Bible Ballistics: Hot House?                                           July 28, 2013                 Vol. 2 No.11

As we endure the “dog days of summer”, I hope it is pleasant where you are.  We have enjoyed some cooler days recently and that brings me to our topic this week.

The “hot house” — an unnatural environment used for raising plants out of season or natural climate, or often used to encourage the rapid growth or development of something or someone.

I have thought about this during the recent days as we have had lots of rain here in Virginia and although I don’t have much of a “green thumb” I have seen the plants on our porch flourish as if they were in a “hot house”.  The measured sun, the moisture and my vigilant care—sort of – have brought the reward of lovely plants that are growing and blessing us with beauty.

I couldn’t help but think of us as Christians.  Are we “hot house” Christians?  Do we only flourish when things are controlled or perfect and for our own benefit, or do we trust in the Lord enough to allow Him to grow us where we are planted, to bring us to bloom where we are?  Do I trust God to do His work to “conform” me into the image of Jesus?

• Romans 8:28-29 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” 

God has promised that HE is working all things to conform us into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Am I willing to trust God to lead, direct and accomplish His purpose in me?

• The Psalmist writes  in Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”  What makes a good man or woman, boy or girl?  Only Jesus!!!

• Psalm 119:132-133 says, “Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”   Luke 13:2-5 “And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”   Jesus calls us to repent and trust Him for our salvation, not our own goodness.

•  Paul also shows us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “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.”  And again in John 3:3-7,  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  

 Jesus declares that we must be “born again”, we must be born of God’s spirit to have eternal life.

• John 1:12-13 “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.” , points out to us that this “new birth” is a work of God!!!  It can’t be inherited from your family, it can’t be worked up by your own goodness or ethics, and it can’t be imparted from one person to another.  It is a supernatural work of God.  Jesus died on that awful cross to pay for my sin.  For your sin.  For all sin.  In Matthew 1:21 the angel told Joseph,  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”   Jesus came to SAVE us from our sins.  SIN is the issue.  Jesus overcame sin, and we live for Him by His Spirit within us.

• Colossians 1:27 says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christinyou, the hope of glory:”

When we are born again we receive the Spirit of Christ as the “earnest” of our salvation,

• Ephesians 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” 

When we receive the Holy Spirit we have the empowerment to “bloom where we’re planted”, to “grow where we are planted”, to be all that God wants us to be. Day by day to become more like Jesus.  To be one that doesn’t need a “hot house” to grow, but one who allows God to do HIS work in and through me.

• In John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work..”.    God’s will and work accomplished in and through me.  Jesus, the very Son of God, came not to do His own work but the work of His Father here on earth.  Whose work am I doing?  Whose work are you doing?

Do you require a “hot house” environment to work for God?  Do you only trust Him when things are good?   Job said two things which I’d like to paraphrase here: first          “shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not adversity?”, and the second “though He slay me, still will I trust HIM.”?

Do we know enough about God to trust Him as Job did, to keep on keeping on when things seemingly turn against us on every hand?

Are we learning to “Lean on Jesus”, as the song says? Or are we like the people of Israel in the days of the Judges, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes”….

Do I have to be pampered, tended to and bottle fed by others or as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2, do we “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 

Am I growing?   But don’t stop at the milk, as Hebrews 5:12-14 reminds us “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” 

We are to press on to maturity and grow to eat that meat of the “Word” and not stay on the milk.

Are you willing to step out in faith and obedience and let God do HIS work in and through you?

Are you ready to be growing and blooming where God has placed you?

I hope you will ponder these things this week and let God do HIS work in your heart and mind.  Have a great and blessed week growing and blooming where ever God has YOU!

