Bible Ballistics: Render Unto Caesar?? Pt. 2, Vol 4 #21

Since I wrote the article for Friday’s BBs post, a lot has happened. As most of you know, we live in Oklahoma and we had ‘terror’ almost in our backyard. Some may not have heard, but a woman was beheaded by an apparently self-avowed Muslim man in Moore, OK at their workplace!! We must realize that our time is short and we must be ‘about my Father’s business’. I feel even more compelled to finish these thoughts on “Render to Caesar” than I was on Friday.

If you missed that article you can request it by e-mail, check it out on one of the links bibleballistics.org and/or facebook.com/bibleballistics. Please check it out and it will put you in context. We talked about Mark 12:17 where Jesus told those of His day and culture (including the zealots and the religious leaders), to ‘render to Caesar’ and ‘to God’ the appropriate ‘allegiance’. If we claim to serve God, then we need to understand what HE has called us to be. Even more importantly we need to understand that He hasn’t just ‘called’ us to these things, He has enabled us to ‘be’ doing them only through HIS power, which comes through Jesus’ ‘atonement’ for our sin, and HIS indwelling Holy Spirit.

We also looked at part of a passage in 1 Peter 2, which we will springboard from today. This letter was sent to a group of believers that were being persecuted for their faith. This passage doesn’t call them to hold rallies, to gather like-minded people to help them protest or any such political activity (although each of those activities may be appropriate in individual times and circumstances—please understand that I am not calling people to avoid civic activity but to see what route should be the believers banner and standard of first response) but it calls them to a different mind-set. Let’s examine it.

1 Peter 2:19-25, “ For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently: but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose strips ye are healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul.”

First and foremost we see in this passage that our Lord Jesus left us an example of ‘behavior’ during times of suffering, persecution and/or political upheaval. Peter tells us here that we are to be people of righteous character and not to suffer as ‘wrong doers’. He calls us to take suffering ‘patiently’—ouch!! Patience is a much missing virtue in the life of most Americans, especially believers.   We are accustomed to ‘instant’ juice, grits, coffee, everything!!! We forget that God in His Word calls us to maintain our faith by patient endurance (See James 1:1-6).

Peter goes on to tell us that Christ Jesus left us the ultimate example of patient endurance for righteousness. Think for just a minute with me—Jesus is the perfect, sinless, holy Son of God. He thought right, spoke right, did right, and went right!! Yet when the time came for Him to suffer ‘wrongfully’, HE did it. He was suffering for crimes that He had not committed, but I did, I have and still do!! Yet He went that road to Calvary just as Peter describes for us here.

HE:

Suffered FOR US (not His own sin)–

did not sin (ever or while the suffering was taking place)

       no guile was in Him (no cunning to escape it)

reviled not again (didn’t give tit for tat!!)

threatened not (and HE had the might, the right and the power to not only threaten but to escape this torture).

BUT instead, HE:

“committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”

He bore the suffering to purchase our salvation that we could have life through His death, burial and resurrection. He healed our sin-sick souls and gave us new ‘birth’!! That we could live for Him by “being dead to sins,” we “should live unto righteousness”!!!! Being ‘born again’ to new life in HIM!! His strips heal from the disease of SIN!!! I may suffer in the body but my soul is healed forever by HIS blood!!!

I am now empowered to endure the ‘wrongful’ accusations and persecution, the slander, slight and mistreatment: knowing that my GOD has equipped me to do that in HIS power and strength and TO PLEASE AND GLORIFY HIM!! (See verse 21 & 22 above).

So am I saying that we are not to stand for God in the public arena? NO!! I am saying that we are to rely on and be in allegiance to God first and be prepared to suffer for Him. But living in a free (relatively speaking) and democratic society we have a privilege, opportunity and obligation to stand for righteous causes publicly but in a godly way.

 In God’s timing!!

In God’s way!! (Righteously and in holiness)

 In obedience to His call on me personally!!

 In an appropriate fashion!!

Galatians 5:22-26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

I must say that much of what I see and hear from professing Christians, especially in public venues, is a far cry from these 9 values. What is my measuring stick of appropriate words, books, entertainment, posts, and comments??? We will give an account of every word!!

Another good reason that we should have a different measuring stick from the world is addressed by our Lord in Matthew 5. I call this the “BE–attitudes”, supernatural ability to live and respond to the world supernaturally!!

