Bible Ballistics: BBs #156    No Change–Ever???

We all like to get ‘change’ back when we spend money, but there is a ‘no-change’ principle that is the foundation of our faith. Our God never changes!

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: …….. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous…..” Portions of Joshua 1:5-7

God called Joshua to be “strong” and “courageous”—but not to just ‘cowboy up’, or ‘tuff up’, or even to ‘man up’ or ‘woman up’!!! God called Joshua to be strong and courageous because “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”!!! Joshua was called to have confidence in the same God he had served for 40 years under Moses. God assured Joshua of His faithfulness, “as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee”!!! A powerful reminder that our confidence is NOT in man but in our all-powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient), ever present (omnipresent) GOD!!! Joshua could lead because God was still God—no change! Will we heed the message?

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6 (conversation=lifestyle)

Our life can be identified with covetousness or by the power of God in our lives. And that only happens when, like Joshua, our confidence isn’t in ‘things’ but in our God! We can walk in contentment and confidence because of the faithfulness of our God. The God who has promised to, “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.   Then we can stand, knowing: “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”! Where is your confidence? Is it in your circumstances, resources of money, health, substances or people? Or have you realized that none of those things can really take care of you. Peter gives us some good advice in this regard:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” 2 Peter 3:10-11

Do we see things in proper perspective? Have we realized the world can’t satisfy? Where is our heart and mind?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” Matthew 5:19-20

The God who never changes will change your life and ‘birth’ you into HIS kingdom if you will but forsake your way for HIS—

“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.” John 1:12-13

Change or No Change? It’s your choice! Choose well!!!

Bible Ballistics: Are You An Egg Tree??? Vol. 5 #25

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

Jesus saves those who “come unto God by him”!!! There is only one way to God and that is Jesus—Jesus the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and “he is able also to save them to the uttermost”. Jesus saves—only Jesus—and only one way!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 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 8:23-24

We live amidst a culture and generation that wants to do everything their own way. But we must come face to face with the truth, no matter the ideologies that are being purported amongst us, there is only one way to God, but there are many ways offered by the world. Jesus calls us to beware of the way that we choose.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

And Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14,

“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.”

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:16-20

What does scripture tell us?

There is a way that SEEMS right but is NOT—

it leads to death.

There is a broad way, and many go that WAY—

but it leads to destruction.

There is a straight/narrow way that leads to LIFE—

 and few find the WAY to LIFE!

 A bad tree is known but it’s fruit—

 and will be hewn down.

A good tree is know by its fruit—

 By their “fruits ye shall know them”.

This brings me to our title: “Are You An Egg Tree?” Now I know most of you are wondering what in the world is an ‘egg tree’? Well, it’s an example that I often use to help people understand the futility of trying to wear “sheep’s clothing”, when “inwardly they are ravening wolves.”   People can be fooled but never can you fool God—people can go their own way and find themselves in the throes of destruction, or they can:

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

We can seek the Lord or go our own way. Egg trees are found during the spring, when we begin to see people celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus and just rejoicing in the joys of spring. One of the things you will often see in front yards is “Egg Trees”. Trees that people have creatively decorated by hanging plastic eggs of various colors on the bare winter branches. An ‘Egg Tree’ is born—but we all know there is no such thing as an “Egg Tree”—it’s a pretend decoration and its ‘fruit’ proves it!!!

Well my friends, there are no egg trees in God’s economy either. You can hang spiritual eggs on your tree and claim to belong to Jesus, but the fruit will betray your real character eventually. As my mother used to say, “You can fool some of the people all of the time; and you can fool most all of the people some of the time; you can even fool a lot of folks for a long time, but you can’t fool God—any of the time.” And there is a day coming when every thing will be ‘revealed’. And ‘revealed’ according to God’s Word and His standard!!!

Hebrews 4:11-13 reminds us, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

God will strip all the fake eggs off of every tree and expose the truths of the heart according to HIS Word!!! Do you have real, genuine, true, born again fruit? Or are you hung about with plastic eggs? Please, seek the Lord! “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near…” If you belong to Jesus then let your fruit reveal HIM to the world.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

To shine we must have the light within!!!

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4

What’s on your tree?????? And remember the majority is seldom right!!! But Jesus ALWAYS is!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #155 Who Are YOU Serving???

“Behold,

the Lord’s hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

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.

3 For (because) 

your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.”

No, this isn’t out of the front page of the newspaper, though it could be—it’s from the Bible, Isaiah 59:1-4. It’s God pronouncement on the wickedness of those who claim HIS name! What??? Professing believers who behave so badly? Yes, people who claim to belong to God, choose sin instead of the one they claim to serve. What about you? What does your behavior say about your true relationship with God?

Jesus addressed this while He was on earth. Quoting Isaiah 29:13, Jesus declares:

“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:7-8

We talked last time about “Where ARE YOU?”, and we also need to examine “Where Do Your Actions Say YOU ARE?”. We may say “Lord, Lord”! But what does Jesus say? Will He say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”? Or, will He say “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”? How I spend my life here and now will affect where and how I spend eternity!!! It’s worth your time and mine to continually examine our hearts and lives.

Do you have time for everything but God?

Do you honor everyone’s requests but God’s?

Does your speech betray a heart that is far from God?

Does your greed for money preclude your serving God?

Does your desire for worldly popularity override God?

Do you MAKE more time for self and none for God?

The choice is yours!!!  But remember:

“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.” Luke 16:13 WHO ARE YOU SERVING?

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #154       Where ARE YOU???

