Bible Ballistics: BBs #124 Prince of PEACE!!!

“For unto us

a child is born,

unto us

a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

As we wrap up this Christmas Fortnight and 2014 we’ll look at the last of the four names of Jesus here in Isaiah. “The Prince of PEACE”. The Son of the Monarch!!! Our God Almighty’s SON, and His name is ‘THE Prince of Peace”. What kind of peace? ALL peace, but most importantly, ‘Peace with GOD’!!!

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Jesus brings  reconciling peace with God, so much so that:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:8-9,

Jesus’ substitutionary death at Calvary makes us right with God; at PEACE with God; just before God. Not because of our righteousness but HIS!!

Titus 3:4-6, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” It’s all God!!! Our sin, our lostness, our need—JESUS’ cross!!!

Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Why? How?

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Jesus gives us peace with God through His death for our sin. He credits us with HIS righteousness and because of His power and His Spirit, which He places within us, He empowers us to live in HIS righteousness.

May God grant you eyes to see His truth, and conviction in your hearts to come to Jesus, if you don’t know Him? May God also grant those of us who belong to Him eyes to see and dig into His Word—HIS truth—and HE will:

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133.

How? Hebrews 12:1-2 tell us how:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” HOW? “2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

How??? By ‘looking unto Jesus’, by keeping my eyes on the prize—Jesus is the goal and the prize!!! He is all we need and if we’ll but keep ‘fixing our eyes’ on Jesus—He will ‘direct our paths’. (See Proverbs 3:5-6) Because–

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23.

May God grant you to receive HIS PEACE—Jesus– in the coming New Year and may you allow HIM to order your steps in HIS Word. He is so faithful and He’s waiting for YOU!!!

Bible Ballistics: Everlasting Father?? Vol. 5 #08

“For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.”

As we continue our look at the names of Jesus mentioned in this prophecy of Isaiah, we’ll focus today on the third of these four names, or titles of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we’ve already seen, He is the ‘wonderful counselor’, He is the ‘mighty God’ and we will dig into the word and search out its depths regarding ‘the everlasting Father’.

Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”  Referring back to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

God foretold that “HE” would come in flesh. Not a representative, but God Himself would come and take on flesh. Hebrews 2 describes this very act of love and ‘redemption’.

Hebrews 2:14-18, “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. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

Praise God, Jesus loved us enough to come in the flesh. He became incarnate in Mary’s womb, to be born a natural, human birth. To live a life in the flesh: as a baby, a toddler, a young child, a teenager, a young man and finally revealed HIMSELF to mankind as the Savior of the World. As John so simply states the very words of our Lord in John 3:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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.”

And more of Jesus’ own words

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:30. Jesus IS one with the Father.

And Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” He was the same Jesus in Genesis 1:1 that He is in Revelation 22:13:

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” The only Redeemer!

Jesus is God, and while many wrestle with His ‘deity’, Peter addresses this in his first letter.

1 Peter 1:18-21, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Jesus Christ was ordained by God to be the sacrifice for man’s redemption before the foundation of the world. It has always amazed me that God not only created man, but that he created man knowing we would fall, that we would need a “Redeemer” to buy us back from sin, yet knowing all of that, HE created us anyway. Jesus was there, Jesus knew from the ‘beginning’ what price He would pay for these feeble, sinful creatures called ‘man’.

God loved us so much that He prepared for our failure “before the foundation of the world”!!! God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit knew what we would cost and created us, loved us and provided for us anyway!!!

Even in the apocalyptic scripture we see this indication of the eternal deity of Jesus.

Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Jesus is the ‘Everlasting Father’, the one who was there at creation in Genesis 1:26-27:

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” One with His Father.

He, who was ‘us’, still is ‘one’ with the Father as He always was. Our ‘Everlasting Father’—our ‘Redeemer’—our ‘sacrifice’–our ‘Redemption’!!! This one who is the same ‘yesterday, today and forever’—died for you and me. He is still here for you. He is waiting for you today. He will save you if you don’t know Him! He will comfort and lead you if you are His. Just look up my friend. Just look up!!

Luke 21:28, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

Specifically this is referring to the ‘end times’, but we can apply it to each and every day. No matter what ‘things’ are happening around you, remember to look up, YOUR REDEMPTION is near to YOU!!! This ‘Wonderful Counselor’, this ‘Mighty God’, this ‘Everlasting Father’ is ever here for you. But don’t wait too long!!! Today may be your only chance …because….

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,…” Genesis 6:3a

“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7b

If you hear the voice of the Lord, please respond while you have an opportunity. Don’t wait!!! Come to HIM today while you hear His voice. He may not call again, this “Everlasting Father” may not pass your way again. Don’t be lost when you have one who is seeking to save you.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #123 Mighty God!!!

“For unto us

a child is born,

unto us

a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6

God come in flesh for me/us—for my/our sin.

