Bible Ballistics: Your Identify?? Vol 4 #2 May 18, 2014

Our identity is important to us. But where is your identity based?

Romans 6:3-6, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Paul tells us here that we are to be identified with Jesus—in His death, and in His resurrection. As he stated in 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.”

We are identified with Christ at the cross. He died for me, so that I could live with him, not only with Him but having Him living within me. The fulfilling of the new covenant—Colossians 1:27,

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

This is our identification—‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’.

I can walk “in the Spirit”, because of what Christ has done for me/us. He accomplished the work of Salvation at Calvary and brought full deliverance through the resurrection. Incomparable new life that Jesus bought and brought to us in His resurrection. As He told Martha before He raised Lazarus,

John 11:26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (now and in eternity)

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.” Born OF GOD!!!

The question I raise today is “with whom are we identified?” Jesus? Or the world? We are to identify with sinners, but only in the sense that we, as redeemed sinners, are to call the world to Jesus; Because Jesus came to bring ‘everlasting life’ to those who will ‘believe’ in His atoning death. Christ in His death identified with us to save us, and I/we are sent to the world with the ‘good news’ of salvation in Christ alone. (see John 14:6)

Hebrews 2:14-16, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

Jesus became “flesh and blood” to deliver us not only from hell, but also from sin and the bondage of it. He came to die for our sin, not His own! Are we willing to die to self and live for Him? That is the question we consider today.

We must continually ask ourselves if we are identified with the lost state of mankind, or if we are immersed in sin because we have settled for what the world offers rather than the glory of the Savior’s transforming power? (See Col. 1:12-14).

Are we willing to follow Him and leave the world’s allure to draw nearer to our Savior? Why would we? What does scripture tell us?

First, we have power to live in an intimate relationship to Christ:

 Colossians 3:11b, “but Christ is all, and in all.”

Jesus is all sufficiency and He is in us via His Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 6:14-15, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

John 8:42, “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.”

We see here the power we have as a new creature, created in Christ Jesus. Are we walking in that power? Are we walking in His Spirit or our own flesh? It’s something that we wrestle with every day. That’s why we are called to continually, each day, put on His armor to stand fast (see Eph 6:10-18).

The alternative? God knows and so can we!!

Romans 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” What do our friendships reveal?

John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” 

As other scriptures tell us, ‘we will all give an account’..  (See Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Give it some time this week and ask God what He has to say to you. Have a profitable time taking it before the Master. Ask, seek and knock!!!! Are you in love with the light or the dark? What do you reflect? God or the world??? Food for thought.

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #60   Gifts from God?????

It’s a wonderful spring morning; I have the doors opened up, smelling the fresh air and listening to the wind chimes, which I love. The grass is beginning to green up and I can’t help but praise my God gratefully, for all that He has given us to enjoy. Let’s think about it for a few minutes.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 says, “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

And Ecclesiastes 5:18, “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.”

James 1:17, “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.

All that is in this world is created by our wonderful God, His Holy Spirit, and His Son Jesus (see Gen. 1:1-2; Col. 1:16 and John 1:3). These passages remind us that our God is the giver of all creation itself. Consider! He’s given it to us.

Breath—God sustains our life each and every day. Without breath, life is impossible. Air wonderful fresh air, made just right to sustain our life.

Sight—With our eyes we are able to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

From the majestic mountains,

to the delicacy of an blossoming rose

or a newborn colt frolicking in the sun.

Touch—Who can deny the joy of feeling

the precious tender skin of a newborn baby?

Or sand between your toes?

Hearing—The ability to take in

the lovely warbles the songbirds,

a whippoorwill,

or the joy of a child’s first word.

Taste—The ability to

enjoy ‘chocolate’,

ripe peaches right off of the tree,

a sweet as honey strawberry,

salt on an egg.

Thought—Have you ever stopped to appreciate that God made us to be

able to process all the information around us

and respond with reason.

Made in the image of God to enjoy the creation of God to the fullest.

To know the satisfaction of a job well done.

To bring HIM glory.

So????   Our shot for today. Spend some time this weekend

breathing,

seeing,

hearing,

feeling,

tasting

and thinking

about the wonderful God who provided all these things for us to enjoy. And THANK HIM. And praise Him before the world…. Knowing that it’s all from Him, ‘from whom all blessings flow’.

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #59  Trouble?????

It seems there is trouble on every hand. Weather, conflicts, political upheavals on every hand, financial woes. What do we do in these last days? In any days? Of course we go to the Lord and His word.

Psalm 119:10-12, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.” (He’s teaching, are you learning?)

The Psalmist clearly reminds us that when we seek God we will find Him who will help us stay on track. How? Verse 11, makes it clear!!! When we hide the ‘Word’ in our hearts, His Spirit helps us to recall God’s words, His ways, and His encouragement. And this Holy Spirit who dwells within each believer will work out what we put in.

John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

We have all we need in the Lord and His Word. And a promise of help from Jesus Himself, that His Spirit would teach us. If we study–put it in–He will bring it out at the right time. Those who were with Jesus in person were promised that the Spirit would help them remember His very words. For us–read and study His Word, and He will help us to recall those things when we need them, whether for ourselves or others.

As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9,

“ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” God’s power–through us.

So?? Here’s our shot for today.

Get in the Word.

Stay in the Word.

Depend on the Word.

You can overcome. Today!

