Bible Ballistics: Vol. 7 No. 10     To All The People I Love!!!

Promotions are abounding on every hand reminding us that “Valentine’s Day” is coming, so I’d like to take this timely opportunity to send a message to those that I love today. And that includes YOU!!! While Valentine’s Day is usually focused on romantic love, I’d like us to consider the Love of God! The only love that can change lives, and grant eternal life, is found in Jesus, but only on God’s terms. We must choose to believe and receive the payment that Jesus made for sin, yours and mine! We can’t just exercise mental assent to the fact that there was a “Jesus”, or even that He died on a cross, but we must come to a genuine recognition of “my” personal sin against God (and men), and a willingness as well as a desperate desire to repent of “my” sin, and trust all “my” life to Jesus; to bow “my” knee to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. This can only happen as the Holy Spirit touches your heart and convicts (brings you to see yourself as God sees you) your heart of your desperate need for Jesus, and your total inability to meet that need yourself. We must recognize the fact that God is God, we are not, and there is only one way to God and HE IS JESUS!

“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

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

So we see that we can choose, but only as God opens our eyes through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit; to see that we must choose to follow Jesus to receive eternal life, but not just whenever you like! God initiates all salvation, and we must be open and willing to come to God, God’s way! But we must choose! And even if you don’t realize it, not choosing, IS choosing. There is no option to pass.

Joshua once called the children of Israel to choose, and we are also faced with a choice—God gives us the right and the ability to choose, but there are consequences to every choice, and we don’t get to choose the consequences.

“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 24:15

Joshua realized that it is a choice to “serve”, not just to give “lip service” to obtain “fire” insurance, but choosing, making a commitment to believe and receive the gift of salvation that Jesus purchased with His blood. To be His servant—and there is a priceless difference of love and devotion.

Jesus Himself tells us that when we receive Him and trust to His saving, life-transforming grace, there is a price to pay—not to purchase our salvation but to express our devotion and gratitude to the “One” who gave Himself for all who will believe! For YOU and for ME! A devotion of gratitude that has ‘died’ to self, to ‘live’ to and for Jesus, through the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit.

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Taking up our cross is not a picture of the every day difficulties of life—the rheumatism, the family crises, the challenges of just getting through this world—it’s dying to self and living to Jesus. How do I take up my cross? Paul gives us one of the most beautiful pictures of how to continually “take up” our cross and follow Jesus:

“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

I can live by the “faith of the Son of God”, because HE gave Himself for me, and His Spirit is living within ME! When I die with Him spiritually (at the cross), God raises me to “new life” in Christ Jesus:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:1-7

What a powerful concept, “that henceforth we should not serve sin”. Yet when I look around and see so many who glibly claim to know Jesus, but seem to be so devoted to the world and seemingly contented to be so, my heart grieves and my desire and purpose is to help those I love to have their eyes opened through God’s Word and the love and prayers of one who loves them—me! We must all continually examine ourselves to see whom we are serving! Are we serving Jesus or my own worldly lusts and the lies and distractions of the enemy?

Does my life say that I belong to Jesus or the world? I see so many wrapped up in the ways of the world; living in open adultery, drunkenness, sloth, having time for every thing but God, having no desire for the Word of God but every desire for the things of the world. How can we expect God to hear and answer our prayers when we refuse to walk in HIS ways? How can we live and walk in sin, expecting God to approve of our life choices and bless them, when they are sinful and diametrically opposed to God? I can’t find that in scripture. In fact I find the very opposite.

“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 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.” Isaiah 59:1-4

Sin separates us from God; sin hides His face from us, and keeps our prayers from being effective. Because as scripture tells us about prayer:

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 (Righteous by the blood of Jesus, see 2 Cor. 5:21)

James reminds us that we are to confess our faults to one another, not sweep them under the rug, not say they are ok, or call wrong right and right wrong. As we confess (to the degree that the sin is known, not a national broadcast) to one another, there is a healing and restoration both personally and corporately—our churches are in such desperate need of the conviction, repentance and healing of the people of God being restored to the holy church of God which can be salt and light in a world of darkness and corruption. The world is in desperate need of authentic, genuine, Holy Ghost filled believers! Oh, dear ones please call on Jesus today and ask HIM to:

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

God will show us where we are, and He will bring us to where we need to be if we will but seek His face and realize that we must “choose” to be His servant, not His manipulator, because God is God and we must choose to serve God His way—to simply be God’s own by the blood of the Lamb, and abandon the world.

