Bible Ballistics: Alert? Pt. 3, March 30, 2014 Vol.3 #20

Since this week would be our regular Q&A time I’d like to write just a short follow-up in regard to being on the alert. We have so much going on around us and we need to be on ‘spiritual alert’ for our Lord. As Peter closed his second letter he reminds us of the necessity to keep a true perspective and to “be diligent ….”. Let’s walk our way through.

2 Peter 3:11-18, “ Seeing then that

 all these things shall be dissolved, (earthly things)

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, (be ready)

wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

 according to his promise,

look for new heavens and a new earth,

       wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, (SO)

seeing that ye look for such things,

be diligent that ye may be found

of him

in peace,

without spot,

and blameless.

 

15  And account that  (take notice)

the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;

even as our beloved brother Paul also

according to the wisdom

 given unto him

hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles,

speaking in them of these things;

in which are some things hard to be understood,

which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,

as they do also the other scriptures,

unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved,

seeing ye know these things before,

beware lest ye also,

being led away with the error of the wicked,

fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace,

and in the knowledge

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

In other words, pay attention to the ‘Word of God’. Remember that this world is ‘temporary’ and will not last, so make sure you are investing in the eternal. Don’t fall for all the lies of the enemy/the world but know truth and share it.

How do I do this?  By walking with Jesus.  Paul gives a great lesson about walking diligently in Philippians 3:7-15,

“But what things were gain to me,

 those I counted loss for Christ.

8 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 power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend that

for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, (mature)

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.”

So, forget the past,

keep your eyes on Jesus

and press on toward HIS MARK—oneness with God (See John 17:21).

Seeking God’s gain, not the world’s—‘lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’ (Matt 6:18-20) not on earth. God never forgets your work for Him, and His accounting is always correct.  (Is 59:18 and Romans 2:6).  Have a blessed week watching for and listening to God’s Spirit as He speaks and leads your steps.  Be on the ‘alert’, be diligent, every day! Today!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #45 Noah?? Fact or Fantasy?

Noah—a hot topic of the day.  To see the ‘movie’ or not to see the ‘movie’.  I have a bit to share in that regard.

Genesis 6:6-8,11 “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

‘Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ Why?

Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

John 1:12, “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:”

Noah believed God (faith, believe, receive are used synonymously here), obeyed Him, built an ark, and saved his own family’s lives, as well as the animals God had made.  What else did Noah do for the 100+ years that he built on the ark?  How did he ‘condemn’ the world while he built?  Well!!! The answer is where????? Of course you know.

1 Peter 2:5, “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

He preached for 100 years of the coming judgment of God on ungodliness.  Did anyone listen?  NO. What about us?

Matthew 24:37-39, “ But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”  Ring any bells?

So?? Here’s our shot for the day. We are living in the days of Noah.  Will you go see the movie?  That’s your decision, but as for “me and my house, we will serve the Lord” at home.  Just because the ‘world’ uses ‘Bible’ names, terms, events and issues, doesn’t make it “Bible”.  What is the motivation??? $$$$$ Your money, time, energy and influence. Why not use yours for God’s kingdom rather than funding the world’s.  It’s your decision.

So?? Instead, read the book (the Bible), get to know the author, find out what it really says (in total), follow His will and ways (OBEY), and increase His kingdom with your time, talents, energy and resources—NOT the world’s.  I believe we’re in that day, and only those who are following God through Jesus (Noah’s message also) will know truth and see.  Get on the Ark—in Jesus!! The rest will know not “until” the flood comes to take them away. Know God now as Savior or bow before Him then as Judge!!! A bit longer than I usually share in a ‘BBs’ article, but I felt compelled to address this issue. God bless you with spiritual understanding—Colossians 1:9-14 is my prayer for you. Oh, and by the way, God Is Not Dead, I just talked to Him.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #45 Victory’s Source

As we’ve been talking about victory in the perilous times in which we live, I’d like to continue with our thoughts on standing in the ‘evil day’.  How do we have consistent victory? As usual the answer is in the ‘Word’.

2 Timothy 3:10-17, “But thou hast fully known my

doctrine,

manner of life,

purpose,

faith,

longsuffering,

charity,

patience,

11 Persecutions,

afflictions,which came unto me at Antioch…… what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 **Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.** 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 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 (or woman of God)may be

perfect (mature),

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Wow!! What more can I say?

