Enemies of The Cross – PART TWO

08/16/201608/16/2016Leave a comment

“Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.” ~Philippians 3:17-19 (The Message)

I remember the night I took my son, Kevin, to his first ever Philadelphia Eagles football game. I was all revved up (even though it was pre-season) for a good game and was hoping my son would pick up on the excitement. As we were walking towards “The Linc” (Lincoln Finical Field) he noticed someone wearing a t-shirt that had some nasty saying about the Dallas Cowboys. I explained to my son the on-going rivalry that had been such since I was a kid. When we got into the stadium he again noticed that someone wearing a Cowboys jersey was receiving a lot of lip-service. He asked why are the Cowboys enemies of the Eagles…too embarrassed to say it might be because Dallas has Super Bowl victories and we don’t, my answer was kinda plain,” They just are”. He let it go after that. For the record, it was a Philadelphia vs. Carolina game.

On October 26 1884, from the pulpit of Metropolitan Tabernacle, C.H. Spurgeon asked the congregation this question, “Why are men enemies of this Cross of Christ?” His first part to the answer was this…” Frankly, I think that some do not know why they are.” But then he put it into this nutshell, “Nicodemus wisely asked, “Does our Law judge any man before it hears him?” Our lawless ones do! And there are multitudes of men who ought to think themselves as mean as dirt because they never gave Christ a hearing—yet they thrust Him from them. “Oh!” says one, “I should never go inside any of those canting Methodist places.” No, you are such a wonderful man that you think you can see through a stone wall and judge of what goes on inside—you do not need to be taught because you imagine you already know everything!” (OUCH)

Now we can look at world today and see the obvious reason why so many can be counted as enemies. So many people live on the tangible that it’s all about what can be touched, seen and owned. So many people prefer to-eat-drink-and-be-merry that it’s all about life style. But in any case, these two scenario’s offer nothing but a path that is destined for eternal hopelessness, devoid of love, joy or anything truly good. I even dare to say that we Christians have our moments when the Cross is an enemy. It’s those prideful moments where we tell ourselves that we’re good, maybe even better than those around us. After all Jesus paid it all…All to Him I owe…Sin left a crimson

stain…He washed it white as snow. We tend to forget that it was Jesus who was looking towards the Throne of Grace, looking for mercy to be bestowed only to finally yell out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?)

The sermon Spurgeon gave that day in 1884 really sums up those who are enemies of the Cross. His hope was that The Holy Spirit used his sermon to bring people to Christ even though he knew this unfortunate truth, “But, alas, multitudes of men do not want holiness—they want their harlots, they want their wine, they want their carnivals of vice, they want their selfishness and they want everything that Christ does not give, so they cry, “Not this Man, but Barabbas,” and they make the awful choice of sin as they neglect their Lord! These are “the enemies of the Cross of Christ.”

But this shouldn’t end on a sour note. We have been given the promises of The Kingdom and the Apostle Paul wants to understand that, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.” (Phil 3:20-21) Brothers (and sisters) this day, walk in the victory that Christ obtained for you and share it. It ain’t yours anyway so ya might as well give some of it away. Who knows…it might win a Super Bowl or two. (yeah I’m stretching it, but I have hope)

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 77; Proverbs 16

Daily Quote: “Now the point of this analysis is not to judge or condemn the lost or to leave some kind of impression that Christians are better than non-Christians. Rather, it is to help us remember why God has placed us among them. Our mission is to reach out to them! To win them. To help them realize that there is so much more to life than they have ever known.” — Charles Swindoll

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ~Romans 8:18

Hope in Darkness!

08/11/201608/10/2016Leave a comment

“To shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” ~Luke 1:79

Those were very dark time in the era of the coming Messiah. Sin had run rampant throughout all nations. Political wars, sinful lusts, and personal agendas were at its peak. Oppression from the Roman Empire was being implemented throughout the Land. And God’s people were scattered; and compromised in many ways.