Bible Ballistics: Urgency of the Hour  July 21, 2013   Vol. 2 No.10

I pray that your week has been blessed with peace and strength.  I’d like us to think about the “urgency” of the hour in which we live.  As we look on every hand we see conflict (regardless of which side you are on)—Paula Deen and her “dilemmas”; the Martin trial and it’s verdict; Kirk Cameron and Facebook; the Supreme Court rulings of recent days; the list could go on and on.  What are we to do in these difficult and divisive days?  Well, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, we are to “stand fast in the evil day and having done all to stand….” But, stand for what?  That seems to be the question of the day.  How are we to stand? For what are we to stand?  When and where do we to stand?  As always the answers are in God’s word, but more concisely the answer is ‘God’s Word’—Jesus (John 1:1).  He is the answer to all of our questions, but we must dig into His word to know and discern how He would have us to respond to the issues facing us—any issues.

It seems that ‘political correctness’ is abounding on every hand—but  “13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matt 5:13-16.  We are called by Jesus himself to be salt and light.  Why?  Salt seasons and preserves, and light illuminates.  Are we being salty?  Col. 4:5-6 calls us to, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”  Did you ever taste anything without salt?  It’s a bit bland and mostly tasteless.  Are we being bland and tasteless to our culture?  How do I season those around me?  There is an old proverb, ‘ You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’.  A true statement as far as it goes but there is a way you can get a horse to drink—you salt his oats!!!  Salty oats create a thirst.  Well, that is what we are to be doing in, through and by our lives to a world that is corrupt and needs to drink, even when they don’t realize it.  We are to be so different to the world that they are drawn by the joy and peace in our lives to seek Jesus—to desire to drink of the “water of life”.  Yes, helping people to desire Jesus.  We are to STAND fast in the word, prayer and godly, biblical principles that will attract others to Jesus.  Our lives are to reflect the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of Jesus Christ seen in all we do.

How do we stand without trampling over those we reach out to?  Can we accomplish that?  How do we speak the truth without causing harm?  Although we can’t always accomplish these things, they are to be our goals, and we are not to be aggressively, intentionally or abrasively unkind in our lives.  Remember, Jesus said, “if they believe me, they will believe you…and If they don’t believe me, they won’t believe you…..”.  So?  We are to stand ‘in the Spirit’, “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Gal.5:16 & also Gal. 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”   If we are walking in the Spirit then we can have God’s wisdom to know how to respond to each situation that comes our way.  We also must bathe our lives, actions, and ministries in prayer.  Phil 4:4-6 “ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 

Although we may differ in our responses to any particular situation, we must always stand on Biblical principles.  We must exercise Biblical judgment based on God’s Word.   We are to behave with integrity toward the Word and the God of the Word.  We are not to act with malice, and rage—these are works of the flesh (see Gal 5:19+).  Isaiah 59:3-4 describes our day accurately, “3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”  Sound like America?  Are we responding in the works of the flesh, or by the fruit of the Spirit?  By what the Word says or the influences of our culture?  We must decide!

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  We are living in those “last” days.  The times and signs are all around us.  We read the news headlines and see these same behaviors in the news every day!!  We should not to be amazed but we should never condone wrong.  Just because someone is a “celebrity” does not excuse bad behavior, yet we often accept, condone and excuse it even in those claiming the name of Jesus.  (Now, I am not talking about incidental slips or misjudgments, but blatant bad and vulgar behavior and/or language continually.)  We can also expect “scoffers”, but never join them, 2 Peter 3:2-4 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”   And Paul said in Phil. 3:17-20, “17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” There are those who walk contrary but we are not to influenced by their lifestyles, or accept and follow their ways.  We are to be salt and light!! We are to call them to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus for His salvation.

How urgent is the hour?  I believe we are on the verge of tragedy and we are to be making a difference in our world.  Do folks see Jesus in me, or worldliness?  Are we living faithfully in light of the “last” days, or are we frittering away opportunities to change hearts and lives for eternity, before it is too late?  The question is yours to answer.

