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February 2017 — Volume 2, Issue 3

www.straitarrow.net

In This Issue

Fully Committed?

Message: Get Up and Walk

Website Features

Poets Corner—A Devotional Poem

About Straight Arrow Ministries

Featured Products

Fully Committed?

To be fully committed means loving the Lord

with all of your heart, mind and soul, which

encompasses your mind, will, body and emo-

tions. It’s a 100% commitment that involves

seeking to do what the Lord calls us to do

while rooting out anything that is bad, as well

as ruthlessly tearing down the strongholds in

our lives.

As David prayed in Psalm 86:11, God is look-

ing for those whose hearts are fully committed

to Him with an undivided heart. The message

this month will help you to stay fully committed

to the Lord. It tackles two basic issues that we

all deal with in staying fully committed.

Get Up and Walk

To be successful in God we must be continually press-

ing forward in the battle for our lives. Even when we fall,

we must get up and walk. As I think back over my life,

there are several principles that have caused me to not

lose heart and continue the Journey the Lord has had

me on. In this article, I want to share two of those princi-

ples with you.

We have been promised many things in God’s word that

enable us to keep moving forward. One of my favorites

is found in Peter’s 2nd Epistle.

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in

the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord., as His

divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life

and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who

called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given

to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that

through these you may be partakers of the divine na-

ture, having escaped the corruption that is in the world

thorough lust.

Another promise that has guided me for over 40 years

in serving the Lord is found in Paul’s letter to the Philip-

pians. Continued on Page 3

Mary’s Realized

Hope

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Bible Studies by Ken L. Birks

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help you to build a faith that will endure.

Click here: ww.straitarrow.net/bible-studies

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Looking out my window I see the wonders of God.

I see the sunrise with the expectations of a new day.

What is it that this day will bring that will wrap me in the arms of His love?

As the sun rises, my eyes are blinded by its bright-ness.

In the eternal realm, my eyes rise to gaze upon His beauty that is evident to all.

I await new revelation and insight that comes from the awakening of a new day.

Looking out my window, I feel the warmth of the sun, so bright.

I see the squirrels playing joyfully with no thought or care or fright.

I see the hand of God in the beauty of His created ones.

They run and play with no concern as the Father cares for them.

He cares for them just as He does for the sparrows who fly so freely in flight.

I sense the faithfulness of a God who cares and de-lights in us, even more than the squirrels who play so joyfully and the birds who fly from tree to tree so freely.

Looking out my window I see sadness on the faces of those who pass along the way.

I see the homeless person who is wondering where he will sleep tonight.

As the sun begins to fade, it gives way to the dark-ness and cold that comes with a bite.

I pray that He who is the provider of all, supplies what is needed as the sun fades away.

As He provides for the birds of the air and the squir-

rels who play so freely, so I pray.

Looking out my window I see young mothers with their children as they joyfully stroll by.

They rejoice in the miracles that have come forth from their wombs as they sing a lullaby.

They cast their gaze upon the beauty of these little ones with hearts filled with wonder.

They see God’s faithfulness who fills their cup with gratefulness while others slumber.

They take note of the beauty and wonder of God that is seen by all who take notice.

Looking out my window I see the stray cats who take up residence on my porch.

As they bask in the sunlight, I notice they are well fed though they have no home.

I then realize the neighborhood is their home as they disappear into the night.

I give thanks to the Father who seems to care for the insignificance of a stray cat, knowing how much more valuable and significant I am in His sight.

Looking out my window, my heart is filled with grati-tude and praise.

I see the handiwork of my Father in heaven who continually looks with care and concern over all that He has made.

Faith arises in my heart as I sense His love washing over me with all that He has created.

My heart is full as I look out my window and begin a new day wrapped in the arms of His love and care.

Thank you, Jesus!

Scripture references: Matthew 6:24-34, Psalm 17:8, Ro-mans 1:20, Psalm 107:8-9, Job 11:7-12.

Looking Out My Window

By Ken L. Birks

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Get Up and Walk Continued

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that

He who has begun a good work in you will complete

it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Many of us often look at all the promises God has

given to us through His Word and get a little over-

whelmed, thinking, “Will I ever come into all that God

has promised me?”

Principle #1 – Our Progress is Little by Little

We must always keep in mind, it's little by little that

we take the kingdom by force. As long as we are

making those incremental steps, He is continually

going before us and preparing the way. It’s from faith

to faith that the righteousness of God is revealed un-

to us.

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is

revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just

shall live by faith.”

There are occasions in our walk with God when He

has us take giant steps, but for the most part it is one

short step at a time. The provisions that were prom-

ised above are for what we need at each interval.

As we go from faith to faith, God continually reveals

what is ahead. We may only have faith to get to the

next step, but as we step out in faith, God is reveal-

ing to us more and more of our calling in Him.

When it says, “The righteousness of God is revealed

from faith to faith,” the Greek word for righteousness

is “dikaiosune.” It means, “whatever conforms to the

revealed will of God.” This is why Jesus used this

word when John the Baptist baptized Him. He said,

“For this is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

When we go from faith to faith, the righteousness, or

the revealed will of God, is fulfilled in our life and con-

tinues to do so as we keep on walking one step at a

time. This is where the promise of Philippians 1:6

comes into play. We will have the confidence we

need to keep moving forward because He who has

done a good work in us, will continue to perform on

our behalf right up until our death or the second com-

ing of Christ. From glory to glory we will be trans-

formed into His image.

2Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and

where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 18but

we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror

the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the

same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit

of the Lord.

As you are faithful to walk in the liberty God has

made available by taking those incremental steps,

little by little, God will go before you and drive the de-

mons from your path in the same way He promised

the Children of Israel. As you keep moving, God will

do His part. It's when we stop and become compla-

cent through unbelief or are thwarted by challenging

circumstances, that the enemy begins to take ad-

vantage of us.

Exodus 24:27-30 “I will send my terror ahead of you

and throw into confusion every nation you encounter.

I will make all your enemies turn their backs and

run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the

Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, be-

cause the land would become desolate and the wild

animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will

drive them out before you, until you have increased

enough to take possession of the land.

Principle #2 – Don’t Give Place to the Devil.

If we are to become all that Christ has ordained us to

be, we must continually press forward by not giving

place to the devil. Some translations say, “not giving

him an opportunity.”

Ephesians 4:26-27 Be angry, and do not sin, do not

let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place

to the devil.

When we fall or fail, Christ wants nothing more than

for us to get up and keep walking as he brushes us

off and sends us on our way, once again. When we

fail to get up, it's like telling Jesus, “What you did for

me in going to the cross was not good enough.” In

other words, you are acting in unbelief, which is sin.

You are giving into the lies of Satan and not activat-

ing the grace of God. So get up and walk. Run into

the arms of your loving Savior, who understands and

sympathizes with your weaknesses.

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Get Up and Walk Continued

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the

heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15

For we do not have a High

Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet

without sin. 16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy

and find grace to help in time of need.

Allow Jesus to brush you off and send you on your way, once again, free of condemnation and

guilt. (Romans 8:1) As long as we get up and keep walking we are free of condemnation and guilt,

which means the enemy can't touch or harm us. So get up and walk.

Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man will fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall

fall by calamity.

Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;

but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13

Breth-

ren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which

are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14

I press toward the goal for the

prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14

May God bless you as you go forth from faith to faith, free from condemnation and guilt! Get up

and keep walking, laying hold of all the promises that have been given to you as you leave your

sins and failures behind.

Straight Arrow Ministries believes in the integrity of God's Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All

Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness, 17

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for

every good work."

I believe in the divine harmony of Scriptures with Scripture interpreting Scripture rather than rely-

ing on a particular school of thought. No doctrine is an island unto itself. It must harmonize with

the entire Bible. We should be loyal to the Scriptures rather than a particular school of thought.

Whether it’s through Seminars, Bible Studies, Sermon Outlines or Podcasts, I strive to maintain

an integrity to the purity of God's Word so that those who hear are instructed in righteousness, are

given good sound doctrine, and are thoroughly equipped for every good work. Building a solid

foundation in God's Word is of the utmost importance with precept upon precept and line upon line

being established so that the deeper truths have a foundation to be built upon.

Ken Birks is available for seminars, men's retreats and other avenues of ministry that would fit into the life

of the local church. The following is a list of seminars available for your church or ministry: The Journey,

The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Breaking Free from the Past, Spiritual Warfare, The Walk of

Faith, Vision, Purpose and Destiny, The Beauty of God’s Grace, and Building Strong Christian Character.

If your church or ministry would like to host a seminar, click here for complete information

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Perspectives Course & Class

The Perspectives Course includes foundations for biblical understanding that

were developed for providing believers lessons that are designed to give solid

Biblical foundations in the elementary truths of God's Word. They are de-

signed with three things in mind—building a doctrinal foundation, developing

godly character and discover and finding their destiny and purpose God has

for them.

This workbook is available in both Teacher and Student Manuals. If you are

buying for Bible Study only, just order the Teacher's Manual.

Please Click Here for Complete Info and How to Order

More Perspectives Course and Class

This course features lessons that are focused on three major areas of our

Christian growth—doctrine, character and destiny. It includes more advanced

subjects for the believer that are designed to give a deeper Biblical under-

standing of God’s Word that will strengthen the Christian foundation.

This workbook is available in both Teacher and Student Manuals. If you are

buying for Bible Study only, just order the Teacher's Manual.

Please Click Here for Complete Info and How to Order

The Journey Workbooks & Class

This class is designed to go along with the book that Ken has written on

"The Journey." It includes ten lessons.

The goal of the class is to give you a glimpse into the path God has pur-

posed for your life and to help you seize your destiny and purpose. In do-

ing so, you will be able to live the role created for you. Whether you’re just

starting out on your journey, anywhere in the middle, or have become de-

toured and lost your way, this practical seminar will help shine the light on

the invisible path that not only leads to God’s goodness and experiencing

His kingdom within, but also to the greatest adventure of your life!

Please Click here for complete info and How to Order

Please Note: All of these workbooks come in both Teacher’s and Student’s Manuals. You can order both Teacher and Student manuals if you want to incorporate them into the life of your church or ministry or you can order the Teacher’s Manual only for personal Bible study.