“No man 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.” Matthew 6:24

James uses a word in his letter that describes what Jesus is talking about, “double minded”—to try to think two ways at the same time—a virtually impossible thing to do, and surely not a good thing.

“A double minded man is

unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8

“Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:8

We must strive to “single” minded, keeping our eyes on Jesus; know that we must “die” to self and “live” to Jesus in the power of the His Holy Spirit. Every day we choose whom we will serve—self or the Savior, yet there is a consequence to every choice. My heart’s desire in this post is that you will examine your own heart and go before God to find out whose you are, and measure your life according to the Word of God, not the whims of men. Will you “Draw nigh to God” or befriend the world? Will you experience the “joy of the Lord” or the “judgment” of God? The choice is yours, but the consequences aren’t.

“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.” John 3:18

“Ye lust, and have not:

ye kill, and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship

of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:1-8

Whose friend are you? I want to be known as a “friend of God”. Won’t you join me in the pursuit, and stop settling for worldly pursuits. Have a blessed week seeking HIS face, choose which “spirit” you will yield to.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2 (the evil one).

God’s way or yours? Choose wisely!!! I am praying for you!

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Bible Ballistics: BBs #243     When The Fog Lifts???

Ever have one of those times or seasons in life when you just felt overwhelmed, confused, unsure or just at a loss to know or understand what you needed to do; to know what God was doing in your life or leading you to do? We’ve all had those times, some of us more often or for longer seasons than others, but when we “wait upon the Lord” He will always bring us through it, and give us strength to persevere through the difficult times.

“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 40:31

Waiting on the Lord, doesn’t mean sitting, twiddling your thumbs and doing nothing, but it does mean resting in His wisdom, His grace and His timing! And while we are waiting we continue walking forward in the place where God has placed us. When we’re unsure which way to turn, we just keep going straight ahead until God directs a change. When we “wait upon the Lord”, HE will provide what we need—renewed strength to soar above the storm, to run without weariness, and walk on without fainting! WOW!

Daniel was faced with a life-and-death situation in Daniel 2, but he knew where to go! He went to his trusted friends and called them to join him in praying to their “prayer answering” God! Daniel and his friends were living faithful lives for God in Babylon, and now a crises came that could cost them their lives, so what did they do? They united in prayer, and their God heard and answered that prayer. And then Daniel did what we always ought to do when God answers our prayers, he praised GOD, giving Him the glory and rehearsing HIS character.

“Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom unto the wise,

and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:

he knoweth what is in the darkness,

and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:20-23

Oh, to know God as confidently as this young man did. Daniel’s confidence was in the character of his God? We must learn (through God’s Word) and stand in who our God is, and dear friend God isn’t a man, nor is man GOD!!! We must decide if we trust that God IS the one who is faithful in all things, and that what He has promised, HE WILL DO!

And, our God doesn’t do these things because of our great worth, or work or even faithful service—He does it because He is God, and the blood of Jesus restores us to a right relationship with the very God Almighty of the universe! It is because of His great grace and mercy–not our goodness, for we are but sinners saved by HIS grace! As Jesus reminds us in 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.”

Nothing!!! Without Him I can do nothing of any eternal value! But praise God HE saves and change lives; HE can make “cracked” pots useable. I want to share an experience I had recently, which reminded me of the total dependability and perfect order of God, in time, space and history—our God IS GOD! And I thank Him for His sovereign grace and goodness and that it’s not my goodness, worthiness or deservedness—but all ‘good’ is because of HIS Amazing Grace. (Oh, that might make a great song!)

But back to my heart warming encounter. I had been experiencing one of those times of fogginess in what to do about a particular ministry event, and had come to the conclusion that perhaps I needed to just pass on this occasion. I was writing an email to one of the people involved, advising them of the probability of the cancellation of the event, when the phone rang and it was not only a person interested in the event, but also a person that was interested along with several others—God stepped in and cleared the fog. Here I was floundering about how to proceed in this particular ministry, and while praying and proceeding with uncertainty and doubt in a foggy situation, God showed up with perfect timing to confirm my direction and reassure me of the pursuit. As I finished the email, after the phone call was over, I felt like I had just experienced “whip-lash”. God is so good and if we will but walk where He has placed us, and wait on His provision, wisdom and answers we will come out of the “FOG” in His time. What a blessed lesson He reconfirmed to me.

So just a reminder today, no matter how thick your “fog” is, God knows where you are and His answer will arrive on time, and your fog will lift by His grace and in His time!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #242     Is It Raining Where You Are???

