Trusting To Sight Alone??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

25 Saturday Apr 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Love of God, This is the Way, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Though your sins be as scarlet-they shall be white as snow., Trials, Tried by FIRE!, True Knowledge, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Unexpected Interruptions

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Trusting To Sight Alone???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

There’s an old adage that said, “I’ll have to see it to believe it!”  While we’ve probably all said it at one time or another, it is 180 degrees opposite of biblical faith and God’s Word!  I am amazed at all that goes on in our so-called Christian culture with little to no regard for what God has clearly said in His Word.  I simply want to encourage us to consider what it really means to trust God in our daily walk, and I’ll start with one of my favorite passages.  I want us to simply walk through what the scripture actually gives us as a guide for living—not just life, but the living of it—for The Lord; are we ready to heed His Word?

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

 8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD

with thy substance,

and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled

with plenty,

and thy presses shall burst out

with new wine.

11 My son,

despise not

the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary

of his correction:” Proverbs 3:5-11

I find it interesting that many of us know verses 5-6 by heart, but we have often left that which follows untouched!  Do you see what God is telling us?  Yes, we are to trust GOD—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—with all our heart; and then God goes on to tell us that we are to “lean not” to our own understanding, abilities, strengths, intuitions, human reasoning, and the justifications of our culture claiming that wrong is right and vice-versa!  Isaiah warned us long ago of the danger of heeding wrong advice!  Isaiah warned of the very thing that we are watching take place in our culture.  Our job is to stand fast in “evil day”; and friends we are there!

“Woe unto them

 that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

James warned a group of early believers that our lives ought to reflect God’s nature, the redeemed life, a sanctified life of virtue, character and holiness. Somewhere down the line we have chosen an “easy believism” that neglects repentance, regeneration and a changed life.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, The prize, and not the culture around us, no matter whom we fear might be ‘hurt’ by our proclamation of the Truth—Jesus!  Remember, the very proclamation of the truth of Who He was, is and ever shall be, cost Him His life, which He laid down willingly for my sin and yours!  What price are you and I unwilling to pay to proclaim God’s truth?  Let’s consider what James had to say, and I know this is a lengthy passage, but one which I pray will call us to account before our God and our Lord Jesus!

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds,

and of serpents, and of things in the sea,

is tamed,

and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith curse we men,

which are made after

the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth

proceedeth blessing and cursing.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain

send forth at the same place

sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,

bear olive berries?

either a vine,

figs?

so can no fountain

both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge among you?

let him shew out of a good conversation

his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife

in your hearts,

glory not,

and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above,

but is earthly,

sensual,

devilish.”  James 3:7-15

As I am often wont to say, “Saying so doesn’t make it so?”  What does my/your life style say? Our speech?  Our treatment of others?  Our generosity, or the lack thereof?  Paul gives us a very clear picture of living a life of faithful obedience or a life devoted to the world. (And just FYI, James isn’t saying that our tongue can’t be tamed; he is saying that no “man” can tame the tongue—only a redeemed heart can affect a man’s speech).  Jesus said it not me.

“Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:” Matthew 15:17-19

Let us also consider today (I hope to address this again soon), Paul’s great picture of the contrast between the fleshly life and a holy life—lived in the power of Jesus through the work of His Holy Spirit. It’s your call, but judge wisely according to God’s Word not the world’s standard!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

 so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,  

which are these;

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance,

emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions,

 heresies, 21 Envyings, murders,

drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”Galatians 5:16-25

I know that these are heavy things, but they are things that I truly believe we need to be reminded of.  As some of you know, I lost my husband 2 months ago and wound up in the hospital and rehab for a month shortly after his death.  It was a trying time, but my confidence was, has been and still is in the power, goodness and sovereign care of my Jesus!  No, it hasn’t been fun, nor has it been easy, but as Job said so long ago, “…though He slay me, still will I trust Him…” Job 13:15. And in closing I want us to consider another statement from some who trusted God out of the fire and in it!  Where’s your trust?

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

Will you choose to stand with Jesus, or buckle under the threat of fire?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test—and I think it may be coming very soon.  I’m praying for you.  As an old song said…” …they wouldn’t bend…they wouldn’t bow…they wouldn’t burn…” (from the song, The Fourth Man in the Fire, by Arthur Smith…), I pray that we will be found as faithful as they were, for they knew their God and His Word!  How about you and me?  I pray that God will find me faithful!

Amen and Amen!!!

Trusting In The Dark!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #444

22 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's Prayer, Darkness or Light?, Delight of my heart

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Trusting In The Dark!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #444

“Unto the upright

there ariseth light in the darkness:

he is gracious,

and full of compassion,

and righteous.

