Forrest Keener Thoughts and Itinerary

KEENER THOUGHTS - October - 2011

SHORT BIBLE PHRASES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE # 11 IN SERIES

OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (II Co. 2:16-21)

I am often quite frustrated as I hear preachers apply this passage of scripture, especially “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” They almost consistently apply it to their conversion, and how much their life changed for the better after they “got saved.” Sometimes as they compare themselves among themselves, and I behold their obvious superiority, and that of their ministry, compared to others, I am almost fearful to be among them, lest I pollute their pure conversation. At other times, they so charge their fellow Christians to attain to this grand standard of their’s, that I hear them saying to others, “Show me your faith by your works,” so I may affirm or deny its reality. I readily confess that they may well be making a legitimate application of this passage of Scripture. Nevertheless, I am quite sure, because of the context of these words, that they are not using the statement as Paul was using it here, nor are they practicing biblical exposition.
Paul’s basic statement in this passage is that in this body of our’s “tabernacle” we groan, being burdened that this mortality might be swallowed up in life. It is not a boasting of any victory in this body at all, either real or potential. It is rather a confession that this old creation is defeated by our fallen nature, and that any victory hoped for must be in the new creation, not in the “Old Things.” He says in verse sixteen, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” If we go back to verse 4, and notice the connecting “wherefores,” and “therefores,” we will clearly see that this is all one statement, and we will be forbidden to reverse the context, from that which is invisible to that which can be seen, in fleshly conduct, by the natural eye. We have seen His miracles and earthly activities, some actually, and others as like us, have seen them only through the Holy Word, but in either case, we do not by that standard of His earthly life, know Him now. We have presently a far greater witness of Him. From this point in time and forward, we know Him by faith in his death, burial and resurrection, as revealed in Scripture, not by sight, and it is in this context that Paul says, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:” Gill says in this place, “Nor do we make account of the saints themselves as in this mortal state, but as they will be in the resurrection, in consequence of Christ's having died for them, and rose again.” On the clause “Old things are passed away,” Gill comments thus: “The old course of living, the old way of serving God, whether among Jews or Gentiles; the old legal righteousness, old companions and acquaintance are dropped; and all external things, as riches, honors, learning, knowledge, former sentiments of religion, are relinquished:” On the clause “Behold all things are become new,” he comments, “There is a new course of life, both of faith and holiness; a new way of serving God through Christ by the Spirit, and from principles of grace; a new, another, and better righteousness is received and embraced; new companions are sought after, and delighted in; new riches, honors, glory, a new Jerusalem, yea, new heavens, and a new earth, are expected by new creatures.”
I would not claim that Gill has all this right, though I agree with his exposition here, and more certainly I would not claim that I have an understanding of this passage superior to that of anyone else. I do, however, firmly believe that there is an increasing tendency within Christendom to focus on our religious conduct, and overlook the preeminence of Christ in us which is the only hope of glory. There is far too much note taken of what we do, and should do, concerning things which can be seen in us by self and others, and far too little of what Christ has done. There is far too much instruction pointing to the security and profit of men, and too little to the glory of God, through Jesus Christ.
If we are, indeed, new creatures as this text suggests, it is by Christ’s effort not our’s, and by the work of the Holy Spirit upon us, and His presence within us. The greater our realization of this truth becomes, the more of our new creation will be displayed. We will not need to concentrate a great deal on showing others, defending our actions, proving our comparative superiority, or doing great things for the cause of God’s kingdom, etc. As He dwells in us through the person of the Holy Spirit, we will become more of what we should be. That will never come to pass through our knowledge or effort, nearly so much as by God’s presence in us. I wonder if we should worry less about praying more, saying more, doing more, and knowing more, and start concerning ourselves with listening more, to what God the Holy Spirit has to say to us. He does speak to our hearts. Oh that we would listen as we should! FLK

Forrest L. Keener
Preaching Itinerary

CURRENT ITINERARY FOR 2011

Note: Dear friends, Every time you read my itinerary, please know that it is a standing prayer request from me. I desperately need the power of God upon my preaching every time I stand up. Please intercede for me in this matter. I increasingly realize that without that divine presence, every evangelistic effort of any of us is an exercise in futility.