Having experienced the long extended Oklahoma drought over the past several years, until last spring when God sent the wonderful refreshing rains to renew our land, I know the importance of rain. But we also know that rain can be a blessing or a trial depending on the timing, the amount and the peripheral circumstances that accompany the rain. I have also been through several hurricanes, having been raised on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. I know the drama, stress and alarm that can accompany the rains and winds of those monstrous storms. But what I’d like us to consider this morning is the affect of choosing wisely.

Noah announced the first rain many years ago, and the people scorned his warnings of the coming judgment of God through the rain. We are living in those very kinds of days now, even as Jesus predicted would come. Let’s look at what He had to say:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man,

no, not the angels of heaven,

but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were,

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days

that were before the flood

they

were eating

and drinking,

marrying

and giving in marriage,

until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came,

and took them all away;

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:36-39

What is Jesus telling us? A lot! First of all, Jesus tells us that “no man” knows exactly when He will return, but He does tell us in this same passage that we will be able to recognize the “signs” of those times, but His return will be a surprise to most of the world. Only those who are willing to get into the “ark” of safety of salvation will be prepared when He comes. Just as the people of Noah’s day didn’t believe or respond to Noah’s message of the coming judgment of God, the people of our day are willingly ignorant of the same call of God’s people to believe and come to salvation in the ark of “Jesus”.

“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;” 2 Peter 2:5 Judgment DID come!!!

Jesus also tells us that we will see the same response to our message of Salvation in the “Cross” that Noah saw in his call to the wooden Ark of safety—the only way of salvation for the impending judgment of God! Jesus goes on to describe the attitude of the people; He doesn’t mention any blatant and intentional wickedness (although it was going on then, and is still going on today), He refers to the same “nonchalant” attitude that we see in our day—people eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage—just living as if there was no tomorrow coming, no judgment on the way!!! And just as the people of Noah’s day refused to heed the message until Noah “entered into the ark”; and we know from Genesis that Noah didn’t close the door, GOD DID, and they “knew not until the flood came”! And there is a day coming when God will close the door again.

In that same way, people of our day who refuse to hear and receive the truth, will also “KNOW NOT” until the day overtakes them. A day when Jesus will come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, a day when grace will have ceased and judgment will take place, when every knee which has refused to “bow” before Him, will “bow”. I didn’t say so, God does, and Paul tells us why, when speaking of Jesus:

“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.”     Philippians 2:8-11

So my question for you today, “Is it raining where you are?” Or are you in the ark of salvation? While I realize that many may be tired of this message, it is one that people need desperately today. It is the message that we have been saved and called to share with the world around us; to share with the ones that we love as well as the ones who are in the scope and circle of our influence. Faith alone in Christ alone—a transformed life—by the blood of the Lamb!!!

“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. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:14-15

We are living in days when the message is seldom welcomed, but we are compelled to be “reconcilers” because we have been “reconciled” by the blood of the Lamb.

“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.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Are you in the “ark” of salvation? If not won’t you come to the one who died for you today? If you belong to Jesus, then “reconciliation” is the task we have at hand. Let’s share the “Good News” wherever we go, whenever we can.

“And that, knowing the time,

that now it is high time

to awake out of sleep:

for now is our salvation nearer

than when we believed.” Romans 13:11

He is coming soon. Don’t be caught out in the rain!!! I am praying for YOU!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: Worship Or Worldliness??? Vol. 7 #09

I’m going to do something today that I’ve seldom done, and that is to repost something that I have posted before. I found these articles while looking for some articles to send to a friend in response to a specific request. It was a short series that I will edit a bit and repost today because it is such an urgent subject and a continuing burden on my heart. I hope that you will be blessed and encouraged to seek God’s Word and God’s ways in all you do—whether in personal or corporate worship and service to our God. May we continue to live with a “Biblical Worldview” that honors our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!

I saw a passage on Facebook that reminded me of something that I’ve been pondering for some time.

Ezekiel 12:1-3, “The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.”

God told Ezekiel to live out a message to the rebellious captives in Babylon, ‘that those still in Jerusalem would be judged’. A people who were still living rebellious lives even while they were experiencing the judgment and discipline of God Himself. If we back up to the 8^th chapter of Ezekiel, we see some of the reasons that judgment had come upon them. They had done and were doing abominable things in the very temple of God. Their idols decorated and adorned the temple, while their leaders practiced abominable idolatry within the temple; the women were honoring their female idols at the gates, even as the men bowed down to the luminaries of the heaven.