5 A good man

sheweth favour,

and lendeth:

he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever:

the righteous

shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:

his heart is fixed,

trusting in the LORD.” Psalm 112:4-7

As children many of us were afraid of the dark, and sometimes that fear carried over into adulthood.  I’m not fond of the dark, except when I’m trying to view the stars or a lunar event, but I’m not consumed with fear either, mostly because I know The God who created all things, and I know He is with me no matter the time of day or my circumstances.  And of late I have found God so faithful in every time or circumstance, and I just what us to rehearse today the surety of our God no matter where we may find ourselves.  The Psalmist reassures us that our confidence can rest in God Almighty and His Son, Jesus!  We can rest in the assurance of verse 7 above: “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.”

Oh, how I have come to know that assurance in new and welcome ways.  He has walked with me in recent days, in new ways—ways that I never have experienced before—yet my God is totally faithful and trustworthy.  Even as the author of Hebrews reminds us!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Another powerful passages from the book of Hebrews—one which I can confidently share with others and often do.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto

the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Our Lord carried our sin to Calvary, for He had no sin of His own, but He paid for my sin, and the sin for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—mine and yours!  What an awesome love that would do that for sinners like me!

I also want to share another great passage from Daniel that amazingly describes the nature of our God!  He has it all in hand—even when we can’t see in the dark.  I pray that this will speak encouragement to your heart as it has mine so many times.

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God

for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth

the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep

and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

Blessings on your day!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Faithful God In Trouble!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #443

17 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by in The Word

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A Faithful God In Trouble!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #443

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

What a promise; and that’s what I want to talk to you about this morning.  I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’ve been absent for these few months, and I’d like to share a few things with you that I pray will bless you and give you hope, courage and a heart to seek this amazing God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  Jesus is real—He is truly my dearest friend, and because of that truth I am able to come to you this morning sharing my heart and, if you would, more of my story.

Almost 2 months ago my husband had a fall that caused a brain bleed; long story, short, it led to his death.  It was a crushing loss after 38 years of sharing our lives with each other and serving God as He opened and closed doors in our pursuit of our Lord Jesus’ will!  We had good times and difficult times; we have had joy and we had sorrow; we had trials and times of jubilation; we were so blessed, and I won’t take space or time to share with you the wonderful, godly man that he was, as he touched more lives than I can imagine. (And yes, I still find myself talking about ‘us’ and ‘we’—guess I will for a while, since I’ve been saying that for over 38 years!  Thank you, Jesus!)

He had health issues for the last four years, but God granted us those four years, that we were grateful for!  But that in and of itself isn’t the reason that I’ve not been writing here on Bible Ballistics; the loss was great, but my issues didn’t stop there; I had not been feeling well (after spending weeks at the hospital) and seemed to be getting worse so my sister took me to the doctor four days after my husband died and I wound up being transported to the hospital in an ambulance when I collapsed in my doctor’s office.

I was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and also wound up with several other infections and was put on a 30+ days  of a powerful antibiotic infusion.  I was allowed to leave the hospital for my husband’s funeral, and then was readmitted to the hospital, and after four days transferred to a skilled nursing and rehab facility for some three weeks.  I was extremely weak and couldn’t do much but rest and do the physical therapy each day.  It’s been a long journey, but God has been with me every step of the way.  He blessed me with a sister who got to stay several weeks and help me make all the transitions before she had to return to her home.  I was blessed with friends who came to visit, helped with my personal needs, and brought me food to try to get me to eat—a problem I have seldom had in my life, and most importantly those who prayed for me.

I am so thankful to God and the precious friends that He has placed in my life, and may I always be that friend to others as I’ve tried to do all of my life with Jesus!!!  I was able to attend the funeral and grave side service, but I was so weak I had to have help walking, and God sent my precious nephew who came all the way from MS to be God’s help for me.  I was overwhelmed at the attendance of so many who knew and loved my husband, he was a precious man of God, a faithful friend to many, a precious father, brother (he was the last of seven boys to die), uncle—I could go on and on, but for time and space I won’t linger here, except to say that he was kind, generous and loving beyond measure..  Needless to say it was a precious service that honored the man with whom I have shared almost 40 years.  Yes, I miss him terribly, but my Savior and God has lifted me up and is restoring my health, and I’m getting stronger every day.  I have to rest a lot, but I’m so grateful to be home, even though it’s alone.  I told someone the other day that it’s been some 60 years since I was alone!  It’s a new experience, but by God’s grace I am going forward.  I know God still has a work for me to do!

