Bible Ballistics: BBs #174 I’ll Take Care Of Myself???

As we look at all the social, political, and “religious” hoopla going on around us, I’d like to get a little personal with you this morning. We can talk about “marriage” and what it is, what it means, and what it should be, but we need more than talk. We can talk about the ‘government’ and what it is, what it means, and what it should be, but we need more than talk. We can talk about ‘religion-faith-spirituality’ or whatever we may call it and what it is, what it means, or what it should be, but we need more than talk!!!

We need action!   Now don’t get all excited, I’m not calling for social, political or spiritual revolt, as such, but I am talking about putting our “living” where our mouth is, so to speak.  I see and hear so many things that people are saying about the issues, whether it be marriage, the Ten Commandments, the law or the political system; talk about bullying, or abuse or neglect, the list could go on forever, BUT there is only one answer to all of these issues, and that is Jesus.

But not the name that people use for slang or swearing, but the one who came to deliver us from our sins.

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

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

The God/Man—the one who came to “save his people from their sins”!!! It doesn’t say that He came to save us “IN” our sins but ‘FROM’ them. Yes He calls us right where we are but HE NEVER LEAVES US THERE! And He had to come because ‘sins’ are the issue. Yes ‘sin’ in general, but also ‘sins’ specific—the ‘sins’ that I have committed, the sins that you have committed, the sins that are being committed right now by every living person on this earth—the lying, the stealing, the profaning of God’s name, the pride, the adultery, the rebellion and failure of parents and children, and this list could also go on forever. But the bottom line is that the issue is SIN, mine and yours. It’s our sin that nailed Jesus to the cross, yet it was HIS love for us that took Him there and held Him there. The nails didn’t hold the creator of the universe—the metal that He created, the wood that He created, the dirt that He created-the humans that did the literal ‘nailing’ of those spikes, were created by HIM!!! None of those things could have held the creator of all things to that cross—only His love for us held Him there. God loved us enough to send Jesus:

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23-24

Why did God do this? Because sin had come in by our invitation and brought our certain and totally deserved death (see Genesis 2 & 3):

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Eternal living not eternal dying!!! But how are we living? We should be living unto the one who gave us ‘eternal life through Jesus’.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22

We are to be living for Jesus not ourselves or for “SIN”—but look about us, even more importantly look within yourself. What are we allowing to run our lives? Our pocketbook? Our passions? Our hormones? Our fears? Our lusts for money, power, control? Our greed? Our vanity? Hello!!! If we belong to Jesus we’ve been given the power to live victorious lives in the Spirit.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

We have been made the “righteousness of God in him”, given the power to be a new creature in Christ Jesus. We would think it abominable if someone buried their loved one and then dug up their body and carried it with them everywhere they went. Besides the physical unpleasant odors that would accompany such a person, we would think them unbalanced or unstable, yet many genuine Christians have been deceived by the enemy, and have fallen prey to this very kind of thing. They are succumbing every day to the sins of their flesh that Christ has empowered them to overcome. STOP IT! Just stop it. Run to the one who redeemed you and seek HIS forgiveness, cleansing and restoration:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:7-10

We all have sin—today, but Jesus is there waiting for us to hear His Spirit convicting and calling us to repent and be cleansed and fit for His service. This is totally NOT where I had planned for this post to go, but it’s where I believe God lead me with it.

So??? Here’s the shot for today! Stop it. If you are going to claim the name, and saving work of Jesus in your life then STOP living like the world. Stop the ‘shacking-up’! Stop the lying! Stop the lustful indulgences that you have allowed to direct your life! Stop the stealing—both from others and from God! God is watching—He knows—He sees—He will hold us accountable. So live like it! Please, the time is short. And if you don’t know HIM call on HIM today, please?

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If we want to have the right to speak to the issues of our day, we need to be living lives that honor God before the world, not lives that bring shame to HIM and HIS Word.

Bible Ballistics: Thy Kingdom? Thy Will?  Vol. 6#08

Living in a ‘Selfie’ world can present challenges to our life and perspective. When everything around us is focused on ‘self’, how do we maintain a balanced and biblical life and perspective? That’s the question that I would like us to consider today. With so much going on around us, with the foundations of our very culture being shaken, with the world steeped in chaos and uncertainty, what is our place? How are we to live and order our lives in order to affect the world for Jesus? Paul told the Galatians, we are to have one ‘focus’ and it’s NOT ‘self’:

“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 6:14

When we belong to Jesus, we are to have our focus on the cross of Jesus Christ—Jesus, crucified, buried and raised for the atonement of MY sin!!! The atoning, sacrificial blood that Jesus shed for sin; that he shed for all who will repent of their ‘self sin’ (better known as pride), believe in and accept His sacrifice for their own sin. Is there anything else that is of eternal import?