January 30, 2011 Sunday morning and evening
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Choctaw, OK - Royce Smith - Pastor

March 30, - April 3, 2011 - Grace Seminar
SOUTH IRVIN BAPTIST CHURCH
South Irvin, KY - Donnie Burford - Pastor

April 10, 2011 Sunday morning and evening
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Choctaw, OK - Royce Smith - Pastor

April 11- 17, 2011 - Spring Revival
OLMSTEAD BAPTIST CHURCH
Olmstead, KY - Jim Duke- Pastor
April 24, 2011 Sunday morning
SHILO BAPTIST CHURCH
Noble, OK - Roy Keener - Pastor

May 3 - 5, 2011 - Annual Bible Conference
LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH
Fort Worth, TX - Jimmy Nelson - Pastor

May 11-13 -2011 - Bible Conference
MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH
Cincinnati, OH - Dan Ferrell - Pastor

May 15 - 2011 - Morning Service
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Harrison, OH- Ronnie Wolfe - Pastor

May 15-2011- Sunday Night Service
MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH
Cincinnati, OH - Dan Ferrell - Pastor

May 29, 2011 Sunday AM & PM Supply
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Duncan, OK - Jim McDowell - Pastor

June 12, 2011 Sunday morning and evening
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Choctaw, OK - Royce Smith - Pastor

June 25- 2011 Area Wide Youth Fellowship
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Florence, KY - Wilbert Ellis - Pastor

June 26 - 29 - 2011 Summer Revival
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Independence, KY - Paul David Brown - Pastor

July 10, 2011 Sunday Special Service
Amazing Grace Children’s Home
Acolman Mexico - Larry Jones - Pastor

July 31, 2011 Sunday morning and evening service
GRACE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Wagoner, OK - Jeremiah Blasi - Pastor

September 4 - 5, 2010 Sunday Service & Bible Conference
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Frankfort KY, Lonnie Bennett - Pastor

October 5 - 9 -2011 Fall Revival Meeting
CARMICHAEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Carmichael CA- Bill Brown - Pastor

October 16, 2011 Sunday AM & PM Supply
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Duncan, OK - Jim McDowell - Pastor

October 20 - 22 Annual Bible Conference
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Choctaw, OK - Royce Smith - Pastor

October 24 - 26, 2011 Annual Bible Conference
BRYAN STATION BAPTIST CHURCH

Lexington KY - Brent Spears- Pastor

October 29 Fifth Saturday Conference
COWETA BAPTIST CHURCH
Coweta OK - J C Fulton - Pastor

November 18 - 20 - 2011 Annual Weekend Meeting
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
O’fallon, IL - Mel Kimberlin - Pastor

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
MISSIONARY - EVANGELIST AT LARGE
Forrest L. Keener
9601 Crooked Creek Ln
Oklahoma City OK 73160
Sponsored by Sherwood Baptist Church
P.O. Box 1298, New Castle, OK 73065

Report Letter For March and April 2011

Sept 30, 2011

Dear Pastor Brown, Members of Sherwood Baptist Church, and precious friends across this country,

Actually, this report should have been published the first of September. However, because of the lack of some pertinent information available to me at that time, and the way it meshed with my schedule, it is a month late. As usual, July and August were fairly slack months. There are not normally many revival meetings or conferences held in those months, and 2011 was pretty normal.

I finished June, and started July, in a meeting at First Baptist Church in Independence, Ky, where Brother Paul David Brown is pastor. I then spent a week in Mexico City, at the Amazing Grace Children’s Home, and had the privilege of Speaking on Sunday evening in their beautiful chapel. I really enjoyed meeting Dr. Revis, as well as his family and staff, and the time with the children was a joy of a lifetime. On July 31, I had the privilege of supplying for Pastor Jeremiah Blasi, at Grace Missionary Baptist Church, in Wagoner, OK. I preached one funeral and outside of that, this has a pretty relaxing July and August.

I mentioned my younger Brother’s leg amputation, and the accompanying maladies, in my last prayer letter. He had to have a secondary amputation, a little closer to the knee, because the deterioration was progressing further up the leg. We were quite worried that he might lose the left lower leg also, and that is still a possibility, but right now it seems a little less likely. Mary and I saw him a few days ago, and he showed us how he could walk on his temporary prosthesis, with the aid of a walker. He says he has taken a few steps without the walker, but the Dr. has instructed him not to do that yet. He will have to use the temporary prosthesis for about six months, while adjustments are made, and fitting is completed, then he will receive the permanent one. He has a lot more physical problems, so please remember him in your prayers, regularly.

I reached my 78th birthday last month, and my wife will reach her 76th in October. We are both physically quite active, and for our age, feel good. We thank God for that ability daily. We are both enjoying exceptionally good health for our age. God is so good to us! And that is about all we can credit for our present situation.

We are so thankful for God’s financial provision for us, and for those wonderful churches, and individuals, through whom He provides. I am finishing my ninth year in full time evangelistic work, and feel quite sure God is pleased for me to continue in that endeavor. I am confident that a lot of people are praying for us regularly, and we joyfully ask you to just keep it up.

In brotherly love,

Forrest and Mary Keener