Hebrews 2:14-18, “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. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

Jesus took on a human body that he could pay the price for our sin!! My sin and yours. May we never forget that without the incarnation, we could not have life? Eternal life! Abundant life! Through Jesus’ sacrifice—His death for us—we can have the peace of God in our hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:1-6, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

This “mighty God” came and took on flesh, died for us, and gives us “peace with God”. How? Why? “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Praise the name of Jesus!!!

He came.               He stayed.

He died.          He rose again.

That we could have that “peace with God” that passes understanding. May you daily focus on the Lord who came for you? And not only did he come; he’s coming back again, and soon I believe . Do you know Him? Are you walking with Him? Do you have peace with God? Only Jesus can give that. Call on him today—He will answer your call!!  He is the “Mighty God“!!!

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  –Jesus

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” –Jesus

Bible Ballistics: BBs #122 A Christmas Fortnight-Wonderful Counselor?

“For unto us

a child is born,

unto us

a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace

there shall be no end,

upon the throne of David,

and upon his kingdom,

to order it,

and to establish it

with judgment

and with justice

from henceforth even for ever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Is. 9:6

Unto us the promise was and is given! A child would be given! And “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”!! This child would come because God would send HIM, and He would be the ‘wonderful counselor’!!!

Wonderful: inspiring delight, pleasure or admiration; extremely good, marvelous.

Counselor: one who gives guidance, one trained to give guidance.

Jesus would be, is and ever shall be the most wonderful of counselors. And what would He counsel us about? Let’s see.

Revelation 3:17-18, “Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not that

thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.”

Jesus advice in a nutshell: Let Him speak to your heart, reveal your sin and then receive HIM as the only cure for your sin problem. No matter how much we ‘SAY’ that we are sufficient unto ourselves, Jesus reveals the truth of our heart. But praise God; He doesn’t just leave us there. He offers to supply (gold), clothe (white garments), and open (anoint) our eyes to see!!! To see Him—God, our Redeemer, Jesus!!!

Isaiah 55:1-2, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

Jesus is our delight and HE gave HIMSELF for us!!!

John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

He willingly laid down HIS life for us to have LIFE!!!

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

This ‘Wonderful Counselor” can be our salvation because He Redeemed us with HIS OWN BLOOD. He laid down HIS life that He could take it back again after 3 days and be victorious over sin, death and hell for all who would believe in HIM.

Revelation 5:9-10, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus the babe, came to die for YOU and ME!!! If you know Him–praise Him, thank Him and live for Him that the world may know!! If you don’t know Him—you can today. Listen to His voice speaking to your heart, repent of your sin and trust in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to be sufficient to save you, because: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20  Won’t you open the door today??

Bible Ballistics: Christmas Fortnight- Redeemer?? Vol. 5 #07

Today I’d like us to look beyond the manger. While we often misspeak that he was ‘born in a manger’—he was ‘laid in a manger’ after he was born. Your trivia note for the week!! But really I’d like us to go beyond the ‘manger’ to be sure that we understand that the baby that was born in Bethlehem is the eternal God. An unusual passage to look at this Christmas is one I’d like us to consider:

Job 19:25-27,

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

 and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed within me.”

Job knew something that we all need to know—that he had a redeemer—GOD! And that he would see Him face to face one day! That He (the redeemer) would stand on the earth in the latter days, whether he was alive or beyond death. When are the latter days? Well in one way they are now, having begun with the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-4, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

God has spoken to us in these ‘last days’ (synonymous to latter days) ‘by HIS Son’. In other words—God has spoken His final word in and through Jesus. In fact in Philippians 2:8-11, God tells us this about the work that Jesus did when He came as that babe in the manger:

“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.”

The Redeemer that Job knew would come and deliver him—He did come as a babe, lived a sinless life on this earth, in a body of flesh, went to the cross and died for our sin, was buried and raised alive on the third day and seen by many witnesses–Jesus. As we see so concisely written in 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:”

Jesus, the Son of God is the Redeemer that Job was looking forward to, HE is the Savior whose sacrifice we look back to. Our soon-coming King who will rule on this earth, when he comes, came in order to REDEEM us form SIN.

The Redeemer who declared multiple times that HE was God come to save us. I want to share some of the verses with Jesus own testimony of who HE was, is and ever will be. As you read through them, consider them, pray over them, for only YOU can decide what you believe about this babe born to die for YOU!

Angels proclaimed it before He could speak it in Luke 2:11:

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

And Luke 1:32-33, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Jesus himself declared His deity.

John 5:43, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.”

John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he life:”

I’ll close with 1 John 5:10-15,20, not the words of Jesus, but the words of the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved:

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him… 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Do you know the REDEEMER OF YOUR SOUL??? This same Redeemer that Job knew, is the Jesus we celebrate. Jesus that went to Calvary—

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”