Bible Ballistics: In The Game or On The Sidelines?           Vol. 4 #14

We in the US know that it’s ‘Football’ Time!! Time for high school, college and professional ballgames, virtually every day of the week. But there is a great difference between ‘playing ball’ and ‘watching the ballgame’!!

The ‘players’ train, run, lift weights, practice plays and eat to stay in shape for the game. They study game films to know the plays, strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. All this to play in the game, for 60 minutes each week, for a season.

We saw a group of motorcycle riders the other day, all stopped to eat at the same place. Now you could surmise that they were bikers by their attire, their boots, head garb….etc., and it came to me that they were identified as ‘bikers’ by these things. But they could have all these things and still not be a biker!! How, you might ask? They could have all the paraphernalia that identified them outwardly as a biker but without a ‘motorcycle’ they aren’t really a ‘biker’.

Just like a ‘Football Player’ is only a ‘player’ when they play the game. The ‘arm chair’ quarterback may have clothing, helmets, and even know every play in the book, but unless he gets in the game, he’s only on the sidelines. I believe there is a parallel to our Christian life. We can claim to know Jesus, have all the outward trappings—we can wear Christian themed clothing, giant crosses, and even carry a big Bible, but if we aren’t in the game, what’s the point?

Matthew 7:22-23 says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Saying so doesn’t make it so. Jesus makes it clear that just claiming to be a Christian, even doing ‘churchy’ things isn’t what makes us a ‘Christian’. A Christian is one who belongs to Jesus—being ‘born again’, saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8-10, “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are totally saved by grace—God’s work imparted to us by faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work of dying for our sins. But we are saved with a purpose—“ created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”; to do good works for, in and through the power of Jesus Christ. I don’t do good works to be saved, but I do good works because I am saved. I am to be in the game and not sitting on the sidelines or in my ‘arm chair’.

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.”

When Christ Jesus saves us, we are made new—born again, as John 3:3&5 tells us. Born again of God, as John 1:12-13 says,

“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.”

God gives us new life; He equips us to be in the game. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12, we are saved to be in the game–by God’s power not our own!!

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11-12, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal……. 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

Every believer receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit manifests Himself in each believer with a special spiritual gift through which we are to minister within the body of Christ. We are saved to be in the game—not on the sidelines.

What are you doing for the Lord? Have you found your spiritual gift/gifts? Are you functioning within the body using your gift, which the Spirit gave you to minister through? We are each given a gift—as the Holy Spirit chooses– to function within the local body and beyond at every opportunity. What are you doing for the Lord with your gift?

Are you in the game, or sitting on the couch giving instructions to others? Are you wearing all the apparel but you don’t have a bike? Are you using Jesus’ name to blend in or stand out, and yet you don’t know Him in His saving power?

We will all give an account. If we belong to Jesus we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. If we don’t we’ll stand before God at the Great White Throne. (See Rev. 20)

1 Corinthians 3:11-15, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Romans 14:10-12, “ But why dost thou judge thy brother?

or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?

for we shall all stand

before the judgment seat

of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess

to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account

of himself

to God.”

So, are you ready to give an account? Are you willing to get up and get in the game? Are you just dressing up to look like a Christian without knowing Christ? Are you a Christian but you’re still waiting on some perfect opportunity? Get right with God, come to Jesus and get in the game. The results are eternal!! Are you a Player or Spectator? It’s your choice. But the truth will be known one day!!

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #84  “Miss”Understanding??

Have you ever been ‘misunderstood’? This popular adage of our day, usually spoken in jest, has a lot of merit as a question for us today. I’d like us to glean from a brief passage, something that can help us see that we often ‘miss’ ‘understanding’ God and His ways. Often we get so steeped in our cultural mandates and allures that we don’t really ‘understand’ what the Lord has said or is saying to us, or expecting of us. I don’t know about you but I have to regularly step back and look at things around me to realize that, once again, I have let the world steal and monopolize my time, energy and resources. (In fact constantly and continually!!)

Luke 18:31-34, “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”

How many times has Jesus spoken to us and we were so distracted we ‘missed’ it? So caught up in the allure of the world that we thought, “Jesus couldn’t mean__”? How often have we spent more time with the techno-gadgets than we have in HIS Word? In prayer?

The disciples were with Jesus 24/7 yet they not only “Miss”understood His words, they just didn’t ‘get it’. And because they ‘missed’ the preparation He was giving them, they spent 3 horrified days between Calvary and the resurrection!! Because they ‘miss-understanding’ the advance warning!

So????  Here’s our shot for today. Check your ‘receptors’ and see if you’re ‘missing’ an important message that Jesus has been trying to tell you. I pray that my heart and yours will ‘overcome’ the pull of the worldly magnetism and not only ‘hear’, but also be ready to fully ‘understand’ what our LORD is speaking to us. As Jesus Himself said numerous times in scripture:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith…..” Revelation 2:11a

Have an ear?????????? May it ever be so?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #83  Living On Purpose??

When my children were small and were found doing something wrong their initial response was often, “I did it on accident”!! It was hard to accept the responsibility of their wrong actions. We adults often have the same attitude about our wrong actions—we want to avoid the consequence of our choices. Let’s look at a young man from whom we can learn a great deal about choices. Daniel was caught—doing right ‘on purpose’.

