Bible Ballistics: There’s a Call Waiting???? Vol. 4 #19

There are so many calls and voices around us that sometimes we don’t know which one to answer, which place to go, or which one to follow. The challenge for many of us, who believe in Jesus, is to be able to “withstand in the evil day”; (Eph. 6:13). And

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

When we talk about choosing the right path, we need to remember that the distinction may be subtle to the eye but Jesus Himself identified their character and destinations. He talked about choosing “the narrow road” instead of the ‘broad way’ which leads to destruction. He calls us to follow Him, to trust not only in Him, but to trust our all to Him. The call is to trust Him and trusting Him, to follow Him. Let’s examine what scripture has to say about following God–Father and Son, for they are one. (see.John 10:30).

Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The call is to come, take His yoke, and find rest!!

Jesus will take our load of sin and give us new life, abundant life (See John 10:9-11). He calls us to give our heart, life and soul to Him. He takes our sin-sick life and makes us partakers of HIS righteousness. He heals our soul. But we must realize our sinful state before we will come to Him. The Pharisees of the New Testament thought they were righteous enough on their own—they didn’t need a Savior; or so they thought. That’s why Jesus said that our righteousness must “exceed” their so-called righteousness.

Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Christ’s righteousness not ours!! (See 2 Cor. 5:21)

Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Until we see our sin and ‘confess’ it before God, we won’t see any need for repentance and salvation. We must abandon our own way/sin and choose to not only accept Jesus sacrifice for our sin, but to also trust Him by faith and receive the ‘new birth’ which makes us a ‘new creation’. (See 2 Cor. 5:17,John 1:12-13, and John 3:3,5). The new birth enables us to live in newness because God credits Jesus’ righteousness to our account, through His sacrificial death. He died for ‘sin’ He didn’t commit, to impart His righteousness to us that we might live unto HIM. As Galatians 2:20 reminds us:

“ 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 can live unto Jesus only after we die unto ourselves. We can only do this because we receive His gift of salvation and His Spirit, given at salvation. He enables us to overcome the sin that we encounter each day. In contrast we must understand that without HIS Spirit, we can do nothing– because we are not His. I didn’t say it, God does.

Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Having His Spirit is the evidence that we are really His!!

Ephesians 1:13-14, “ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

When we work in the flesh we produce nothing of eternal value. Are we building with precious, eternal materials or perishable worldly materials? Let’s examine ourselves by 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.”  

Are we living in the Spirit day by day? Are we answering the call to righteousness as we follow Jesus? To walk in obedience we must know HIS Word, and make His will our daily pursuit!! Listening to and following His Spirit, that we may please our Lord continually!!

Hebrews 13:14-16, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Pleasing HIM always!!

Let’s look at some scriptures to help us stay on track:

Proverbs 21:21, “ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.”

Isaiah 51:1, “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.” Jesus is our source!!!

Amos 7:15, “And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.” We’re called to share Him with the world.

Matthew 4:18-20, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” Leave our plans and follow HIM.

Remembering that we are His and He is our life and we are His children:

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:11 HE is our all in all!

May you have a blessed week hearing His call and following HIM: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Bible Ballistics: BBs #94 Little or Much???

We talked about real friends last time and I’d like to tie something in to that today. When we think about ‘friends’, we usually think of someone who is loyal to us, faithful, one who keeps our confidence, one who is compassionate toward those in need. While we are to be faithful friends to others and expect our friends to do likewise, I think we often miss this same relation to God.

One of the reasons that I love Oswald Chambers’ writings is that he often talks about the necessity of being faithful in the ‘commonplace’ things, in the menial tasks that face us all at some time during our lives. What does God expect of us?

Luke 16:10-13, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Jesus says that if we aren’t faithful in the ‘commonplace’ and ‘menial’ tasks that He has placed before us, we will not be faithful in the ‘great’ task that so many Christians are waiting on today.

If we are not faithful to do the small things in every day walking with Jesus, how can we expect we could accomplish the great thing (much) for God if they came?

