Bible Ballistics: Wisdom to Speak Truth???? Vol. 4 #17
We are on the road again and as I was thinking about traveling, I thought about our journey of faith. When we come to Jesus—we must come to Him in total. Without getting into the ‘Lordship’ debate, suffice it to say scripture tells us that we are to call on the name of the ‘Lord’ Jesus Christ—HE IS LORD. The question is what will you do about it? Will you follow HIM, trust Him and share His truth?
Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
And in Luke 13:2-3 & 5, Jesus tells us that repentance works hand in hand with faith—two sides of the same coin.
“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…. 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
I believe we must always share the gospel in the fullness ‘of grace and truth’ (see John 1:14). We are to call sinners to repentance not just hand them a Band-Aid and try to cover their sin, or even as some do, tell them their sin isn’t important. The scripture is truth, but just as important ‘JESUS IS TRUTH’ as John 14:6 tells us. Remember what Paul said about being a “new creature” in Jesus, and Him in us..
Colossians 1:27b, “…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
We should also keep in mind (especially those of us who deal with ‘perfectionism’ or ‘control’ issues), that just because someone’s not doing it ‘my way’ doesn’t necessarily mean they are doing it wrongly. I am not talking about issues of Biblical integrity but differences of opinion in style, manner or methods and personal preferences.
I have very strong opinions about many things (I know those of you who know me personally are laughing out loud about now!!), and there are issues on which I will not compromise because of my own biblical understanding or personal conviction. When we need to take a stand, it may bring us into conflict with others; but we must maintain grace and peace on our part. We must be sure it is God leading us and not our own ‘ego’, and remember Paul reminds us in Romans 12:17-18,
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
We are to be salt and beacons of light in the darkness and corruption of this world, while respecting those who are serving Jesus in a different way than we are. Jesus spoke on this very issue to the disciples; I think we can learn a lot from this passage.
Mark 9:33-41, “……., What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. 38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
We are to stand fast for the truth while understanding that not everyone has the same insight that we have; they may be immature or just seeing things from a different perspective. Or they could be false teachers or preachers. We are to know the word in order to discern truth from error, and to recognize simple differences of opinion or perceptions in contrast to that which is clearly false teaching. There is so much information coming at us today that we must continually guard our hearts and minds to know truth. We must be in the WORD!
Ephesians 4:15, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Are we growing and helping others to do the same?
Do we treasure God’s Word? Have we placed it high on our priority list? If I put the word in—God will bring it out at the right time. Do I judge things by my ‘opinion’ or by the Word of God, in love? Am I willing to let God be God and do His work in the life of His own children? Speaking HIS truth as He gives me opportunity, leaving the consequences to HIM?
Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Do we love His Word? Do we hunger for it like our ‘necessary food’? I want to? It’s about choices!!
We are to love God and His Word more than life itself. And we are to share what we have received with others, because we can only share that which we have received.
1 Corinthians 15:2-4, “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:”
Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Do we love Him that much?
Is our testimony based on the blood?
We can have the victory—
in life or in death!!!!
When we experience saving grace and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are compelled to share Christ Jesus with the world. Sharing in our words and actions—our living!! To live what we believe—not just what we ‘say’ we believe; because what I really believe I will live out. And in living it, to reflect the Jesus who saved me, to reflect and reveal the one who changed my heart and life. We are accountable to the truth, to God as well as to one another. (See Hebrews 4:12-13)
Romans 14:1-8, “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
Who is watching you/me? Are we helping the weak or harming them? Are we speaking His truth and living it before the saved as well as a lost and dying world? Remembering John 15:5, “..without me you can do nothing…”
1 Corinthians 2:12-16, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”
How do we accomplish all of this? By knowing that we have all we need in Jesus. By staying in His Word!!!
2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” Living virtuously??
We have all we need in Jesus—so let’s be busy about the “Father’s business”. Jesus is coming soon. Will He find us ready? Will He find us loving one anther or throwing rocks? I’m not calling us to compromise but to follow Jesus, and leave the results to HIM.
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” Ro. 14:4. Let’s serve our master faithfully!!
John 21:22, “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” Don’t expect to know what God is doing in someone else’s life!!!
Blanche’s paraphrase:
‘Follow your Lord and don’t sweat the rest”.
Help the weak,
testify to the lost and
stay intimate with YOUR LORD!!!