Does this condition sound familiar? We have been bombarded with hostile enemies, racial tension, political agendas, police brutality, police murders, unnatural sexual freedoms… sin is running rampant. It seems like a new type of evil and defiantly feels new, but this type of darkness has been brewing for many years.

This darken world needs a light. The light that gives hope, the hope that gives light. It needs to see the same light that guided us out of our dark hearts. God declares, “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.” (Isaiah 42:16)

While teaching at VBS the topic was hope in the light of Jesus and as that point reiterated itself, I realize that I/we focus on the fact that Jesus has become the light to expose darkness, but His light also reveal His goodness throughout this fallen world as well. He provided the example, and chose us to continue the work he started. It’s our time to put away our sinful, selfish, opinionated, judgmental attitude and be a light, and direct to the light, in a dark world.

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 72; Proverbs 11

Daily Quote:“To many Christians, Christ is little more than an idea, or at best an ideal. He is not a fact. Millions of professed believers talk as if He were real and act as if He were not. And always our actual position is to be discovered by the way we act, not by the way we talk.” —A.W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17

Enemies of The Cross | PART ONE

08/10/201608/09/2016Leave a comment

Sand Dunes Cross Sunset

“For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.” ~Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

“So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.” (1Cor 1:23) That was Apostle Paul’s position a really long time ago and I think it holds true today. You can try and have a conversation about Isaiah 53 with our Jewish friends but you will not be received well, then try and share the love of Christ with a co-worker and get shut down as a Jesus Freak (happens to me once in awhile). Kinda makes me wonder if people really wanna go to hell or they’re too stubborn to get off the multi-lane highway to it because it’s just easier to go with the flow of traffic. In any case Christ is a stumbling block in their roles for easy living.

For us as Christians our roles can be simply defined in the words of A.W. Tozer, “A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge.” WOW! Kinda makes Christians sound like a bunch of weirdos doesn’t it? Well, truth be told I was weirdo before salvation, so what does tell ya? Anyway…

When I got to pagin’ through chapter 10 of Chuck Swindoll’s study guide “Laugh Again” I found this to be a particularly interesting statement. “Leaving heaven-bound people in a hell-bound world is not a simple over sight on the Lord’s part.” Ya got that right!! On the contrary it’s all part of God’s strange strategy to use us “weirdos” for a bigger purpose and that was revealed to Jesus’ disciples at The Last Supper.

First, that we can have inner peace in the midst of outer pressure and pain (read John 16). Christ never promised us an easygoing way down the road, there’s gonna be pain and suffering but we’ve been given a peace that not helps us erase the pain but to endure it. (easier written than done for this Freedom Fighter writer)

Second, we are insulated by divine power, yet we are not to live an isolated existence. (Turn to John 17:11-15) To quote Swindoll, “This sinful world isn’t something we are to avoid by cloistering ourselves behind sanctimonious walls of self-righteousness.” Actually we go out into this world, by faith, and shine that light in the darkness where that dude with his tail and pitchfork rules over the lost. Maybe throw a little salt into their food!!

And now thirdly, we may be unique, but we must be unified. This all Upper Room stuff now. (John 17:16-17, 21, 23) It isn’t a bad thing when one of us gets used to bring someone into the Marvelous Light but that is only of God’s strategy. What God needs us to be is that Lucy Van Pelt fist that scared the willies outta her brother Linus, with the exception of the index finger. That needs to point to the Father who loves us through the sacrifice of the Son.

So what of the enemies of the Cross? Well we’ll get into the next time I am with you but look back at what was said to Jesus’ Disciples that night that He was to be betrayed. Chapters 14-17 ain’t nothing but red letters in my Bible and is very clear to me that Jesus had something that He wanted to impart not only to those 11 that were in The Upper Room but to us as well. So much so that He ends His prayer time like this, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21) If you can’t AMEN that, then maybe we need to talk about it because I’ll take abiding in Him on the slow lane that calls me Heavenward than stumbling through the fast lanes that lead straight to hell any day.

