“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

“And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'” Luke 9:23

I was asked by a young man working with me, how do I die to self and what does this signify? I thought for a moment, then I prayed – Lord in my own life, I do know the answer, help me to bring forth your Word and understanding. My flesh with its passions and desires must die.

I looked up the word crucify in the American Heritage dictionary: “To put to death by nailing or binding to a cross.” I also looked at the word deny: “To decline to grant; to restrain oneself especially from indulgence in pleasures.”

After I read the definition I examined my own heart. I thought about what I felt I deserved, the feelings that bring me pleasure and my own desires, which I think I need to satisfy me. I thought about everything that I want and I should have at this moment. Then I reflected back to the question, how do I die to self? I had to surrender all of my demands and compulsions to my Father. To help me apply this, even for myself, I needed to use an illustration. I thought of a big empty wooden box. I had to put all of my passions, desires, and my will in it and nail that wooden box shut. As I nailed the wooden box I became sorrowful in the process of grieving it, to produce the realization of death to self. Having the necessity to relinquish all to Christ and trusting him.

“Truly, truly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.” John 12: 24-25

I choose to pick up my cross daily and follow Christ. Christ shows the true value of life. The Lord’s loving-kindness is amazing beyond anything I can think of. “Because Thy loving-kindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.” Psalm 63: 3-5

To do the will of my Father gives me the greatest joy and pleasures to have the fullness of life in Christ, also to die well. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Now the Lord has blessed me with this illustration to go and talk to that young man. Glory to God!

Sandra Roman

Staff Member, WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I know I have shared this before and I feel compelled to do so again. One of my pastors was preaching some weeks ago and made a similar statement. My answer to the question is a resounding “no,” and I am ashamed to say it. If I were cut open, I am pretty sure I would bleed other things, but not Bible.

If the road to heaven were paved with good intentions, I would be well on my way there – probably accompanied by many friends and acquaintances whose lives, like mine, are literally drowning in good intentions. And I’m not talking about intentions like they were New Year’s resolutions – to lose weight, watch less TV, exercise more (or START to exercise), etc.

No, I am talking about good intentions like getting up earlier to spend time in the Word and prayer; devoting more time to real, in-depth Bible study; calling or, better yet, visiting those from my church or other friends who are set aside due to illness of inability to get out for a host of other reasons. Then there are my good intentions to be less critical and judgmental, less puffed up with my own smugness, more dependent on the Lord to make my way instead of leaning on my own strength (Proverbs 3:5,6).

You see, I WANT to live wholeheartedly for Jesus, but find it so easy to get distracted by all of this other stuff that we call “life.” It’s an excuse and I know it full well. I wake up each morning with the “intention” of spending time in my Bible and praying, but allow Satan to distract me with a bunch of other things – stupid things. I’ll go out to the porch where I read my Bible and see that the plants look a little wilted. So I take “just a minute” to give them some water. Then I sit back down and look out the window and notice a huge weed in my yard right in my line of vision. So I get up, go out and pull that weed. And, yes, while I’m out there, I pull a few more. Maybe the lilies look dry so I get the watering can to give them something to drink. By the time I go back in to sit down and get to God’s business, my own business has taken all my time and I need to get ready to come to work. I console myself with the thought, “I’ll read and spend time with God when I get home and don’t have to rush.”

Fast forward to the afternoon: I arrive home, a little hot and tired, and think, “I’ll sit down for a few minutes or maybe even take a short nap.” An hour later I rouse myself, and say, “Let me look at the mail, eat dinner, and I’ll spend time in the Word after I clean up the kitchen. I can read and no one will be there to interrupt me so it will be nice and quiet.” Hello-o-o-o. Who do I think I’m kidding? By the time I’m done putzing around in the kitchen, throwing in a load of wash, or whatever, I sit down and I find I’m too tired to stay awake. I either nod off in the chair and go sit on the bed (with the “good intention” of reading and praying), and find myself waking up a couple of hours later when it is now time to get ready for bed. And all of my good intentions are once again as “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6).