So?? Here’s our shot for today. Are you putting God off by your unwillingness to do the small things where He has placed YOU? Or are you waiting for the ‘big opportunity’ that will come and need YOU to do it? While Jesus’ words may bring a sting of conviction and shame, are we willing to take them to heart and dig in where we are and do the thing that is at hand? Or are you waiting till:

The kids are older—

The job settles down—

I move to a better house—

 Ball season is over—

 The season finale is over—

  I’m rested—

  ____You fill in the blank.

Get the idea?????

So?? Get busy—

On your knees—

Ask God what’s He’s put right in front of you-

       Get up and do it–

              Faithfully, willingly, gladly!!

Being faithful in the little prepares us for the ‘much’.

Don’t keep waiting on that “special” time of need. If you’re not serving HIM today you won’t then. So just do it!!!

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #93 Do You Have a Real Friend???

Friend: “a person whom one knows and with whom one has a mutual bond of affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.” The dictionary description of friend, a person whom we have closeness to, regardless of other ties we may have. This was on my heart today, as I’ve had the privilege to be with someone with whom I’ve had a life-long friendship. We have been friends for more than 50 years!! People sometimes write tributes to people after their passing, but I wanted to take time this morning to paint you a personal and Biblical picture of friendship-real friendship!!

Proverbs 18:24 tells us, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

First and foremost, we must BE a friend— to HAVE a friend! God calls us to befriend one another. As we do, God sometimes blesses us with a special friend with whom we can share the deepest and most private parts of our lives. You know, the one who knows that closet where all the ‘skeletons’ are. Well, after 50 years my dear friend has loved me through thick and thin, through good choices and bad, along with the consequences of each. She knows things that no one else knows and she’s loved me through them all. I praise God for the blessing of her friendship.

1 Samuel 18:1 reveals a friendship that lasted into the second generation—David and Jonathan. Faithful to each other even when Saul tried to kill each of them, for his own reasons, especially Jonathan’s befriending and protecting of David, knowing David would be king instead of him.

“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

Selfless love is friendship that puts the welfare of the other ahead of our own needs. A close likeness to ‘agape’ love-which is totally unconditional love. But I need to make one slight deviation from the subject to add that while God’s love is ‘totally unconditional’, His forgiveness is totally ‘conditional’—conditioned on whether or not you believe in, and accept Jesus as your own personal Lord and Savior.

That brings me to my last verse—the greatest friend we can ever have is JESUS!!   And He calls you/me friend when we are His.

John 15:15, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Jesus calls we who are His servants, FRIEND!!! And oh, what a friend!! He has also given us one another, and if we are so blessed to have that ‘bosom friend’ (as ‘Anne of Green Gables’ found), then you are abundantly blessed.

So?? Be a friend!!

Guard your friendships with kindness and care.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow!”

Measure true friendship by the best –

JESUS!!

And remember time and space have no affect on that kind of friendship!!! And I have several of those ‘bosom’ friends!!

And just on a personal note—thank you Miss Diane for always being there for me. I count you as one of my most special treasures from God’s hand to my heart and life, and I thank HIM for YOU!!! And all of my dear friends!! You are each a special joy to my heart and I thank God for YOU!!

Bible Ballistics: Correct Change???? Vol. 4 #18

I was listening to an old song this week, one of my favorites, and it so spoke to my heart that I wanted to share it in this weeks article—as it still resounds in my heart. But first, how are we to live this Christian life while awaiting Christ’s return or our own passing from this life?

Being from Oklahoma, we are familiar with ‘Toll Roads’–a road where you must pay a toll at some point during your drive. Many of the toll collection points have an ‘Exact Change’ lane for those who have the correct coins to toss into a hopper to pay their way through the toll without stopping for a teller to take their money that is other than ‘exact change’. I see a parallel here with our spiritual life –we are on a journey and at some point in time we will meet the ‘Keeper of the Road’ (if you would), who will ask if we have the correct payment to enter the gate. The difference being—there is only one currency that will gain entrance into the heavenly gates, and His name is Jesus, and His precious blood spilled for us. (See 1 John 1:17)

The question won’t be about ‘correct change’ but are you ‘washed in the blood’? Not how many possessions you left earth with, or even how good you were, or if you went to church faithfully, or even went to church at all. The question (the toll) will be: “What have you done with the blood of Jesus”? Has it cleansed you from your sin?