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) is married (Kathy) with two adult children (Kevin and Karen) and serves on the Deacon Board at Trinity Alliance Church in Cologne NJ

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 71; Proverbs 10

Daily Quote:“To many Christians, Christ is little more than an idea, or at best an ideal. He is not a fact. Millions of professed believers talk as if He were real and act as if He were not. And always our actual position is to be discovered by the way we act, not by the way we talk.” —A.W. Tozer

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17

The Open Book Test

08/09/201608/08/2016Leave a comment

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all Liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” ~James 1:5

I was never accused of being a straight A student, in fact, I was more than willing to accept a C or D anytime. I would panic when hearing we were having a test or a quiz, except if it was an “open book” test.

The Bible teaches that God will never tempt us (James 1:13) but He will test us (1st Thes 2:4). Either way He will allow things in our life to grow us. It’s how we respond that will determine whether we learn and grow or ignore and become confused. But, He will always make a way of escape for a temptation and if He’s testing us it’s always an open book test.

The book of James is a good source of reference when it comes to the practical life we have in Christ. Before coming to Christ I would fail miserably at life, it seemed that even the simplest things would turn out to be a failure. When I became a Christian it was as if someone gave me the Teachers edition workbook, all the answers were there. I realized that with the Holy Spirit in me I was given the opportunity to access wisdom from above.

In James 3:17 he writes “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy”. My first thought was “if I knew this before it would have saved me a lot of trouble”.

I remember reading verses in Isaiah 55 that said,

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts”.

These verses come as “An Invitation to Abundant Life”.

I have this sense of security that the God of the universe has my best interest in mind. I no longer have to wander around aimlessly but am given the words of life and will be able to face every test and temptation with an “open book” full of answers. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

The other benefit I get is that even when I fail the test God will let me take it over again. I need to be willing to confess that His ways are higher and repent by turning around and walking towards Him. I don’t know if I can find the scripture to back up the idea that He also grades with a curve, but I know He doesn’t expect too much from anyone but does want us to give our all.

So if you’re feeling like you’ve been failing the test, open the Book, it’s got all the answers, Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob is married to Terri, he is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a full time staff member. He is also available as a speaker of the grace of God with a message of Hope for church events.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 70; Proverbs 9

Daily Quote: “Everything God does is love — even when we do not understand Him.” ~Basilea Schlink

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

~Zephaniah 3:17

Spirit of Unity!

08/05/201608/04/2016Leave a comment

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6)

When I first read the phrase ‘spirit of unity’ I ask myself is that the same meaning of the unity of the spirit. Anyhow, I guess that can be a study for another day. As believers we are called into one body, the body of Christ Jesus. Striving for unity among ourselves, in all things. Unity: the state of being one, single minded, condition of being one, combination into one, harmony, Like Minded with Christ etc…

Is this possible or a theory?

It is! As we renew our minds to the endurance and encouragement of the scriptures, unity is offered or a by-product through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Yes, it will take an effort on our parts to dwell or yield to the spirit of unity. We all come from diverse background, ethnicities, testimonies, theological standpoints: but wen all have a mutual love, a mutual Savior, a common praise; may look different, nevertheless there should be no divisions. Living harmoniously, out of love, for each other in one accordance with Christ Jesus.

Can we be honest and transparent to admit that we are in dark times in our country? The enemy seems to have reached his peak and evil is so ever present. These are the times when we, when I, need to lay aside the theological positions and trust in my brothers and sisters in Christ, for comfort, for joy, for fellowship, for support… the list goes on. What would happen if we simply for time, just focused or desired to contribute to His building up His kingdom in holiness and love?