I am not bleeding Bible, but laziness, selfishness and a whole other bunch of “nesses” that don’t now and never will count for eternity. So my challenge for you today is really a challenge to me. Let the stuff of life go and spend time – quality time – with the only One who is deserving of prayer and praise and glory and honor.

God – I purpose in my heart to put You first before all else that might distract and deter me from spending time alone with You. Give me the discipline to put all else aside and yield to Your working in my heart and life. Amen.

Lynn Randall

Lynn Randall is the Director of Human Resources at America’s KESWICK. She is active in her church and is a gifted planner and organizer. She has a real heart for people as evidenced by her care, concern and practical encouragement.

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Do we really know who we are in Christ? Do we really know God’s Word?

When Jesus Himself was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted, one of the devil’s tactics was to try and cause Him to question who He is. Matthew 4:3, “The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God……'”, and again in verse 6, “‘If you are the Son of God…..'”(emphasis mine). Satan wants us to doubt who we really are.

The enemy will also try to cause us to question what God says. Genesis 3:1, “He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?'”(emphasis mine). We know that is not what God said; He said they could eat from any and every tree in the garden, except for one – the tree in the middle of the garden.

Of course we know that Jesus, God in the flesh and the only perfect man who ever lived, did not fall for the devil’s schemes. He KNOWS who He is. Unfortunately, Eve (and Adam) did not fare so well.

What about you and me? How well do we know who we are in Christ? Do we know that we are chosen, loved, redeemed, adopted, forgiven (Eph. 1:4-7)? (We could do an entire series on our identity in Christ, but you get my point.) How well do we know what God’s Word says? Have we hidden His Word in our hearts (Ps. 119:11)?

Oh, how many countless times have I doubted who I am in Christ, or not remembered clearly what God’s Word says, and my resulting actions were, let’s just say NOT good.

Sisters, we need to know that we know that we know who we are in Christ, and we need to know that we know that we know what His Word says. This necessitates continual study of His Word; our imperfect, cluttered, and often confused human minds need to be reminded – OFTEN.

So when the enemy comes and whispers doubts in our ear, we can respond as Jesus did, “IT IS WRITTEN.”

Stacey Poplawski

WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4:10

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Everywhere I turn people are talking about James, the book of James that is. I so enjoy how practical this letter is. I hope you are gleaning much from your reading, meditations and study. This week our topic is humility.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Commentary:

Returning to the theme emphasized in v.6, it is the humble whom God will exalt…But as long as people exalt themselves, God will not exalt them. [ESV Study Bible, study notes, pg. 2397]

“This final command sums up the preceding nine …commands*, which mark the truly humble person. Humble comes from a word meaning “to make one-self low.” Those conscious of being in the presence of the majestic, infinitely holy God are humble…” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary, by John MacArthur pg.1894]

*(not part of the quote) submit, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, mourn, weep, let your laughter turn to mourning, let your joy turn to gloom-remember last week we saw this was not contrary to the Victorious Christian abundant life but rather our attitude about our sin.

Today, would you be bold enough to ask God to show you ways you are not humble?

Blessings,

Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.”

Points to Ponder:

Doesn’t this verse strike you rather odd? Be wretched and mourn and weep? That doesn’t sound like the Victorious Christian life, does it? Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom? That doesn’t sound like the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

It seems to me, that we (myself included) tend to take our sin so casually. When was the last time I was broken, really broken over my sin? I’m not suggesting morbid introspection but are we grieved over our sin?

Lest we get stuck in the sorrow, my pastor used to say, “For every one look at our sin, we should take ten looks at the cross.” He did not say, “we’re saved we no longer need to look at our sin – it’s forgiven.” I believe we can lose our heart of genuine repentance if we rush past our sin, “because it’s forgiven.”

Let us take seriously our sin and our desperate need for a Savior for each one, and then rejoice in the cross and forgiveness.