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:5-7

The context here is a warning against false teachers, and one of the false things they are teaching is the equation of ‘prosperity’ to ‘godliness’. And as my momma would say, “tain’t so”! And friends it is just as false a teaching now as it was in the days of the early church.

Perverse: showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable, often in spite of consequences.

We live in a day when money and sex are proclaimed as the panacea for everyone, and everything everywhere. That is a lie! No panacea exists to life. We can face it with God’s strength and courage in Jesus, or we can go it our own way and believe the lies of the world and reap the consequences.

Panacea: a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.

And dear ones, sex and money will never give you peace in your heart! No matter how much, how often or how hard you try to fill your life with ‘things’ other than God, it will never succeed. Never! The alternative???

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Consider the options: continually seeking that which will NEVER satisfy or learning to rejoice and be glad in the “day which the Lord hath made”! How do we rejoice? By learning that God is totally faithful, and HE will provide.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When we take up our ‘cross’ and follow Jesus we can have absolute confidence that we belong to God and He is caring for us. He is leading if we will but hear and obey. And contentment is a result of learning to trust in HIM!

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:4-6

We must choose to walk in godliness—honoring the sanctity of marriage. God made sex!!! And He also made the safest, and most fulfilling place for those needs and desires to be filled–and that’s within a Biblical marriage. One man-one woman—for life!!! We can’t improve on God’s plan. But we can abandon it and reap the consequences, for ALL sexual sin and perversion: “but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”. God will keep HIS Word. Where are YOU? In submission and obedience to God or making your own way, falling for the lie which can never deliver?

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Where are YOU? Going your way or God’s. Where is your confidence?

“My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2

 

Bible Ballistics: Wait?? But How Long, Oh Lord?? Vol. 5 #24

Wait! It’s the big ‘W’ for most of us. Waiting isn’t what we humans do best. We’d rather rush ahead, run on past the ‘turtle’, or leap over tall buildings, but NOT WAIT!!! A much-neglected principle of scripture is to ‘Wait’. Yet what are we to wait on? And how long? Well, let’s see what God has to say!

“Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.” Jeremiah 14:22

Here Jeremiah reminds himself, as well as all Israel that God is there only hope. We who live here in Oklahoma understand the need for ‘rain’, yet many often forget that what Jeremiah points out here is the bottom line: Who can send the rain??? Only God, and He’s the one I’m trusting in and praying to for that very rain in these days of drought. What are you depending on? The government? The weatherman? Science?   Can these “vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain” do any more now that then? Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, answers with a resounding NO!!! Only God, the creator of all can send the rain. And we can choose to “wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things”, or we can look to “the vanities” of man. And this applies to rain, money, standards, and devotion. With Joshua, I choose God!!!

“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

And that’s worth repeating: “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”!!! How about you?

Isaiah, another great prophet of God warned of coming judgment, and of all people and nations, America needs to take heed to God and His Word. Ignorance is not an excuse, and while we’ve certainly had access to God and His Word, what has been our response? I want what I want, when I want it, and then I want it MY way!!! God’s answer:

“Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the Lord,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

We have known! We have heard! And we have refused to hear God:

“But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.” Zechariah 7:11

And as the religious leaders of the day heard the preaching and testimony of the godly Stephen, refused to hear or heed, so it is in our day:

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him…..” Acts 7:57-58a

Don’t like the message? Then kill the messenger. It’s been the destiny of many of God’s greatest prophets and preachers, and it hasn’t ceased to be the response of the world. We are living in a day when people don’t want to hear the “Word of the Lord”, and they aren’t averse to eliminating the ‘opposition’—and folks, if you haven’t been paying attention, that’s us. We who are standing fast on, and for the Word of God as ultimate TRUTH!   What are you standing on? Who or what are you waiting for? Are you waiting on the Lord to come? For Jesus to bring in His righteousness, or are you satisfied with the status quo?

We can wait on God and His provision and purpose to be accomplished in us and be the salt and light Jesus called us to be; and if we belong to Jesus, He doesn’t say that we should be salt and light, but that we “ARE” the salt and the light in a dark and corrupt world. What are you ‘being’?

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

Suffice it to say, Jesus makes us ‘salt’, and if we know and belong to Him, we are to be salting the world around us, not telling them corruption is ok! We are to be lighting the way, not telling them that the way they are on is ok! Because there is only one right way and that’s Jesus!!!

“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.” Matthew 7:13-14

Are you telling the truth and calling others to ‘wait on the Lord”? Jesus also tells us that He’s the only way to God and if we’re not ‘waiting’ on Him—what are we ‘waiting’ on?

John 14:5-6, “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Only one way—Jesus!!!

We can be those “fools rush in” or we can “wait on the Lord” God Almighty to speak, lead and work or we can go our own way.

Psalm 123:2, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” Without HIS mercy we are hopeless.

We must remember with the Psalmist, that God is keeping account, we will give an account and we should be:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith……” Hebrews 12:2a

“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.” John 15:5

We must continually “wait on the Lord”—but not just sit and twiddle our thumbs. We are to wait devotedly, committedly and expectantly, ready to be what He asks us to be, to do what He asks us to do, and to go where He asks us to go!!! And to be, and do, and go HIS WAY!!!

“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.” Psalm 37:1-9

Let’s wait on God’s reward. Payday isn’t today, but it’s coming! And God holds the accounts!!!

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:10

“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.” Revelation 20:12

So, make it a “wait on the Lord” day, or go your own way—the choice is yours but the consequences of your choice are out of your hand. How long?? UNTIL:

“From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.” Hebrews 10:13

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” Revelation 19:11-16

So I’ll ‘wait on the Lord’ every day until our “King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords”, Jesus Christ comes in HIS GLORY!! How about YOU???