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (Psalms 34:1-3)

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 66; Proverbs 5

Daily Quote: “The world is not a playground; it is a school-room. Life is not a holiday, but an education. And the one eternal lesson for us all is how better we can love.” ~Henry Drummond

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁷Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

¹⁹The Lord God^[a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

~Habakkuk 3:17-19

God Will Still Be on the Throne When I’m in the Grave

08/04/201608/04/20161 Comment

Holy Bible, red cup of coffee

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” ~James 4:13-14 (ESV)

So it’s a Saturday morning, I’ve got a cup of Valhalla Java and I am pondering a great many things. One of these things had to do with mowing our somewhat large front yard and this yard of ours isn’t the prettiest. As a matter of fact, it has more moss than it does actual grass and in reality the dandelions are much more abound than I care for. My wife loves the flowers that bloom from them but as for me all I see is weeds and I come to this conclusion, “I’m starting the riding mower and slicing it all down”. My wife did ask for me to spare a small patch of white and purple flowery weeds… (heavy sigh) alrighty then.

Now for any of my brothers out there with a riding mower and a Biblical mind may understand is that you can do a great deal of thinking about God while leveling the lawn. On this morning, just as I am finishing my second cup of java and preparing to get my Snapper 30” running this thought pops into my head… “get over yourself.” Wha?? Where did that come from? Hmm, maybe I need to deal with this. Well let’s gas up and git-r-dun!!

As the engine is running and the grass/weed clippings are shooting out from under my 30” mowing deck another thought enters the dialogue, “God will still be on the throne when I’m in the grave.” Now I remember Pastor Ray Pritchard saying that one time and I’m kinda docking my thoughts in on that. “Okay LORD…where are we going with this?” “Well my son you’ve been taking yourself too seriously and you need to let it go.” HUH?! When did this happen?

Truth be told brothers (and sisters) I’m in a rough season. I feel as if I’ve been eeking out what little joy I have in Jesus in my little winepress (like Gideon) because I am waiting for the next calamity to befall me. I am on my guard way too much and it has taken me out of the character that God has intended me to be. I haven’t been taking on God’s grace like I should, oh no quite the opposite, I’ve been taking on God’s wrath like I’m living in the Old Testament. Instead of going forward…I’ve gone backward…just enough to have other folks notice it.

Even though The Epistle of James can be a rough read it has many Biblical truths in it. I ain’t nothing but a vapor but that doesn’t mean I gotta live like one. I just need to keep the perspective that God is on the throne no matter what my circumstance and keep going on. The lies that I have recently allowed to rule my thought pattern need to go. James is pretty clear, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17) OUCH!!! So what’s a boy to do?

In his book “Crazy Love” Francis Chan talked about being an extra in a movie and when you go see it all you’re concerned about is looking for that two-fifths of a second to see the back of your head. He ended that dialogue with his making those two-fifths being more about God then himself. To quote… “1^st Corinthians 10:31 says. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That is what each of our two-fifths of a second is about. So what does that mean for you? Frankly, you need to get yourself. It might sound harsh, but that seriously what it means.”

I’m grateful that I’ve got a mossy lawn to mow because it really has never been about making it beautiful, it’s been my way of reconnecting with God. I’m a repentative guy now? Very much so but there is much left to handle and I’m just gonna have to put my trust into what God’s plan is and stop being afraid of what the present situation will do to me. Considering all that God has brought me through who am I to doubt His ability to see this come to His good purpose. Bottom line, I need to get over myself because He’ll still be on the throne while I’m in the grave…in two-fifths of a second it’ll all change anyway. Amen?

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 65; Proverbs 4

Daily Quote: “When we face the holy God, “nice” isn’t what we will be concerned with, and it definitely isn’t what He will be thinking about. Any compliments you received on earth will be gone; all that will be left for you is truth. The church in Sardis had a great reputation, but it didn’t matter. Jesus said to them, “I know your deeds; you a have reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Rev 3:1). All that matters is the reality of who we are before God.” — Francis Chan

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁹The Lord God^[a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

~Habakkuk 3:17-19

Follow the Law

08/03/201608/02/2016Leave a comment

Too many men in addictions and many more that haven’t admitted to addictions have gotten themselves on the wrong side of the law. Unpaid child support, traffic violations, fines, bench warrants, skipping court dates. We can all say that we love Jesus and he will provide for all of our needs. But following Jesus also means following his word. 1 Peter 2:13-16 tells us we must” submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority” By taking care of our earthly duties we can truly live at peace with our Lord and savior.