Blessings,

Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

Psalm 122

A song of Ascents. Of David.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD. For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good. (NKJ)

It is always a good time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. To help you get started please consider the following prayer points:

1. Prayer for the government leaders of the nation of Israel, in particular Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Prime Minister of Defense Ehud Barak. Pray that the Lord will reveal His strategy to protect and defend the nation of Israel from its enemies. Pray that leaders would make decisions in agreement with that strategy. Pray that leaders will come to know Jesus as Messiah, Lord and Savior. (1 Tim.2:1-4)

2. Pray for the gift of discernment of spirits to be released upon the body of Christ in Israel. That they will discern what is of God and what is not. (Hebrews 5:14)

3. Pray for an increase in intercessors among the body of Christ throughout the Middle East to pray for their own nations. That the every curse, every mindset and every lofty thing that sets itself against the truth of Christ be broken. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that all in Israel will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2: 4; Ps. 122: 6-9)

5. Pray that our nation will bless Israel. (Ps. 122:6)

Patricia L. Wenzel

Graduate, Woman of Character

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4:8-9

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

“In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider – God has made the one as well as the other… ” (Eccl. 7:14)

We must understand God’s chief purpose for us is to be conformed to the image of Christ. “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

If we are going to endure suffering, however, we must also understand that there are other purposes and reasons for our trials as they are related to the chief purpose. Below are just a few of those reasons.

1. We suffer because we live in a fallen world and it often falls on us… Satan is alive and well on planet earth. (1 Peter 5:8)

2. We suffer because of our own foolishness. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-9).

3. We sometimes suffer because it is God’s discipline. “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son He receives” (Heb. 12:6).

4. We suffer persecution because of our faith – when we take a stand on biblical issues, i.e., suffering for righteousness sake (2 Tim. 3:12).

5. We suffer to develop our capacity and sympathy in comforting others (2 Cor. 1:3-5).

6. We suffer to keep down pride (2 Cor. 12:7).

7. We suffer because it is a training tool. (Heb. 12:5f; 1 Peter 1:6; James 1:2-4). It is designed as:

* A discipline for sin to bring us back into fellowship (Ps. 32:3-5; 119:67)

* A pruning tool (Ps. 16:7; 119:67, 71)

* A tool for growth which is designed to help us rely on the Lord and His Word (Ps. 119:71, 92; 1 Peter 1:6; James 1:2-4; Ps. 4:1) and to learn to wait on the Lord only (Ps. 62:1-8)

Jerry Bridges in Is God really in Control? probably says it the most clearly, “God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about.”

8. As a means to bring about continued dependence on the grace and power of God. To cause us to walk by God’s ability, power, and provision rather than our own (2 Cor. 11:24-32; 12: 7-10; Eph. 6:10; Ex. 17:8). It causes us to turn from our resources to His resources.

9. We suffer to manifest the evil nature of evil men and the righteousness of the justice of God when it falls into judgment (1 Thess. 2:14-16). Suffering at the hands of people (persecution, violent treatments) is used of God to “fill up the measure of their sins.” It shows their evil character and the justice of God’s judgment when it falls.

10. We suffer to broaden our ministries (Phil. 1:12-14 with 4:5-9). It opens doors we could never imagine. “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Let me encourage you on your journey with these words from Margaret Clarkson: “God is the Lord of human history and of the personal history of every member of His redeemed family.”

Your trials and suffering are in His sovereign hands – in that you can rejoice. (James 1:2; Phil. 4:4)

Lynne Jahns

Christian Counselor

Director of Biblical Counseling

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4:8-9

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

There are times when I am on the road for work. I have told Diane that if I got paid by the u-turn I would be rich. One day I was once again making a u-turn. I thought I was in the right place but quickly realized I was not. The road took me to an area where I saw a young mother and her daughter riding bikes. I stopped to ask her if she knew the road I was looking for. She went to ask someone because she was not sure. While I waited for her I saw a home that looked like it had seen better days. With my judgmental thinking, “How could people live there?” and “What a dump!” running through my head I saw a small sign in the window that read “God’s Provision”. I was cut to the heart. The folks living here were grateful. These folks were content to know that God had provided for their needs. I was just judgmental and full of pride.