Blessed are the

Poor in Spirit (those who rely on God’s Spirit)

Mourners (those who grieve over SIN-all sin)

              Meek (those who submit to God’s control)

Hungry (for & seek first His Kingdom-see 6:33)

Merciful (extend care and forgiveness as received)

Pure in Heart (let God tune their heart to His)

Peacemakers (those who share the gospel so others can have peace with God –see Romans 5:1)

Persecuted for HIS sake (those who follow Him to Calvary—see Galatians 2:20)

Reviled for His sake (and respond as HE did).

Are we ready to follow Him to Calvary, no matter the cost? Peter boasted of His ability to do that, but he failed in the flesh. But even greater is the restoration that Jesus gave to Peter, and after the indwelling of the Holy Spirit came—He did do just that!!!

Without getting too far afield I would like us to understand that God established governments/nations. You can go back to Genesis 10-11 and see the beginnings of nations. We also see in Romans 13 that we are called to be subject to those powers (governments) over us as that which is established by God, for order. I would suggest that you read this entire chapter, but for our purposes here, I’ll only quote verse 7.

Romans 13:7, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Let me simply state that there are times when individuals and peoples have valid grievances and causes for ‘civil disobedience’; mainly when the laws or orders come in direct conflict to the Word of God, or are blatantly unjust. Without getting to deep into a tough subject, suffice it to say, that unless I personally or a group to which I belong (i.e.. Church) is commanded to directly disobey the commands of scripture; I am to submit to the governing authorities. But even in cases of ‘civil disobedience’, we are still expected by God to fulfill and exhibit the ‘fruit of the Sprit’ in all our ways.

As Israel of old was punished for their sin and refusal to obey God, America stands on the brink of God’s judgment. I’d like to share just a few scriptures for thought along with the others that we have looked at, as we close for today. I know this has been a bit lengthy but I feel urgently compelled to call us to return to our ‘first love’.

Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.“

 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:“        (Not America the hope of glory, or fill in the blank)

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” HIS WORK!!

1 Corinthians 1:31, “That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (Not plans or programs)

Matthew 26:52, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Or as often paraphrased, ”they that live by the sword will die by the sword”-worthy of more time than we have left here, try replacing sword with ‘gun’?)

And as a final note to close on, Jesus gave a most stern warning to the church of Ephesus, that if they didn’t return to their first love—JESUS himself—he would remove them from service. To me, the sternest of all the warnings to the 5 churches that he rebuked, of the 7 mentioned. May it touch your heart?

Revelation 2:5, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

We, the church of Jesus Christ (especially in America) need to examine ourselves, repent and “do the first works…” or we will have our ‘candlestick’ removed. Strong words I know, but the message that God gave me to share with you. Please take these things before the Lord. May we all look to HIM, hear His counsel, repent as appropriate and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for our beloved nation, for the entire world, and for one another!!!!

I pray that we are ready, as believers in America to return to the preaching of the gospel. To once again be willing to preach that ‘all have sinned’, that ‘the wages of sin is death’, and that ‘the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’? Are we ready to stand and preach, teach and truly obey Christ’s command to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”? (Ro 3:23, Ro 6:23, Matt 28:19-20) Are we truly ready to stop relying on our plans, programs, gimmicks, and tricks to make Jesus palatable to the world? May God have mercy on us and bring us to our knees that with Paul we may truly proclaim:

1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (How many things do I/we preach? Comfort, Entertainment, Prosperity, Fun…..?)

Galatians 6:14, “ 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.”

Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Please hear my heart!! I believe God is calling us to once again return to dependence on HIS Gospel, HIS cross, His salvation and wait for HIM to bring conviction, repentance and belief into the hearts and lives of people. Perhaps, if we will once again preach ‘CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED’, trust God, and ‘sow to the Spirit’, God would please grant us to once again ‘reap life everlasting’. May our churches once again be filled with those who have truly been converted, those who long to “know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.”? (Phil 3:10) Oh, dear Father may it even now be so, as you flame the fires of conviction, revive your people—‘that the world may know’—(Whether they are in the church or outside of it!)

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

Would you prayerfully read through Romans 8 and 1 Cor. 3, and let God speak to you through them and this article? God bless you as you seek HIS face! You are Beloved!!!

Render unto__________________????? It’s your choice!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #97 Render Unto Caesar???

I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot of things lately about political issues. Some from Christians, some not, but the thing that has been bothering me came from a cartoon depicting a Christian complaining to Jesus about the hard things that were going on politically and questioning the merit of ‘turning the other cheek’, and ‘going the second mile’, ‘love your enemies’,while Jesus seemed to be puzzled at the question.

