Bible Ballistics: BBs #52   Blessed Resurrection Day!!!

I wish you a most Holy and Blessed Resurrection Celebration. May the things you do this weekend point to and reflect the glory of the “One” whose resurrection we celebrate. We don’t gather at a cemetery to mourn or weep over a grave or mausoleum—because we celebrate an “EMPTY TOMB”!!!!! Praise God we worship and serve the ‘RISEN LORD JESUS”…..

1 Corinthians 15:1-5, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:”

The Gospel in a nutshell. With Paul, I say that I can only share that which I have received—

the truth of the Word of God—

the truth of Salvation in Jesus—

the truth of the Risen Lord—

the truth that Jesus is the only way.

John 14:2-6, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

So?? Here’s our shot for the day.

God promised a Savior and He came.

He promised a sacrifice for sin and Jesus died for me.

He promised to come again and He’s on the way.

Won’t you come to Jesus today, if you haven’t. He’s coming soon…   Are you ready?

If not please run to the cross.

Run to the one who left an empty tomb

because He rose victorious over

death,

sin,

and hell.

He’s the ONLY WAY!

He’s waiting for you—

He’s calling you—won’t you answer His call?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #51   What’s Between????

Last week we talked about “Nothing Between” my soul and the Savior, and surely we must be diligent to keep our hearts in tune with God. But how do we do that? Let’s take a look at some portions of Philippians 4 and consider Paul’s advice.

Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved ……..

so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved……

4 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.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and

if there be any praise,

think on these things.”

Simply stated yet not always easy, our confidence must be in what God is doing in and through us by His Spirit. Paul began this letter to the Philippians with that very assurance in Philippians 1:6,

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” He saves—He keeps!!

God is continually working to conform us to the image of Jesus. My part is to yield to His direction? Guarding my heart to keep it pure? Walking in the Spirit not the flesh?

So???? Here’s our shot for the day.

Stand fast,

rejoice in the Lord,

practice moderation,

don’t worry

but pray in all things.

Then experience the ‘peace of God’ and ‘think on these things’, keeping our eyes on Jesus and remembering,

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36.

“for without me ye can do nothing” John 15:5b

It’s all about HIM—May I be found faithful in Him today!!! And you?

Bible Ballistics: Signs or Evidence? April 13, 2014 Vol.3 #22

I’d like to share some food for thought this week. I’m terribly concerned about the direction the ‘church’ in America seems to be taking and I have a question, ‘Are we putting up signs, or being evidence?’ Passing through most towns today we see church marquees with anything from simple lettering with times and details, to flashing, digital, scrolling signs rivaling the biggest secular marquees. What is the reasoning? To advertise our church? To get people’s attention? To proclaim truth? Consider with me?

One meaning of ‘sign’ is: “a notice that is publicly displayed giving information or instructions in a written form”– Nothing wrong with that, but let’s look a little deeper. While signs can convey information about a church—time, events, people, etc., why are we spending enormous amounts of money to put up bigger, better, flashier signs than the next church? Are we becoming more and more reliant upon the methods of the world to reach our communities with the gospel, or following the scriptural mandate to ‘preach the word’?

2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” We are to preach tirelessly!

1 Cor. 2:2, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

1 Cor. 1:18, 21, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God……21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Are we using the methods of the world as a substitute for our failure to be Christ’s ‘church’ to the world? Have we, the church, denigrated the preaching of the ‘cross’ to the status of ineffective ‘foolishness’? Perhaps more eager to rely on ‘signs’ and media than the ‘power of God’? My question is, “Are we so busy putting up ‘signs’ that we have failed to proclaim Christ crucified for Sin?” Are we ‘being’ the salt and light that Jesus called us to be, living out our lives by the power of the Spirit, and sharing the truth? Or rather depending on the world’s methods? We are called to ‘walk in the Spirit’, not the flesh. Whose power are we depending on, and walking in?

Have we forgotten what Paul said in Romans 1:16-17?

“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.”

Have we decided that God’s ways won’t work in our world? Are we unwilling to ‘be the evidence of the gospel’ by living holy, obedient lives and just put up lights?

Matt. 5:13-16, “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.”

We are to ‘BE’ light, not put up lights; our lives to be the ‘evidence’ of the Gospel to the world.