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26

A great ‘selfie’ shot won’t impress God or get you into heaven. Only Jesus has or can provide salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of God. He made this implicitly clear in His earthly ministry, as well as through the ministry of the apostles and writers of the New Testament. We must be “born from above”.

John 3:3 & 8, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God… ..8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Being ‘born again’ by the Spirit of God—the supernatural work of God, which gives us new life in Jesus! That life which is totally of GOD not of/from ‘self’!

“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

A supernatural work of God–

not of blood=your genealogy—

not of the will of the flesh=hard work (of any kind)

not of the will of man=NO one can do it FOR you!!!

It’s a work, which only God can do in us:

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

It is this birth through which we are ‘born from above’; the birth that does the work that we may be ‘born of the spirit’, the birth that imparts to us ‘eternal life’ both now and with God in all eternity! And Jesus didn’t stop there:

“And he said unto them,

Ye are from beneath;

I am from above:

ye are of this world;

I am not of this world….  

42 Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.” John 8:23 & 42-45

It the difference between night and day; between truth and lie; between good and evil; between LIFE and DEATH!!! The choice is yours to make! But as believers in Jesus we are called to live our ‘choice’ before the world. And we can only do that because God has done the work in us, and He empowers us to live for righteousness.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6
He started the work—He will complete it!!!

“And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove (display to the world)

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:2

       We are to allow His work to flourish through us!

When our focus is changed from ‘self’ to God we are enabled to understand what Jesus meant as He taught us how to live and how to pray, to live for Him:

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13

Kind of flies in the face of much of what we see and hear around us today—even spiritual advice (so-called) has turned the focus on ‘self’. Many teach and call followers of Jesus to just ‘name it and claim it’; to ‘speak positively’; to ‘demand of God’; and to do any number of presumptuous things to manipulate God! Yes, I said ‘manipulate God’! Jesus instructed us to pray for ‘Thy will’ to be done; for ‘Thy kingdom’ to come, and yet we have turned this all around into a ‘selfie’ culture which says, “my will” be done, and please God, put your stamp of approval on it! “My kingdom” come, and God please won’t you put your stamp of approval on it! Excuse me? Why ‘on earth’ would we be so distracted and deceived as to put ourselves in “God’s” place? I pray that we would never do that deliberately, but we have often allowed ourselves to be fooled into thinking and behaving as if ‘we are now God’!!!

How does this happen? It can happen when we allow our eyes to be taken off of the Cross and our Redeemer!!! It can happen when we become so consumed with “selfies” that we forget that it’s not about ME, but it’s about HIM!!! It should be about who we were and who we have become in Jesus. So whose image does the world see in me? Do they see Jesus, or do they see me? What fruit am I bearing for my precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His Father, The Lord God Almighty? The fruit comes from the nature of the tree, not the fruit itself. Jesus makes this so clear in Matthew 7:20-27:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

So, what will you do? Will you truly seek to do “God’s will”? Will you truly seek the increase of “God’s Kingdom”, or your own? Will you pursue the selfie life, or the “selfless” servant life that Jesus lived and calls us to? The choice is yours!

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8-9

“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.” Galatians 2:20

Thine or Mine??? One or the other—it can’t be both!

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #173 Praying For Our Children???

I am grieved over the things that I’ve see on social media about praying certain prayers, especially some for our children as well as others. As I’ve considered what I’ve heard and read, I’d like to offer some different advice for your consideration regarding our prayers for anyone God has placed in our lives to pray for, and who more important than our children and family.

Much of what I’ve observed focuses on praying for people to be ‘happy’, really? While I don’t pray that my children will be “unhappy”, by the same token, since happiness isn’t an end in itself, and is often deceiving, ‘happiness’ is not the focus of my praying. Happiness is generally used in relation to fortunate and convenient circumstances and surroundings– the things that “happen” to us.   Because of that, ‘happiness’ can come or go depending on those very ‘circumstances’ which are often out of our control.

As I have pondered on these things, one of my favorite Bible passages came to my heart, Philippians 4:8-9:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

We Christians must always stand, share and pray that which is:

True—

Honest—

Just—

Pure –

Lovely–

Of good report (or repute/reputation before God)–

 Virtuous –(of good character before God)

Praise Worthy (God’s praise NOT man’s).