***** For those who are  signed up to follow the “blog” I will be adding 2 mid-week “BBs of Encouragement” in a week or so, only those who follow the blog will receive these.  These will be short mid-week bits of encouragement to lift your spirits*****

Bible Ballistics: Feelings?         July 14, 2013         Vol. 2 No.09

I hope this day finds you rejoicing in the Lord.  We had a lovely time with the brethren today and pray that you did as well.  I would like us to look at a curious subject this week—feelings.  We use the word in many ways—how do you feel?  She hurt my feelings!  I Feel like a million dollars!….etc.  Let’s consider the contrast between what I know and how I feel.  Is there a difference and is it significant?  I believe both (I could have said I “feel” like there is…), but let’s look at God’s Word.

Often in scripture the word “feel” is used for the physical sense of touch, one use of the word; but the word can also mean,  ‘having an experience or emotion’, and/or ‘to have a belief or impression without an identifiable reason’.  The latter two will be our focus this week—emotions and impressions.  Hebrews 4:15, “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.”.  We have a Savior who KNOWS how we feel.  This verse also connects our “infirmities” to sin (not that infirmities[weakness or sickness] are sin, but they can lead us to sin when we don’t respond to them in the Spirit), and declares that Jesus overcame sin in the flesh and knows the temptations that we face, and that HE OVERCAME the very power of sin in HIS flesh.  And remember John 17:3, tells us that eternal life is KNOWING GOD and JESUS in salvation—through the cross by faith.

Confidence comes when we KNOW this.  And knowledge builds the confidence that brings us deliverance from the plague of fleeting and changing feelings.  Paul gives great insight into this question of ‘feelings’ in Ephesians 4, and describes those who have gone past acceptable ‘feelings’ and have lost their own conscience and rejected their only hope—JESUS.  Eph 4:17-24, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”   Be sure and note the contrast of our confidence in the LORD—and if we have been born again by the Spirit of Christ, we are to put on the newness that God has enabled us to walk in.  As the children’s song says, “Jesus loves me, THIS I KNOW” !!!!  What do you KNOW?  Where is your confidence?

How do I gain this kind of confidence and how does it look in practical terms?  Philippians 3:8-10 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the powerof his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”  Let’s consider what Paul speaks to us from the Lord—that he counts all things but loss to gain Christ.  Not simply Christ, but the “excellency of the knowledge of Christ”—to KNOW not only our Lord Jesus, but to KNOW His power (see Eph 6:10), to join in His sufferings AS we are made conformable unto HIS death.  This leads us to Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life with I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  True and growing KNOWLEDGE of Christ is found in our dying to ourselves, and being made alive IN CHRIST (see Rom. 8:28-29 — being conformed to HIS image by all that comes into our lives).  Am I yielded unto HIM in all that comes into my life?  We are called to share in HIS sufferings. Colossians 1:23-24 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;”  We are called to be one with Jesus, and willing to share in the suffering that comes when we walk faithfully in/with HIM.  (See 2 Timothy 3:12).  John 15:20-21 “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.”   Jesus himself, reminds us that when we identify with Him through salvation we will receive the same rejection that He experienced.  And not only rejection but general suffering in our lives from the warfare in which we are engaged daily.

Now what does all this have to do with feelings?  Well, we must understand that we, and our feelings, are  in a battle with unseen forces and only when we remember the source of our strength and power will we walk in victory—and YES we can have victory even in suffering.  How?  By being “strong in the Lord and the power of His might” ”  (see Ehp 6:10), and in that power to “stand fast…..and having done all to stand.  Stand therefore…” (Eph 6:13-14)  I must stand and walk in what I KNOW about the Savior not how I “feel” about my circumstances.  One way to do this is to memorize scripture.  This renews my mind with the knowledge of what is mine in Christ.  When the enemy comes with thoughts of discouragement—“you should feel better”, “you shouldn’t feel this way or that ”,  “your family should feel healthier…  feel wealthier… feel smarter…..feel more successful, ….” , on and on the list could go, what do we do?  What about your own life?  What have you let stay in your mind to disturb you?  Are you waiting to feel better?  Have more money?  Have no problems?  Are you waiting until you can ‘run faster, jump higher”, be “faster than a speeding bullet”, “jump tall buildings”?  Or are you taking control of your emotions and feelings and BEING all that God has called you to be, where you are RIGHT NOW?