Know what the word says—

about doctrine/truth—

about what’s wrong—

about how to fix our own lives

so others can see the real Jesus clearly in us—

to prevent error by knowing righteousness.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—?????

Get in the WORD—

be equipped,

mature,

and show Jesus

to the world

by your works.

Others are watching you, and like Paul, we can be confident in what we’re showing them today when it’s the ‘WORD’.

So?  Get in it today, and know persecution will come!

Bible Ballistics: Alert? Pt. 2, March 23, 2014 Vol.3 #19

Continuing our discussion from last week, ‘Is the belief in the ‘Trinity’ essential to salvation?’  Our questions deal with the relationship of the Holy Spirit to salvation. We must realize that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the ‘trinity’ and that He is a ‘person’ of the Godhead and has a distinct part in our salvation.

This principle is partially addressed in Romans 8:9, which we discussed last week, but is also seen in other references, some of which we’ll consider today.  I hope these will help us see the work of the trinity in bringing men to salvation.  God initiates salvation; He initiates this work in us—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

John 6:44,  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

John 3:5-8, “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. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

John 8:23-24, “ And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

And John 14:6, “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 1:13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

The new birth comes via the Holy Spirit.  When we are born of the Spirit, He comes to reside in our heart.  We receive the New Covenant and become ‘sons of God’.  Ponder these things.

Now the other part of our question.  “What about the people who have never heard the gospel message?”  “Will all people need to ‘be saved’ to go to heaven, or are they exempted because they have never heard?”

If we are saved only by Jesus, if there is only one way to the Father—that being Jesus, what about those who have never heard?  To answer to this question is imperative, as it either makes us responsible to share the good news of the gospel of Christ, or it removes all obligation to evangelize the lost peoples of the world.  It’s either the reason we send missionaries (or go ourselves when sent) throughout the world, or the reason that we remove ourselves from all obligation to share God’s truth.  How, you might ask, does this work?  Well, if there is an exemption for those who have ‘never heard’, then we are doing the world a disservice to spread the gospel, and cause them to incur the judgment of ‘having heard’.  Follow with me as we look at Romans 1, the ultimate passage in regard to this question.

Romans 1:16-32, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” 

We see here the progression of sin.  When men reject God, the spiral is never upward, but always downward into more and more sin. But God continues to speak to them through HIS creation (verses 19-20) when they reject His person and His Word.  God also says here, that when men willfully reject His knowledge, He accommodates their desire to reject Him; but when men walk away there are generational consequences.  They are responsible and so are we.

Romans 14:12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

This initiator of salvation is still reaching out….

Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.“  God is faithful to reveal His truth to those who seek Him.

So, praise God for His grace and mercy, which He sends to the world, delivering the Good News of the Gospel, through His servants, to those who have been led into this spiral of sin & rejection. We are obliged to share (Matt 28:19-20) wherever God may lead us–because there are no ‘exemptions’.  And we are obliged to support those called to places and ministries when and where we cannot go.
When God saves us and reveals His truth to us, we are responsible to reach the ‘unreached’– with our time, our talents and our resources as God leads us.  To give sacrificially to missions—at home and abroad.  We are responsible to share the Gospel wherever we are—first in our homes, then our jobs, neighborhoods, schools, sports venues, and every circle of influence that God opens to us. Reaching out to the countless masses that are rejecting God even now with those resources at our disposal.

I hope this will give food for thought, and that you will have a renewed urgency to share the truth of the Gospel.  That you will see your responsibility to share this ‘ONLY WAY’—Jesus, because there are no exemptions. I invite you to spend some time this week thinking on Romans 1 and what it means to YOU.

If you have questions you can email them to me, message me on the Facebook page or Blog website anytime.  I pray that this has been helpful, and may God lead you in all your ways.

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #44  Victory in Perilous Times

Continuing with our thoughts from Wednesday, with “perilous times” often comes fear.  What do we do?  First, we must remember that fear is simply an emotion—the question is do we control our emotions or do we allow them (fear) to control us.

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

The God who saves us has given us ‘the spirit’ of ‘power’, ‘love’, and a ‘sound mind’, not ‘fear’.  How do I live in light of this assurance?  Well, as usual, let’s allow scripture to answer.

Romans 8:28-29a, “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, ….”

Portions of Romans 8:37-39, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

So? Here’s our shot for the day.  Remember, no matter the trial, or persecution, or discouragement,

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”   1 John 4:4

WE WIN!!!! 

Keep yourself IN HIM,

because HE is IN YOU!!!