I hope this will be a word of encouragement to those of you who need that word; I pray that it will help others who have suffered loss; for those who just wondered where I had gone!  I finally felt like I could do this today!  I pray that you will look up in all your trials, for God is faithful to every need.  I pray His blessings, grace and truth to minister to you.  I can’t leave you without the most important truth, that all this comfort, hope and peace that I am walking in comes from Jesus alone—because I know that my husband was born again, and is with my Lord Jesus right now; even as King David said so long ago upon the loss of a baby son, “…But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?

can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him,

but he shall not return to me.”  From 2 Samuel 12:23

Peter also proclaimed the truth of the gospel—that salvation is in Jesus alone!  May you look to Him for all you need!  He never fails!  Don’t let the enemy steal your hope!  Come to Jesus if you don’t know Him, simply repent of your sin and believe in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for you and me when we trust to His blood that saves eternally! If you know Him already—Look up to your redeemer! (See Hebrews 4:14-16)

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles and wonders and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:”   Acts 2:22-24

Jesus is not only the crucified and risen One, but He is also my Savior—my best friend—my comfort and hope; for I know as David said, I will join my husband and the other loved ones who have trusted Jesus for salvation, we’ll be in His presence for eternity.  I hope I’ll see you there too!

“This is the stone which

was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

 for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”   Acts 4:11-12

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s so nice to be back with you all….  I’ll be writing as I can!

Only Sinners Need Saving??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #442

05 Thursday Feb 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Building on The Rock or The Sand?, Building up or Tearing down?, Following Jesus, Forgiveness, JESUS, Jesus call, Jesus is able, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Kneeling Prevents Stumbling!

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Only Sinners Need Saving? A Word from THE WORD!!! #442

I have a few things to share this morning, but they are things I believe to be imperative; and while this may be a strange title, I think it apropos in the day in which live where every person is doing “that which seems right in his/her own eyes”! (See Judges 21:25). Only when we see our need as sinners will we see our need for Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “sin” to save us!  So I want to share what scripture tells us, and I pray that this will help someone today to see the need for the blessed Savior who changed my life, and He will change yours today if you will but bow before Him. (See Philippians 2:5-11)

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”              Colossians 1:12-14

Jesus saves, delivers and forgives all who come to Him in repentance and faith in His sacrifice for our sin; it’s what He came to do!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

Jesus can save us because He came, the Son of God, to be the Lamb spotless before God because He had no sin!

Therefore He could pay for my sin and yours, and He did!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.”  Hebrews 4:15

Jesus paid for sin, but without coming to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice, there is no salvation.  It is the Gospel which the apostles preached; the one which we are called to share today also, and Jesus made it clear that repentance (turning from our sin to the Savior!) was necessary.

“3 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

And the word preached after Pentecost.

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,

said unto them,

Ye rulers of the people,

and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined

of the good deed done to the impotent man,

by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand

here before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven given among men,

whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness

of Peter and John,

and perceived that they were

unlearned and ignorant men,

they marvelled;

and they took knowledge of them,

 that they had been with Jesus.”   Acts 4:8-13

All I can say is Amen and Amen!  But I would like to share a few more insights with you before I finish!  Jesus made it very clear that just “saying so doesn’t make it so”!  As He told Nicodemus in John chapter 3, we must see our need for salvation and repent and receive Jesus’ salvation to be born again!  If you haven’t heard the voice of the blessed Holy Spirit speaking conviction of sin to your heart, you might want to check out what you think saved you.  I’ll simply close with a few passages, the first about Jesus, the other the powerful words of Jesus to “the many” who claim His name but don’t do HIS will!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

And a passage from Jesus’ sermon on the mount.

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

 I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

Jesus gave an example of this powerful insight in a passage that many write off to a children’s song; but it is one of the most powerful truths of scripture.  Only one way—Jesus!  Only on foundation—Jesus!  Because the foundation matters?  Where/what is your foundation?  You won’t be judged on how you look, but who you have trusted with your soul!

“Therefore whosoever

heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that

heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Remember, circumstances come upon us all—the good, the bad, the smooth and the difficult, the happy and the sad; it’s not the circumstances that make a difference, but the foundation.  What’s your house built upon—Jesus never fails and I can boldly say Amen to that, for He has never failed me!!

Amen and Amen!!!

Melting Snow??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #441

31 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Following Jesus or the World?, Holiness, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Honor Or Dishonor?, How much goodness is enough?, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Just words won't do?, Rain from heaven., The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Light of The World

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Melting Snow???       A Word from THE WORD!!! #441

As the snows melt from the winter storms we have been having—much of the USA in fact—I thought a lot of things as I shoveled the walkways yesterday!  As I cleared the snow and ice away, there was still had a lot of snow and sleet covering my flowerbeds.  I decided to leave the snow on the beds so the moisture would seep into the ground (as we are super dry here in Oklahoma) to provide moisture for my plants.  I couldn’t help but think how God does the same thing in our lives—through His Holy Spirit and His Word!