We must live by what we KNOW, not how we FEEL, to be victorious.  We must keep   “looking unto Jesus” (Heb 12:1-2), thinking on “these things” (Phil 4:8), remembering that we can pull down the “strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).  We can stand in this knowledge.   I hope this will give you some concrete suggestions and enable you to walk in “KNOWLEDGE”  not ‘feeling’!  Camp out on what you KNOW–NOW!!

Bible Ballistics: Patience/Longsuffering    July 7,2013       Vol. 2 No.08

Blessings to you this fine Lord’s day.  I hope that you spent some time this week thanking God for America and the 237 years that we have stood proud as a nation.  Although we have much to be ashamed of “nationally”, we are still so abundantly blessed by God that we should always offer thanks to Him for this great land.   I’d like us to think about something in regard to the conflict that blessing often creates, that of wants-vs-needs.   Two Biblical words help us see God’s ways, they are patience and longsuffering.

Let’s begin with one of my favorite verses 1 Timothy 6:6 (+5-11), “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”  Verse 6 declares that contentment IS gain.  Verse 5 says that those who teach “that gain is godliness” or “money=blessing” are not speaking God’s truth.  Paul calls us to withdraw from those who teach such things.  Not a very popular thing to say these days, but God said so, therefore I must proclaim it. Paul also reminds us that we arrived on the scene with nothing and our departure will leave all behind.  We also note that we are to be content with food and clothing, and understand that riches are not evil but the “LOVE OF MONEY” is the root of all evil.  (See Matt 15:18)

Is our heart set on things of heaven or of earth?  Colossians 3:1-3 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”   We know that we are ‘dead’ (to the flesh)when we remember Galatians 2:20 “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.”  If we have been born again, we are ‘crucified’ with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life.  According to Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”, our life is changed from death unto life.  We are empowered by God to do right.  Ephesians 2:1-7 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved); 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”  We are made alive in Christ, set free from the bondage of sin, and raised to new life to show the glory and grace of God to the world both now and forever.

What can all of this have to do with patience and/or endurance?  A life of true submission to the Lord Jesus Christ is empowered to have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1) and this peace with God enables us to be at peace with our circumstances and the relationships in our lives.  Now this isn’t a blanket statement but a general principle of “peace” that we are to strive for in our lives.  Scripture reminds us that we are not responsible for the actions or reactions of others.  There are those in this world both near and far, who don’t want peace no matter how hard we may try.  Paul addressed this in Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”  God’s peace enables us to live out two words in scripture, one is often translated “patience” or “endurance”, and the other is often  translated “longsuffering”.  These two special words in scripture help us know that we are called to affect our world with the grace of Christ within us–to show Jesus in all.

Patience is most beautifully pictured in Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”.  Patience here, is the Greek word “hupomone”, hupo, meaning under, and mone, meaning to abide.  This is the word which pertains to circumstances—being patient under, with and through our circumstantial trials. Here we see that the trial produces the ability to remain under, (see 1 Cor. 10:13), and when we remain under the trial, with God’s provision, we develop experience (confident trust in God’s ability and faithfulness), and experience yields hope in all that we go through!!  How awesome is our God who is working continually in all that comes to us (see Romans 8:28-29).

In Colossians 1:110-12 we see both words used together(as they often are) but we’ll focus on ‘longsuffering”. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”  God strengthens us for both ‘patience’ and ‘longsuffering’, and we are to express them both with joyfulness.  The Greek word “makrothumia”, means to suffer long, and is related to persons or God not circumstances as “hupomone” is.  It is aptly described in Romans 12:19,  “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”   We are to trust people to God.  As God’s children we are to trust HIM with our circumstances and our relationships.  I hope this gives you some food for thought this week.