Well, whoever drew that cartoon, shot the arrow that has pricked my heart. I’d like to share some things today that have been brought to bear on my heart by my Lord.  While I plan to continue this vein of thought on Sunday, I couldn’t delay sharing what’s on my heart. I hope you will stay with me. I am a ‘red, white and blue’ American, but first and foremost I belong to Jesus!!

While we live in the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave’, I question whether we don’t often shift our allegiance to ‘America the Beautiful’, rather than “The Old Rugged Cross” and the Christ crucified for our ‘sin’, for the ‘sin’ of the world.

Jesus called us to be fishers of men, not assailants of our enemies. Please don’t misunderstand; I believe we are to stand for ‘righteousness’, but how are we to do that? Jesus was God in the flesh, born into a cruel, hostile, over-lording Roman empire. Yet He spoke about spiritual things contrary to the mindset of the zealots of His day. When asked by the religious leaders about ‘allegiances’, His answer shocked the crowd.

Mark 12:17, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marveled at him.”

What are we to render unto Caesar? Jesus, the perfect Son of God rendered unto Caesar. Peter speaking of Christ wrote this about our Lord and Savior—

1 Peter 2:22-23, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:….”

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

Jesus the perfect Son of God didn’t squawk about the wicked, unfair trails he endured!!

He didn’t scoff about the taxes that were levied!

He ‘committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”.

So my question today is: Can people tell by our words, our writings, our postings, and our jokes, that we are committing ourselves to the one that ‘judgeth righteously’? Or do our words and deeds declare that we believe that we must protect, defend and retaliate in our own strength. I’m all for defending our freedoms, but how are we doing it? In Christ’s strength with righteous integrity, relying on God as our source, or through self-reliant ridicule and scoffing of those we disapprove of. Please join me Sunday for the ‘rest of this story’.

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #96 Deceived or Deluded By Lies???

We had an interesting experience this week and God spoke to my heart through it. I had made dinner for some friends and us, and while my friend was mixing the salad I brought, she had some fresh peppers she was adding for color and taste. Well she had been told they were banana peppers (mild not hot), so she sliced some into the salad and to her amazement they were HOT!! In fact they were jalapeno peppers, and hot ones at that. She tried to pick out the ones she had already sliced up in the salad, but alas, it was a most interesting salad, I must say. Sprinkled throughout with surprises of ‘heat’.

This brought to my mind the fact that no matter what my friend believed about that pepper, it was HOT!!! She had good intentions, she accepted the information she had been given that they were banana peppers—BUT her belief was wrong!! No matter how hard she believed those peppers were mild, they were hotter than blazes. Well, friends there is a day coming, and very soon I believe, that what you believe will be revealed, examined and rewarded by God—either heaven or hell!! We all make the choice!!

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 talks about this very kind of thing at the coming of the Lord Jesus. There will be those who had strong belief that they were right with God, there will be those who just refused to believe, relying on their own human wisdom, and there will also be those who just out right defy God. Paul tells us that regardless of what thing you believe, if it’s not God’s truth you are deceived. It won’t matter whether you had good intentions! What matters is what you have personally done with Jesus!! May this passage be food for thought for all of us?

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall

send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

It is imperative that we know Jesus personally as our Lord and Savior. It is clear that those who have rejected Him willfully will not have a second chance if they are ‘left behind’. Please examine what you believe and measure it by the Bible, God’s Word. Be sure that you have received the ‘new birth’, ‘salvation’, a ‘new life’ through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. There is no other way to God. No matter how much you believe a lie, it’s still a lie. Your eternal soul depends upon your choice, and as I’ve said before, “You are free to choose, but the consequences are not yours to set”—please examine your heart and see if you be in the faith. And if you are share what you know with others. It really is life or death. (See John 14:6 and 1 Cor. 15:1-10)

2 Corinthians 13:5-6, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ in in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”

Amen. Please ask God to search your heart and reveal what HE sees to you.

Bible Ballistics: To Be What He Wants Me to Be Vol 4 #20

We live in a hustle and bustle world—Androids, I-Phones, new cars, sports rivalries, shopping, Facebook, Twitter, and on and on we could go. The difficulty appears to be keeping God at the top of our priority list. To keep Him first in our hearts and minds so that we are walking in accord with Him in all that we do–To be pleasing to our Lord.