Although Daniel was a captive in Babylon, he determined to do right even there. He chose to be right with His God regardless of his environment.

 Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

Daniel committed to godliness, even though he was in a pagan environment. He treasured his relationship with his God and made up his mind to live right before His God—no matter who else was watching. A teenage young man with courage beyond his years, a confidence in his God to match, and a respect and submission to the authority over him, that we can learn from today. It’s a call to living godly, and honorably even in an idolatrous pagan culture. (See Romans 13:1-7)

What was God’s response to these four young men?

Daniel 1:9, 19-20 “Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs…… 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm..”

So? Here’s our shot for today? Let’s determine/purpose:

To live godly in a wicked and idolatrous culture.

 To render unto “Caesar that which is Caesar’s”.

 To have a heart of respect toward those with whom we disagree.

 To have respect for the office they hold–not approval of their actions.

May we live so honorably that others can say of us what they said of Daniel in his latter years:

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Daniel 6:4-5

 

Bible Ballistics: Your Choice?????? Vol. 4 #13

How do we know the answer to any particular question? We have to dig out the answer. Well, there is a question that every one of us will answer one day. Will you bow before Jesus? The answer is ‘Yes’.

Philippians 2:8-11, “ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 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.”

You see, the question isn’t really ‘will you bow?’ The question is when? Will you bow before Him now as your Lord and Savior or before Him as your judge when He comes in glory?

Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

How do we get our name written in the ‘book of life’? There’s only one way–through Jesus. John the apostle wrote in John 6:42-48 (take note of verse 44),

“And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 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. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life.”

God initiates salvation—He calls us to Himself through Jesus—the only way.

John 1:10-13, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

And in John 14:6 Jesus confirms this statement ….

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

Jesus also talks about this issue in Matthew 7:15-17,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

The way of salvation is through Jesus, and He tells us here that it is a ‘narrow way’. He also points out for us, that it is the way of the ‘few’. We will never be in the majority. While America was founded by many who believed in Jesus, and who by the Word of God determined that ‘freedom’ was given to us by God: yet we have abandoned God and His ways. Even the church in America is quickly abandoning the ways of God and welcoming the ways of the world into the ‘church’. That is never what we were called to do.

Jesus called us to lift HIM up—nothing but Him and His sacrifice for our sins. We have only one confidence, and that is Jesus, His death burial and resurrection.

John 12:32-33, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.”

And with Paul, I declare,

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2. Only one message–one way—Jesus!!!

It cost Jesus His life to pay for our sin. We must recognize our sin and believe that only Jesus’ death paid for that sin, so that through His death I can have eternal life!

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:”

Paul tells us that the ‘good news’ is:

Jesus is the Gospel=the good news.

The Gospel =If we receive it – we are saved.

       If we don’t receive it or pretend to =we are lost.

There is a vain faith—that which is ingenuous—imitation. Are you real?

We can only deliver what we have received–(Not what we have never received)

That:

1^st—Christ died FOR OUR SINS

                      **according to the scriptures**

              2^nd—Christ was buried—he really died

                      **for our sins** he didn’t just ‘swoon’

              3^rd—Christ was raised from the dead the 3^rd day

                      **according to the scriptures**

       And there were witnesses to his resurrection—

              **IT’S A FACT NOT FICTION OR FABLE**

So the question remains. What have YOU done with Jesus?

Many of you who receive and follow Bible Ballistics are already believers in Jesus, and you must be asking, “Why are we talking about salvation again?” Well—one good reason is that the blood of Jesus is what writes our name in the book of life—‘only’ the blood. The blood of Jesus that ‘cleanseth us from all sin’.(see 1 John 1:7) Those who are lost need to hear the good news, and we who are saved need to be reminded to share the good news. So take this opportunity to “choose you this day”…

Have you bowed the knee?

Are there those in your circle who haven’t?

What will you choose?

Will you share what you have received?

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; ………. but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Bible Ballistics: BBs #82 Blessed by Obedience??

As I sit here writing this morning, I thought of all the blessings that God so abundantly showers on us. We’re so grateful for rain, here in Oklahoma, and though we still pray for more, we are grateful for what God has sent to our parched, drought stricken land. I also thank Him for the pleasure I enjoy seeing the amazing hummingbirds that come to feed at my flowers and feeder.

We are a blessed people in more ways than we even acknowledge. Sometimes we thank everyone but God. Sad!! But I’d like to talk about another aspect of blessing, the specific blessings we can receive based upon scripture.

Let’s look at Rev 1:3,

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

 A blessing promised in the ‘reading’ of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. But let’s take a closer look. For many years I only perceived part of this promise—‘ Blessed is he that readeth’. But it doesn’t stop there, the ‘blessing’ is to those who ‘read….hear……..and keep (or obey)’ the things written in the book. Oh!! Not just read it, but hear (receive) and obey (do) what we’ve read and heard. Changes the outlook doesn’t it—we must obey, to receive this blessing.

So?? Here’s our shot for today. Are we cheating ourselves out of the blessings of God, by not obeying Him when He speaks to us?

Whether it’s through His word,

prayer,

the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts,

or the counsel of wise and godly people,

we are to hear

and adjust our lives to conform

to His Word

in our daily living.

To know and yield to His assurance in Romans 8:29,

“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.”

Food for thought. Have a blessed weekend! And count your blessings, thanking God for them!!