We are to be salt—

which preserves and flavors!!

We are to be light—

which dispels the darkness.

Have we passed the buck, so to speak, and decided to live our lives our own way and put up bigger and brighter ‘signs’ rather than yielding our lives to the risen Lord—and ‘BEING’ light?. Are we profaning God’s Word, His house, and His message by abandoning the power of the Gospel and settling for the world’s ‘advertising strategies’?

Oh, God forgive us.

Oh, Lord open our eyes.

Are we more concerned about

bringing ‘comfort’

than ‘conviction’?

In our zeal to appeal, have we abandoned God’s truth and power? Jesus quotes form Isaiah 56:7 in

Mark 11:17, “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus never established, or called us to imitate the world but

to ‘preach’ the gospel boldly,

and confidently depend on God for the results.

Our Gospel –

Jesus death,

burial

and resurrection

‘for our sins’—

the only hope for the world.

As Jesus said in John 14:6b, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There is only one way—Jesus.

We have only one message—Jesus.

Are we willing to preach Christ crucified without compromise—

To live for Him and be salt and light to the dark world—

To be the ‘evidence’ of the life-changing power of the Cross,

not just to getting used to the ‘dark’. How are we to do this?

We who belong to Jesus are the Temple of God through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Are we reflecting the character of God, or just putting up lights? Are we displaying Jesus to the world? Is our life ‘evidence’ of the transforming power of the cross? May we ever be.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”  

Think on it—

are you putting up signs,

or being evidence?

Being a ‘den of thieves’

or the “house of prayer”?

The ‘house of prayer’ not simply being the place where prayers are wont to be made, but a place where the presence of God is sought, praised and obeyed.

Being light

not just putting up lights….

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #50   Nothing Between????

I’ve had an old song going through my heart and mind for the last week or so and just felt compelled to share it with you in today’s article. It’s amazing to me that God allows us to recall things, seemingly forgotten.  God is always at work around us, and our task is to be sure the line is open to see HIM and hear HIS voice— To have ‘Nothing Between’.

Isaiah 59:1-4,  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 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.”

We must guard our hearts from evil of every sort, because ‘our sin’ separates us from ‘our God’, and hides ‘His face’ from us. It creates a barrier between, and John 15:5b tells us, “for without me ye can do nothing”—nothing. And sin will hide HIM from our view. We must ‘abide’ in HIM and ‘lay aside the sin which so easily besets us’ and keep ‘looking unto Jesus….’, (Heb. 12:1+) –having ‘Nothing Between’–The song I’ve been humming and singing all week. I’d like to close this article with the words of this great old hymn, and simply ask, “what’s between” your soul and the Savior? Is there ‘something’ you need to take care of today? Make it right today—repent and return and He will restore—He said so. (See 1 John 1:9)

1. Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

             Refrain:
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing          preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.           

2. Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.
3. Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved, there’s nothing between.
4. Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.**

By Charles A. Tindley, 1905

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #48   Bound Up in Him????

Whether we are ‘running’ to God for deliverance, or ‘resting’ in Him when we get there, I’d like us to look at Proverbs 6 to find out how to maintain that ‘running to’ and ‘resting in’ our Lord.

Proverbs 6:16-23, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

Simply put–what to avoid and what to pursue—as God clearly tells us what HE hates and how to avoid it.

Pride,

lying,

malicious violence,

a heart set on wickedness,

and malicious mischief,

a false witness (lying against others),

and sowing discord among brethren:

A clear and concise list of behaviors to avoid, but how?

Simply put—follow the instructions!!!

Keep our parents good instruction (godly parents),

bind them upon our heart,

and tie them about our neck.

If we’ll know and follow HIS WORD, then

wherever we go they will lead our steps—

protect us when we rest in sleep,

and direct us each day

where we need to be,

when we need to be there,

doing what we ought to do,

and accepting godly reproof.

So?? Here’s our shot for the day.

God’s commands are a lamp to guide us,

His law is light,

and the reproofs (convicting us of sin and error) are THE way of life….

The choice is yours—

stay in the Word so it can transform you,

or neglect it

and be defenseless against the lies of the enemy.

Take some time this week to read Philippians 4:8, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17, Psalm 37:23. Good verses to memorize (binding them in your heart and mind!!)