No more light is given until that particular job is finished. Have you finished all that God sets before you? He will instantly give you a new work for He never leaves you idle. But if you haven’t done what He has asked, He will show you more.

Let God work in you, and be happy with the light He gives you. Each new gift from God is built upon the one before it.” Written over 400 years ago!!! Good words for today.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23

Join us this week for uplifting and challenging messages by one of America’s leading scholars on Biblical prophecy. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung will be speaking each morning (M-T) at 9:30 AM and then in the evenings at 7 PM. Call for information — 732-350-1187.

A MEETING WITH GOD

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.” (Genesis 32:24)

Jacob is a perfect example of a man who strives to do the will of God in his own strength and intellect. Jacob rose to great heights and acquired wealth by his human abilities, but in all of his success he was far from being in the will of God.
We are first introduced to Jacob in Genesis 25. At the time of his birth we see two things. First, God informed Rebekah that the struggle she felt in her womb was because she was carrying twins. God promised that the blessings of the birthright, always given to the first born, would be given to the second born. Secondly, Jacob’s nature is revealed in the birth process as he holds to the heel of his twin brother Esau.
In time Jacob convinced Esau to sell his birthright as the first born for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34). Later he lied to his father Isaac and tricked him into bestowing to him the birthright (Genesis 27:18-29). From the time Jacob lied to Isaac until we see him wrestling with the Lord in Genesis 32, over twenty years elapse. Jacob’s entire life was one of deceit and deception. The tragedy of his life was that God had promised to give everything to Jacob that he was lying and cheating to get. If only Jacob had waited on God how different his life would have been.
Jacob’s actions eventually backed him into a corner at Jabbok. It was here that God arranged a long overdue meeting with Jacob. This meeting with God would be the turning point in Jacob’s life.
Genesis 32: 22-32 describes the nature of this meeting. First, Jacob was left alone. God requests that we spend time alone with Him, but if we refuse or neglect to keep this appointment God will arrange an appointment of His own. He knows the value of His children spending time alone with Him. Are you spending time alone with God?
At Jabbok God broke Jacob. It was out of this brokenness that Jacob saw himself for he was and he confessed all his sin. It was in this state of brokenness that God changed Jacob and blessed him with a new name and a new nature.
Are you spending time alone with God?

Roger D. Willmore

Scripture Reading: Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20

Today’s devotional is written by our good friend, Dr. Roger Willmore, who will be speaking at America’s KESWICK in August. The writing is from our daily devotional, REAL VICTORY FOR REAL LIFE now in its second printing. You can order a copy right from our website — http://www.americaskeswick.org

Sunday afternoon concert: July 23 — David Hibbard — vocalist and trumpeter. 2:30 Hymnsing followed by the concert at 3.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD (Part 2)

I have read many definitions of the fear of the Lord but the one the has helped me the most is one that Bill Gothard shared at his seminars: “The fear of the Lord is the continual awareness that God weighs, sees and knows every one of my thoughts, deeds, words and actions.”

We like to focus on the love of God and I am thankful for His everlasting, unconditional, and unfailing love. But there is the other side of God — His holiness, His justice, His righteousness that needs to be realized.

Most of us have heard the fear of the Lord defined as reverence for God. The word reverence means to treat with awe and respect. Dr. Ed Welch in his book WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG GOD IS SMALL says that on one side of the fear of the Lord there is terror, dread, and trembling as we consider who God is. In this side of the fear of the Lord we want to hide from Him because we fear Him. Yet the more I come to know Him and love Him, it leads to astonishment, awe, reverence, devotion, trust and worship of Him — We seek, draw near and submit to God.

Growing up I can remember having my Mom say when I was naughty, “Just wait till your father gets home.” There was dread and trembling because of the discipline that I knew was coming. I respected my Dad and yet when I knew that I would face discipline from him, I wanted to run and hide. And yet there was in that respect for him, the desire to be in his presence … something that created in me a desire to be near him and a desire to submit to his authority.

John Bunyan, author or PILGRIM’S PROGRESS wrote: “Christian, let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear Him greatly. He has put His fear in your heart, and may not have given that blessing to your neighbor, perhaps not to your husband, your wife, your child, or your parent. Oh, what an obligation should this thought lay upon your heart to greatly fear the Lord! Remember also that this fear of the Lord is His treasure, a choice jewel, given only to favorites, and to those who are greatly beloved.”
Tomorrow I want to share with you the benefits of fearing the Lord.
Have a great day!!!

Next week Dr. Jimmy DeYoung will be on campus at America’s KESWICK for our prophecy week. Sessions will be Monday – Thursday mornings at 9:30 AM and the Monday – Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. With all that is going on in the Middle East, you don’t want to miss this great week. For further information, call 732-350-1187.