“Be patient therefore, brethren,

unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman

waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient;

stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh.” James 5:7-8

Oh no, not the “P” word?  Patience is something we all have issues with—we live in a culture (a whole world) which wants its desires met immediately!  We have created a culture of “gim’me”, or more correctly put, give ME, now!  What I want, when I want it and in an unending continuum of provision at no cost and with no consequences.  It often seems that no one wants to work, or earn their own living, much less to be content with what they/we have.  And if I want what you have, I’m entitled to take it from you!  It makes my heart sad, as I think about how desperately we need the rain of conviction to come down from God upon our land.  I pray for the early rains and the latter rains of truth, grace, conviction unto salvation over our land.  How about you?

“Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field:

for the pastures of the wilderness do spring,

for the tree beareth her fruit,

the fig tree and the vine do yield

their strength.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion,

and rejoice in the LORD your God:

for he hath given you

the former rain moderately, and he will cause

to come down for you the rain,

the former rain,

and the latter rain in the first month.

24 And the floors shall be full of wheat,

and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

25 And I will restore to you

the years that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm,

and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty,

and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the LORD your God,

that hath dealt wondrously with you:

and my people shall never be ashamed.”   Joel 2:22:26

Israel had suffered the discipline of God for their faithlessness, yet He promised to restore them.  How? By sending the rain that would cause the land to bring forth abundant crops.   It is sad to me that most people around us make no connection between the elements of creation and the Almighty God who created all things through The Son Jesus.  (See Colossians 1:16, and John 1:1-3.) It is so important that we recognize that all we have comes from God, especially grace!  I am so grateful for the moisture that we received this past week (even if the freezing cold was not on my list of favorite things—but it was beautiful to look at, if not so nice to try to walk through) for we need the moisture.  How about you and me?  We need the spiritual rain from heaven—the work of God in our heart, soul and mind.  I am so grateful that God’s Word is replete with hope, joy and encouragement to refresh our heart, soul and mind!  Have you stopped to thank Him for the gifts in your life?  Or are you too busy complaining about what you don’t like, to see the goodness of God rained down upon you?

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down

from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.”  James 1:16-20

Firstfruits is an interesting word here, it goes back to the offerings and feasts which God gave to Israel, and the firstfruits was a praise offering to God in the expectancy and hope in God for a prosperous harvest to come.  Paul talks about this very thing and tells us that ‘we’ who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice are the picture of the harvest to come, are to be a picture to the world of the transformed life in Jesus, the firstfruits of the resurrection.  He arose and overcame sin, death and hell, and when we are born again into Jesus, we are a picture of the that very thing as we reflect to the world the life that Jesus gives to us at salvation.  It’s what Paul calls us to in his letter to the Corinthians church and the Galatian church.

“For since by man came death,

by man came also the resurrection

of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.”  1 Corinthians 15:21-23

Paul gives us an admonition and instruction to live by Jesus’ power; it is how we need to be and do God’s will and be the reflection of our Lord; all through the watering of God’s Spirit in and on us.  As Zachariah spoke so long ago!

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,

This is the word of the LORD

unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”   Zachariah 4:6

Paul tells us all how we can do that in this passage from Galatians.  We must live by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit!  How will you live today?  By the power of Jesus’ Spirit which dwells in all who are His, or by your own wisdom?  Even as Paul said to the Colossians long ago, “Christ in you, the hope of glory…”

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

Also, Romans 12, tells us how to have spiritual success in this life with Jesus.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is

that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly, according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

So, what is Paul calling us to?  He is calling us to present ourselves to God in our daily living.  To sacrifice our will for His!  To present ourselves daily to whatever God calls us to!  We are called to not exalt ourselves (remembering that we are created by God, not ourselves!), and to live in a way that does not conform to the world around us; but to be conformed to the image of Jesus (God’s work) by yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit who indwells each genuine believer in Jesus!

And in closing let’s consider a similar message from both James and Peter.  When we fix our mind on Jesus, it will help us to walk in the Spirit of Jesus instead of ourselves!  Paul’s message to the Galatian believers helps us to direct our life choices, and humbling ourselves before God is the way!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

… 25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:10

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

I pray that we will humble ourselves before God, allowing Him to work in us, that we will be “conformed to the image of his Son”!!  All by God’s working in us through the power of HIS Spirit within us!  No Holy Spirit within?  Without the Spirit we don’t belong to Jesus!

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:9

Do you belong to Jesus?  If so, we are called to walk (live) by His Spirit’s direction in our living.  If not, you don’t belong to Jesus.  Jesus said it best in Matthew 7.

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?  

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

I pray that we will let the rain of God’s work, Spirit and truth soak into our hearts and minds that we will truly be a reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.  Get into HIS WORD and listen to HIS Spirit that you can receive the refreshing of HIS rain!  Let it soak into your heart!!

Amen and Amen!!!