Our area has seen some pretty nasty storms lately and I wonder if I lost everything to one type of disaster or another, would I be able to see God’s provision? What if His provision was a home that had seen better days yet provided shelter, a place to sleep and my basic needs were met? Jonah was provided a tree for his comfort. (Jonah 4) When the worm ate it he was unhappy and his concern was only for his comfort not his obedience to the next thing God was calling him to do.

What if it isn’t about where you live but who you live with? Do we look at our husbands and think about all the improvements that need to be made rather than the good that God is providing through them? How about the kids? We might be quick to think, “They really haven’t lived up to my expectations”. Yet, these are the children that God gave us as gifts. Do we just push the gift aside because we have become judgmental and our pride is hurt? At the least, the people in our lives have been provided to sandpaper our rough edges. They are God’s provision for the work He wants to accomplish in each of us.

Maybe it is another challenge of life that keeps you from recognizing God’s provision. A loss, a health concern or a deep hurt. You may be wondering where God is or when He might deliver. In the midst of it, you may have to look beyond the obvious for God’s provision. If we are honest, we often have expectations of what God’s gifts look like. We prefer the nicer accommodations, not the rundown home.

I know it can really stink where you are. Corrie Ten Boom was thankful for fleas & lice, which kept the Nazi guards at a distance so she could lead a Bible Study in a concentration camp. God’s provision was lice. Today, can we be grateful for God’s provisions even if they don’t look the way we think they should?

Blessings,

Kathy Withers

Kathy’s on staff at America’s KESWICK in the Development Department. Kathy has been married to her husband Dave for 25 years. They have two adult children. Kathy is active in her local church and has previously served as a Teaching Director for Community Bible Study. Her passion is to encourage women to deepen their walk with Jesus Christ by finding and living out the truths of God’s Word.

DIGGING DEEPER

James 4:8-9

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

It has been very interesting to me over the past few weeks – our Pastors have been preaching through the book of James, and two other people have approached me to share recent sermons or readings they came across on the book of James. It seems like God is trying to tell ME something, if nothing else. I have been tempted to go back and write on portions of James that I have already covered, and perhaps someday soon I will.

James 4:8-9

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Commentary

“Draw near. Pursue an intimate love relationship with God. The concept of drawing near to God was associated originally with the Levitical priests… but eventually came to describe anyone’s approach to God….Salvation involves more than submitting to God and resisting the devil; the redeemed heart longs for communion with God…Cleanse your hands. The OT priests had to ceremonially wash their hands before approaching God…, and sinners (a term used only for unbelievers…) who would approach Him must recognize and confess their sin. Purify your hearts. Cleansing the hands symbolizes eternal behavior; this phrase refers to the inner thoughts, motives, and desires of the heart… “[The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur pg 1893-1894]

“Cleanse and purify are OT terms for ritual purity …and ethical purity. Laughter shows how casually James’s readers were treating their sin. The only proper reaction to God’s impending judgment is to be wretched and mourn and weep, as is seen often in the OT…” [ESV Study Bible, study notes pg 2397]

Blessings,

Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Points to Ponder
I remember my children memorizing this verse as children, probably as part of a song or children’s cassette tape (before the world of CDs and DVDs). It is a great verse for all of us to commit to memory. Think about it. If we try to reverse the order: Resist the devil, submit to God – we will not succeed and the devil will not flee. We cannot stand against the enemy alone. Only in the power of the Holy Spirit will we know victory and freedom.

There have been times when, at just the mention of the Name of Jesus Christ, peace floods my soul. We must believe by faith that James 4:7 is true. When we submit to God, He will empower us to resist the ways of the enemy, and then he will flee. Believe it by faith not by sight, even if it feels like he lingers.

A few suggestions:
Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs – sing praise and worship music.
Rehearse the attributes of God, meditating on each truth.
Speak the name of Jesus.
Pray.
Rejoice in the presence and power of Jesus Christ.
Read and meditate on the promises of God.
Don’t allow the enemy to “win” by distracting you from your delight, praise and love for the One True God.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.