A brother in Christ recently took action to get his driver’s license restored after many years. Seeing how calm he was that he didn’t have to worry about getting caught driving without a license, makes him a better Christian and person. “Doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” 1 Peter 2:15. Know a brother that may be struggling with legal matters that may come to rear its ugly head at any moment. Encourage them to face their dark past that so that they may be able to be a shining light to others.

Written by Robert Breault: Robert is a full time staff member at America’s Keswick and married to his lovely wife Shirley.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 64; Proverbs 3

Daily Quote: “The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.” ~Dwight L. Moody

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁹The Lord God^[a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

~Habakkuk 3:17-19

Becoming So Large That We Cannot Be Seen

08/02/201608/01/2016Leave a comment

The man who gazes upon and contemplates day by day the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and who has caught the glow of the reality that the Lord is not a theory but an indwelling power and force in his life, is as a mirror reflecting the glory of the Lord.~Alan Redpath

He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister… Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me. ~Paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Colossians 1

Oh beloved, it is true. We are powerful beyond measure. We have been made one with the Preeminent King of All Creation. And while this is difficult to comprehend, it is something that is both true positionally, and can become our experience in our lives now.

But there is something through which we must pass. We must die. And the suffering about which Paul speaks in the passage, has nothing to with the ceasing of a heartbeat or brain function. The suffering Paul speaks of is exceedingly more painful than any simple thing like this.

No, the death in this passage, and many others like them in the New Testament, is the death of our ego. It is the reckoning dead our flesh and the screaming demands it makes in trying to feed itself. It is a suffering far beyond physical torture.

Yes, Paul went through many physical and circumstantial problems. But these paled in comparison to the deeper suffering he went through. Through the years, he was rejected by his former colleagues in Judaism, G_d changed his name from Saul (the name of the first king of Israel) to Paul (a name that means ‘little’), the years drove his unlearning of prideful adherence to a Law that actually condemned him, and he was buffeted by demonic forces due to the amazing insights he had been given regarding heaven and the ages to come (cf. 2 Corinthians 12).

But the suffering is also more. Much more. Mostly, the suffering of which Paul speaks is the pouring out of our lives in the very same way that Jesus did for us. As one writer has put it, “In short, what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ is our participation in those sufferings as His Mystical Body” (the members of His Church) in this world. It was not that Jesus suffering was inadequate. Quite the opposite. It was so large, so immense, that it has the potential to be presented to the rest of the world – through us.

Can we see it? In abandoning self, in allowing ourselves to be made less, and in entering into the very sufferings of Christ, we are united with Him and become His very hands and feet and eyes and presence in this world. And people like this (and hopefully, some of us are becoming like this) become invisible to the “channels” the world watches on its computers and media and televisions.

But, the influence they (and hopefully, some of us too) wield is so large as to make large swaths of eternity different and better through our presentation of the very sufferings of Christ to those with whom we have contact. We have first died to our enormous egos, but in disappearing, we have waxed so large that who we really are in Him cannot be seen with physical eyes.

So, are you feeling the heat of G_d breaking down your ego? Does this make you afraid that you will have nothing left with which to serve G_d? Don’t. G_d doesn’t need your ego (or this fool of a writer’s either). But, He does need your entire life to present His very Self to the world. Would you be willing to become nothing that you might become everything?

Tonight is your night beloved. Time to suffer that He might be Himself – The King of All Creation – through you.