 

Bible Ballistics: Happy Mother’s Day!! May 11, 2013 Vol. 4 No.01

A Happy Mother’s Day to you moms, and a word of encouragement to the rest of you to make sure you’ve connected with your mom today if you are graced to still have her with you. I thought we’d look at some mothers of the Bible, and see what we can learn about motherhood and not only what it involves but also what it looks like when ‘fleshed’ out.

Let’s begin with the first mother, Eve. Genesis 2:18, 22-24, tells us what God had to say about wives (and subsequently mothers),

“18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him……..22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (help meet infers companionship)

God created woman to be a companion to the man, because ‘It is not good that the man….be alone”. Companionship is defined as ‘a feeling of fellowship or friendship’. God wanted man to not be alone, to have a companion for fellowship and friendship. Woman was created to be a completer to the man as they shared in the creation that God had given them rule over. We have allowed our culture to make men and women ‘competers’ rather than ‘completers’, to always be competing with one another instead of each spouse helping the other be all that God created them to be. God also brought the woman to the man, women will find much more satisfaction in their relationships if they would fulfill the role of the pursued not the pursuer. Not popular but grounded in scripture. And I think experience proves it true also.

Jesus himself speaks on this issue for us in Matthew 19:4-6, “4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

God made them at the beginning,

male and female—

one woman for one man.

God said marriage was the beginning of a new home,

and the man was to leave and cleave—to his wife.

They would become one flesh—

only works with a man and a woman—

one man and one woman. (Think about it??)

The story of Hannah begins in 1 Samuel 1, and because of the length of the story, we’ll just focus on some specific things that we learn about this woman, wife and mother. First of all she was in a less than desirable situation, she was one of two wives (not God’s ideal but she responded in a godly way to that which was not ideal), although Hannah was apparently the favorite wife she was barren and had no children. While the other wife was mother of several children. Having friends that have dealt with the pain of barrenness, I know this can be a painful place to be. Add to that the aggravation of another woman (wife) who constantly flaunted her children. Talk about a dysfunctional family. Your problems do have biblical solutions and examples of godly responses.

What was Hannah’s solution? Anger? The silent treatment? Retaliation against the offender? None of these were Hannah’s response. As I heard said many years ago, “I am not responsible for the actions of others, only my ‘reaction’ to them.” Hannah had taken this philosophy to heart and her solution was to take her aching heart to God. When the family went to God’s house to celebrate one of the festivals of God, Hannah took her brokenness before God. She was so broken that her earnest prayer was misunderstood by the ‘preacher’ (Eli the priest saw her mouth moving and no words coming out and rebuked her for being drunk!!!—is that being misunderstood or what?). Hanna explained that her actions were out of a heart of deep distress. Upon hearing her earnest defense Eli blessed her and said in verse

17, “Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” Her integrity was evident.

Long story, short, God heard and honored Hannah’s faithful response to her situation and God gave her a son, Samuel. Hannah kept her vow to God and brought Samuel back to the place of worship and entrusted him to Eli to serve in God’s house, for His purposes all his life. Samuel was probably 3-5 years old when Hannah kept her word and gave this precious gift for which she had prayed so earnestly, back to God as her gift of obedience. Wow!!! We can’t really comprehend her actions but God honored her faithful life and prayer by giving her more children, and using Samuel to minister to the Kingdom of Israel his entire life. What a mom. Scripture tells us that she made him a new coat every year and took it to him when they went to celebrate the feasts. Think on these things. Spend some time this week reading the first few chapters of 1 Samuel; you will be humbled in this woman’s presence.

The last women I’d like to look at are a mother and grandmother that Paul spoke of in 2 Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

2 Timothy 3:15, “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.” (Who taught him? Of course mom and grand mom.)

Here we find a mom and daughter who did their work for God in the life of their son/grandson. Timothy was half Jewish and half Greek. Scripture doesn’t tell us if his father was a believer, but it clearly reminds us moms and grand-moms, that we can influence our children for God if we will

faithfully live the word before them,

teach them the scriptures and lead them to Jesus.

We have a high calling from God.

Let’s stand fast in these evil days

and instill in those that come behind us,

the powerful truths of God

and lead them to the Savior.

It doesn’t matter how much we teach our family

about popularity,

money,

or fame

if don’t lead them to the Savior through His Word.

We may be guilty of doing what Jesus warned against. I close with this admonition that I hope you will consider in your life, as I will. We can only share that which we have and know ourselves.

Matthew 16:26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Mom?????

 

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #58  Mom’s-Teachers?????

As this is the Friday before Mother’s Day, I thought I’d take a little spin on the Proverbs 31 passage that we usually hear about on Mother’s Day. I’d like us to look at the beginning of the chapter rather than the end, which describes godly wives and mothers.

Proverbs 31:1-5, “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”

These words, usually credited to Solomon, are the words that he heard from his mother. What did she tell him?

The strength and courage of the soul should not be given to women or the things of the world that have robbed many a young man (and older men too, for that matter), particularly alcohol. Why women and alcohol? Because either or both can cause one to ‘forget the law, and pervert judgment’.

We see the contrast to the benefit of embracing wisdom.

Proverbs 2:10-11, “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:”.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—????? Remember what your mother taught you about God and His word.

So?  ?????? Mom may have taught you right, but the learning is in your court. Deut. 30:19-20a,

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:”

What will you choose?