Regardless of what I might think or desire to pray for anyone, I need to be sure it agrees with what God desires! And that always includes ‘holiness’ and ‘overcoming’ lives.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” `1 John 5:4

Praying and pursuing an overcoming life that is in right relationship with the sovereign Lord God Almighty, not lives that accept and compromise with the sin of the world. God’s opinion is the only one that will count in the end, so that should be my prayer for my children and every other person I pray for; that they would be in a right relationship with God: Not in ‘words’ only, but in true ‘possession’!!! Desiring that those we pray for will trust in and come to Jesus in repentance and faith. Then their circumstances will ultimately be irrelevant to their future. When they trust in God and walk in HIS ways then HE has promised to direct their steps, and give the “peace of God” which supersedes the flighty circumstances of life. But in direct contrast, those who reject God and don’t belong to Jesus will face eternal damnation regardless of the so-called “happiness” they experience in this world. How empty the ‘happiness’ of the world is without the ‘peace of God’. Only those who know Jesus have the ‘peace of God’ and we ought to pray for all to come to know Him, especially our own children. (See Romans 5:1-8)

We must pray that people will see that ‘sin’ is ‘sin’, because unless we see our own ‘sin’ as ‘sin’, why would we ever need a Savior? Sin is the issue—ALL SIN–Jesus himself said:

“…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…….. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Portions of John 3:3-7

Only when our child (or anyone) is ‘born again’ can we have the assurance that we will spend eternity with them; regardless of whether their life on this earth has been “happy” or not. My prayer is that my children will be right with God, more than right with the world, or ‘happy’ with their choices, especially those that go against the Word of God. I challenge us to courageously pray with biblical integrity, not to settle for the lies of the enemy of our souls!

May we pray for strength and courage for others–

Strength for those days that will demand much of them and courage to persevere in truth regardless of their circumstances or temptations.

May we pray that they will be humble and gracious—

Humble in those days when they do find happiness in their circumstances and successes, and that they will be balanced in their actions and relations with God and others. And gracious character that others will see Jesus/God in them and desire to know the Savior they love and serve in obedient submission to HIS Word.

May we pray, most importantly, that they come to be ‘children of God’:

“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       (It’s a work of God not man!!!)

May we pray ceaselessly for our loved ones and our world? May we pray biblical prayers full of truth with integrity toward God and man? May we rest on the sovereign power and goodness of God, speaking the truth in love and knowing that God is working all things to the good of those who will come to HIM?

“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.” Romans 8:28-29

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

May we truly love others and pray:

in accord with God’s Word–

desiring God’s eternal “blessing” on them in salvation-

rather than the often-empty “happiness” of the world!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #172 When I Am Afraid, What???

I have just a brief post for today. My heart is grieved for the things I/we see going on around us. I see division, strife, disagreement, unkindness, but most grievous to my soul, I see people twisting the Word of God, rejecting the Word of God, or blatantly denying it’s validity for “our world”. Well, all I can say is the same thing we talked about in our article Sunday—God has never, is never, nor will He ever change!!! His Word is the same today as it’s ever been, and man is the same as he has always been—ready, willing and able to reject, defy and ignore God in his own personal life!

I’d like to simply share Psalm 56 with you in its entirety. Because I wrestle with fear, I think you do too. Fear for the future, not my own, because I belong to Jesus and I trust to His perfect sovereign control to keep me in His power, but the future for those whom I love who refuse to take heed:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” John 10:28-30

I am His and He is mine, and as Jesus said in Matthew 7, every good tree brings forth good fruit—yet as I bear His good fruit in these dark and evil days, it isn’t welcome fruit. But we must ‘fear not’!! David reminds us of the beauty and confidence of trusting and resting in God, even in the midst of the storm! Especially in the midst of the storms around us now!!! Take courage, press on and bear His fruit.

“Be merciful unto me, O God:

for man would swallow me up;

he fighting daily oppresseth me.

2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up:

for they be many that fight against me,

O thou most High.

3 What time I am afraid,

I will trust in thee.

             4 In God I will praise his word,

in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear

what flesh can do unto me.

5 Every day they wrest my words:

all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together,

they hide themselves,

they mark my steps,

when they wait for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8 Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

9 When I cry unto thee,

then shall mine enemies turn back:

this I know; for God is for me.

10 In God will I praise his word:

in the Lord will I praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust:

I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:

I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:

wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”

Psalm 56

Amen. May you just trust HIM and praise HIM!!! Today!!!