Scripture is replete with references to God’s desire for our hearts and minds. With see accounts of believers called to an intimate, devoted relationship with God. How amazing to read the New Testament and see how Jesus lived His life in total dependence on and devotion to God—His Father. He also called His followers to do likewise. And that means you and me.

Psalm 37 is one of my favorite passages in scripture, what counsel can we mine from it’s depths.

Psalm 37:1-9, “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.”

While I often recommend verses 3-8 to people in various situations of need, I want us to look at a little more of the context to realize even more of the confidence that we gain from this short passage. Let’s take it apart and see what we can learn.

The Psalmist begins by reminding us that we don’t have to, in fact we shouldn’t, give way to the fears and frustrations that we experience looking at the sad and evil state of affairs of our age-any age! Whether it is the times of stress and conflict of Israel in the times of the Psalms, or in 21^st century America or anywhere else in this world. We are so easily distracted but God calls us to trust, delight, and commit our ways to HIM.

He tells us here that we are not to allow these things to alarm us nor cause us to fret and worry. Why not? Because, He has it all in His hands. As Psalm 1:5-6 says,

 “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous

: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

While we may feel that the ‘good guys’ can’t win, God assures us that the righteous will prevail. Throughout His Word, God reminds us that the wicked will not always prosper. He is not only in control; He is keeping an account that is accurate and perfect, and His justice will prevail.

That’s why it begins and ends this passage reminding us to Trust Him, Delight in Him, and Commit to Him in all things. God sees and knows our hearts and our actions. He cares for His own. (1 Peter 5:7b, “…. for He careth for you…” And He holds the wicked accountable-even if we don’t see it yet!

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Referring to the saved and the lost—every person!!

1 Corinthians 3:13-16, “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. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

This passage is referring only to believers. Those who have been born again, will also give an accounting before God of their use of the gifts and blessings that God has given to each individual. And note we will each stand on our own, there will be no one to blame. We will give an answer before our God; not for our salvation, but for our service and rewards or lack thereof.

Revelation 20:11-15, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

This judgment will be only for the lost. For those whose names are not written in the ‘book of life’. Those who have rejected Christ Jesus, whether willfully refusing the gospel, or not seeking God and His revelation in creation that speaks to all men.

As Romans 1:19-20, “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:”

Those who receive Christ receive eternal life, but those who have rejected Him—whether willfully or just by their failure to respond to Him—will stand before God and be cast into the ‘lake of fire’. Not a pleasant message but a true and much needed one. What does this have to do with our title, “To Be What He Wants Me to Be”? Well, I’ll close with 2 contrasts—God loves us and wants everyone to be saved, and no one to perish. But the choice is ours. We choose the seed that we sow—but the consequences are set by God. But remember, HE LOVES YOU!! Today is the day to act!!

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Do you know HIM? Are you fretting or resting? Trust Him for salvation, if you haven’t, or stop fretting and trust Him if you belong to Him!! God is in control! Always!! Please HIM!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #95 Does the Shepherd Know YOU???

We’ve talked recently about friendship and our Good Shepherd, and I’d like to share just a brief word on that same subject. As Psalm 23:1 says

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He is all I need because:

He said,   “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.“ John 10:11,

Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who not only saves us from the penalty and power of sin but also walks with us and guides us by His Spirit. We can KNOW the what, when, how and where to be, if we’ll but commit to have an intimate relationship with Him.

John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

We must choose whom we will listen to—

the ‘thief’, who wants to destroy our life,

or the Shepherd who gave His life for you and me?

He died so all who will believe in Him could have abundant life here and now, and eternal life right into our heavenly home. (abundant life in Him, not necessarily pain or trouble free nor material prosperity)

But He doesn’t stop there; He leads His sheep, and they know His voice and follow Him. As the door of the sheep, He not only gives us abundant ‘life’, but also freedom to come in and go out as He leads and provides pasture for each of us. As we serve our Lord, He provides in every way because;

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” John 10:4.

And, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9,

So?? Here’s our shot for today.

Be sure of the voice you are listening to.

Are you listening to the right voice?

So many voices call for our devotion

and commitment today,

but we must be sure we are hearing

from the Shepherd.

When we follow HIS voice we will have perfect peace and provision.

So?? Press on dear ones,

press on.

Remember:

 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

He is ALL I need!!!!

Trust HIM with your “ALL”!!

 

**This will be the only BBs for this week as we are on the road. **