Written by Makala Doulos: Makala is a child of G_d, a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and a teacher to his students. But mostly, he is a prisoner set free by Jesus. Love has invaded his life, crushed it, and made it new. Now, G_d’s Love is what constrains him to live in full surrender to the freedom The Father and Son and Holy Spirit have bought for us all. Grace and Peace to you all.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 63; Proverbs 2

Daily Quote: “Hell is, in a certain sense, heaven devoid of Christ. In hell, you get what you want . . . and discover that it leaves you utterly unsatisfied. In heaven, all your wants are sanctified and reduced down to One singular desire: Christ.” ~Ben Zornes

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁹The Lord God^[a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

~Habakkuk 3:17-19

How Rich Am I? Part #3

08/01/201607/31/2016Leave a comment

It’s August. Can you believe it? Summer is flying by. As we begin this new week of Freedom Fighter blogs, I want to share the next ten blessings that you and I have because we are in Christ. Take a minute or two to look up the references. Allow these truths to burn deep into your hearts. We are richer than we can imagine.

21. Unseen assets — at the moment of salvation, we receive all of the unseen assets of the Christian life, called “every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:2-6)

22. Judgment of Sins — all of our sins were judged under the spiritual death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The application of this truth to our lives as Christians is of the utmost importance because all of our personal sins were judged at the cross (Rom 4:24; 1 Pet 2:24).

23. Adoption — we are adopted into the royal family of God at the moment of salvation. Our spiritual adoption is in reference to us instantly being recognized as adult sons with full privileges (Rom 8:15, 23; Eph 1:5)

24. Eternal Relationship to God — we are eternally related to God because of our Lord’s presence at the Father’s right hand. Knowledge and application of this great truth should produce a corresponding experiential sanctification (i.e., walking in fellowship with the Lord through the filling of the Holy Spirit) (Eph 2:13; James 4:8).

25. We are on the Rock Jesus Christ — we have an eternally secure relationship with God from the point of salvation onward (1 Cor 3:11; 2 Cor. 1:21; Eph 2:20).

26. We are a gift from the Father to the Son — we are of such value that the Father took us as a present and gave us to the Son. As with all things that God does, it is permanent and can never be given back (Jn 10:29; 17:5-6, 11-12).

27. Royal Priesthood — we become partakers of a royal and holy priesthood. As Christian priests (every one of us), we represent ourselves to God through confession of sin, study of God’s Word, prayer, praise, and giving (1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6).

28. We are a chosen generation; a peculiar (unique) people. This is why we do not really fit in with this world, because we are a peculiar people and we operate by a different value system (Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9).

29. Access to God — at the moment of salvation, we obtain access to God. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn asunder from top to bottom signifying that the sin debt has been eliminated (Matt 27:50-51). As a result, we can freely enter God’s throne room any time (Rom 5:2; Eph 2:18; Heb 4:14-16; 10:19-20).

30. Under the “much more” care of God — we are within the “much more” care of God. In other words, if God did the greatest thing already, isn’t He prepared to help us with the little things? He’s done everything He can do in Jesus Christ to bridge the gap between us and God (Rom 5:9; Eph 2:4).

Next week I will share the last 10. I hope that these are an encouragement to you. Now enjoy your week. Thanks for taking a few minutes of your day to read our daily blogs. I trust that they are a blessing in your life. By the way – just knowing you take to time to dial in is an encouragement to us too. May God bless you.

Written by Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick: He has been married to his child sweetheart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grand kids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 62; Proverbs 1

Daily Quote: “As good as we might think God is now, in his presence we’ll realize we only saw the millionth part of his glory.” ~Bob Kauflin

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

¹⁹The Lord God^[a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

~Habakkuk 3:17-19

How Rich Am I? Part #2

07/25/201607/23/2016Leave a comment

Last week I shared with you a list of ten reminders of the riches that we have being IN CHRIST. Thanks for joining us for this new week of Freedom Fighter blogs.

I was pleased with the responses I received to last week’s blog and trust the next ten statements will be an encouragement to you as you think about who you are IN CHRIST and all that He has blessed you with.

Don’t take my word for it. Don’t take David Brewer’s word for it. Check out the references that go along with each statement. For some of you this is brand new truth. For others, well it is a refresher course.