So many around us, people that we love and inter-act with regularly, who talk about being a ‘Christian’, don’t seem to see a connection between belonging to Jesus and living for HIM. They want a heavenly home while being content to live a worldly life. They seem willing to trust in something other than Jesus for living-but hope that Jesus will take care of their dying. Not seeking His will, through His Word, or an intimate relationship with Him. The world has so crept into lives and churches that we don’t recognize sin or try to see our lives through God’s eyes. While some will say, “Who are you to judge?” I don’t have to, God does in His Word, and I am called to speak His ‘truth in love’. (See Eph. 4:15)

Hebrews 10:28-30, “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” Grace demands my all. (see 1 Peter 4:17)

God has a standard. He had one in the beginning; when He gave Adam one single command, don’t eat of ‘this’ tree.

Genesis 2:16-17, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (See 1 Cor. 15 about “Adam”)

While Adam and Eve disobeyed this simple command and brought sin and death on the whole human family–Jesus brought life through His shed blood for us–for all who will believe. So believing, do I live like I truly believe that Jesus ‘saved’ my life from hell? Like He gave me ‘new life’–abundant life– to live His way before the world? Before those in my own household? While God says clearly in Hebrews 12 that He disciplines His own children, are we yielding to His hand. Have you, or are you now experiencing the discipline of God? If so, know that it’s because you are His and He loves you—don’t’ continue to trample the blood of Jesus, by your life choices? Submit!! (Read Hebrews 12)

Does my speech betray my Lord? Do my actions, my activities, my passions betray my Lord, do they trample under foot His blood? Or is Jesus evident in my daily life?

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.”

Do I reflect the love of this Christ I claim to know in my treatment of others: those closest to me, to strangers, to those who come against me? Does my home life make others want to know Jesus? Does God’s peace rule in my home, or does conflict and tension abound, causing others to say, “If that’s ‘Christian’, I don’t need it”? Do people see HIM in ME!!! Or am I blocking His Work?

2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

A believer’s life should be free of blatant sin, unkindness, bitterness or meanness!! Ouch!! It hits pretty close to home, doesn’t it. But remember God knows me, and He’s willing to show me how to live if I’ll but “ask….seek….and knock…”. If we come before His throne to “find grace to help in time of need”? Will we “study to show yourselves approved unto God….a workman who needeth not to be ashamed…”? Today? Tomorrow? The next day?

Remember, God is working on His own, and in them. Every day is a new opportunity to live in the Spirit and reflect the love and saving power of Jesus to the world. How? By His Spirit’s work in and through us.

Romans 8:26-30, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 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. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ….. If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Think on these things. And as I promised may these lyrics remind you that –

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

So ‘until then’ be sure you have the ‘right change’!!!

Until Then     By Stuart Hamblin

“My heart can sing when I pause to remember


A heartache here is but a stepping stone


Along a trail that’s winding always upward,


This troubled world is not my final home. 



 

The things of earth will dim and lose their value


If we recall they’re borrowed for awhile;


And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble,


Remembered there will only bring a smile.

 

This weary world with all its toil and struggle


May take its toll of misery and strife;


The soul of man is like a waiting falcon;


When it’s released, it’s destined for the skies. 



 Chorus:

 But until then my heart will go on singing,


Until then with joy I’ll carry on,


Until the day my eyes behold the city,


Until the day God calls me home.”

Bible Ballistics: BBs #92 Where Have You Been???

I was quoting Psalm 23 yesterday and into the night—just had it on my mind and want to share a few thoughts about it with you. We’ve looked at it before, but its depths are too great to plumb in one look.

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me

in the paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Simply put—

HE is my shepherd-the one who cares for me always!!

He provides for me!!

He protects me!!

He restores me when I fall or fail!!

              He leads me to be more like Him-righteous!!

Through Jesus!! (See 2 Cor. 5:21)

He is my constant companion through thick or thin!!

In Him–

I can be fearless!!

I can be comforted—in all things!!

I can be victorious!!

       I can be overshadowed with HIS mercy

and goodness!!

I will spend eternity with HIM!!

So? Here’s our shot for today? Who is your shepherd? Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He still saves and changes lives. He’s still working on His own—You and Me.!!! Praise be to God!! Let’s follow on to glory!!!