11. Removal of Condemnation

At the moment of salvation, the sentence of condemnation is removed by God the Father (Jn 3:18; Rom 8:1-3).

12. Removal of Domination of the Old Sin Nature

Every believer will continue to have a sin nature throughout his life (cf. Rom 7:5) which will continue to make war within him (James 4:1; 1 Pet 2:11). When a person becomes a believer, his old man dies, but he still possesses the nature inherited from his inseparable link with fallen humanity. Believers now live with one sin nature which is in continual conflict with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-23). Even though our union with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection is in a judicial or forensic sense, it is still a true or vital union (Rom 6:1-10; cf. Gal 2:20). This judicial or forensic union with Jesus is actualized in everyday life by the process of considering ourselves dead to sin (Rom 6:11) and allowing the Holy Spirit to completely reign in our hearts, so that by His divine power we shall have victory over the evil nature within (Rom 6:6-12, 15-20; 8:5-12; Col 2 :12).

13. Removal of Satan’s Power

At salvation, we have freedom from Satan’s kingdom of evil. Satan’s influence is “held in check” when a believer becomes more conformed to Christ’s image by the Spirit’s enablement and by His grace (Gal 5:1; Eph 2:1-2; 6:11-12; Col 1:12-13; 1 John 5:19).

14. Freedom from the penalty of the Mosaic Law

At the moment of salvation, the believer is delivered from the curse of the law. At that moment, God the Father graciously imparts freedom from bondage to the Mosaic Law. It means we are free from receiving the curse of the law (Rom 10:4; 2 Cor 3:7ff.; Gal 3:23-25; 6:2; Eph 2:15; James 2:10). We are now under “the law of Christ.” This new law is the New Covenant

counterpart to the Mosaic Law. This law includes all that Jesus and the NT commanded. It also includes laws from the OT not abrogated or superseded by the NT (Rom 8:2; Gal 6:2).

15. Identification with Jesus Christ

At the moment of salvation, the believer is permanently identified with Christ’s work on the cross by God the Father. The Christian is forever after identified with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and present session at the Father’s right hand (Rom 6:3-12; Gal 2:20).

16. Indwelling of God the Father

The believer is indwelt by God the Father at the moment of salvation, which is to provide a guarantee of unseen, yet extremely powerful assets and provisions for living the Christian life (Jn 14:23).

17. Indwelling of Jesus Christ

The indwelling of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of our membership in the royal family of God. Someday we will be instantly transported to heaven at death by our lord Jesus Christ Himself (Jn 14:20; Rom 8:10; Col 1:27).

18. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

The third person of the Holy Trinity unconditionally and permanently indwells all Christians at the moment of salvation. God has “first rights” to the use of your body – not the old sin nature (Jn 14:17; Rom 5:5; 8:9; 1 Cor 6:19-20; Gal 3:2).

19. Sealing of Your Salvation

At the moment of salvation, the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit occurs. This “sealing” is God the Father’s stamp of ownership and the Holy Spirit’s signature of guarantee of eternal security, protection, and preservation of our souls from certain angelic (demonic) activity, such as demon possession. The Spirit of God inside us convicts, directs, prompts, and empowers us and is God’s guarantee to us that we’re going to get the whole rest of the package one day (Eph 1:13; 4:30).

20. Circumcision of the soul

This circumcision renders null and void the issue of our past lives as unsaved persons. God the Father places no value on the unsaved past of the new convert, so the emphasis of his new life must not be on the successes or failures of his past (Rom 2:29; Col 2:11; cf. Deut 10:16-17; Jer 4:4

Thanks for letting us invest in your life. We always appreciate your feedback and love have you checking in as well as forwarding this blog to another brother. May God bless you. –

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 55; Proverbs 25

Daily Quote: “You don’t work in the hope of getting an identity; you work in celebration of the identity that, in Christ, you have been given.” ~Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

~Isaiah 55:8-9

Freedom Fighters

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