What does this have to do with us? What about our churches? To what ‘idols’ have we bowed down? What idols have we brought into “God’s House”? Do we depend on the empowering of the Holy Spirit, or idols of our own making? Where is the bold and Spirit filled preaching of the Word of God? Are we depending on the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, or the latest books, music and fads of the world? May we examine what we’re doing by God’s standard and fall before God in repentance and seek His face, His will and His word, and His ways!!! Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:17,

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

We need to examine

our hearts,

our lives,

our church practices,

and follow God not man,

no matter what is popular?

As Hebrews 4:12-13 counsels us:

“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.”

You decide—are you following God Word or men’s ideas?

Continuing in our examination of our attitude and actions toward worship, let’s  search the scriptures for answers. Ezekiel has a somber message to us:

Ezekiel 22:25-27 says, “25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” (Ring any bells?)

I’d like to share two other verses before we comment.

1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “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.”

If I have been born again and belong to Jesus then:

I belong to Jesus and our Father God.

I’ve been bought with a price.

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.

So:

My life is to reflect Jesus and holiness.

My service should be in humility,

as a servant of God

not a spiritual ‘super star’.

I am to recognize and project the holy—

know that there is a difference–

between the holy and the profane.

I am to walk in ‘holiness’

not profaning God’s name,

His character

or His word—

       in my words or actions!

We are the temple of God and we are (and will be) held accountable for being a pure and holy temple; and corporate gatherings of God’s people should exalt the holy not the profane—God and Jesus, not self or worldliness.

Where are we walking today? Where are you walking today? Where are our churches going? Why? For what purpose? To what end? Jesus gives us the ultimate goal and call:

John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Who are we lifting up? Christ Jesus or man? Jesus does the drawing, we are to preach and teach the truth and disciple those who will heed HIS call.

Continuing our look at Worship and Worldliness, let’s delve into the scripture and evaluate our perceptions of ‘worship’. What is worship? Most of our churches now have “worship leaders”, instead of ‘music directors’. Is music worship? We can worship through music, but in and of itself music isn’t necessarily ‘worship’.

The dictionary says worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity”.

If we revere and adore God, should it not follow that we would desire to love and obey Him? Does His word give us any indication of what is acceptable worship? Real worship is seen in a life lived in obedience to God, and submission to His Holy Spirit—in or out of church.

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:16-20 (Only the blood of Jesus washes us, see John 13:10)

We’ve written in other articles, that God calls us to be holy, and that God’s judgment will begin with the ‘house of God’ (1 Peter4:17), and God will judge us according to ‘His Word’ (Hebrews 4:12-13). God calls those who go their own way rebellious, even their leaders. In Ezekiel 22 He also calls us to differentiate between the ‘holy’ and the ‘profane’ `Profane: to treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect.

Have we allowed and brought so much of the world into our churches that we no longer recognize that we may be profaning the very God that we claim to serve? Have we abandoned the ‘holiness’ of our God to once again cleave to the things of the world that we were saved out of? And not only cleave to them but actually bring them into His church. Let’s see what Jesus had to say in John 2:13-14,

“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

Jesus made a whip and ran the sellers and moneychangers out; He made it clear in verse 16, that we are not to make God’s house a place of ‘merchandise’ (a mart or emporium). Matthew gives us more insight when he records the second time that Jesus ran people out of His Temple, (and it was His because He is God)!!

Matthew 21:12-13, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus reminds us that His house should be a ‘house of prayer’. Simply put, a place where we commune with God and He with us. Are we betraying the ‘house of prayer’, and seeking to create an amusement park? Are we going our own way and profaning God or seeking His heart and mind in all things? Have we made the church a “den of thieves”? A place where people are welcome to reproach God on their own terms and we condone it; rather than a place where the Gospel calls people to “forsake” self and cling to Jesus?

Are we so focused on making the house of God ‘comfortable’, that it’s foreign and profane to God? Have we been so eager to transform the church into a palatable dish for the world that we have lost the power of God? Do we depend on the latest programs, books or plans to reach people, rather than depending on the ‘preaching’ of the Gospel, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? Have we turned our churches into that ‘den of thieves’? Is God honored or profaned in our lives and/or our gatherings? Do people recognize us as followers of Jesus, or have we become so much like the world that there is nothing distinctly ‘Christ-like” in us, or in our churches?

We should be honoring the one who purchased us with His own blood, but are we? Are we living as those who are forgiven, cleansed and called to walk God’s way? Or are we still going the way of the world but painting it up and calling it “church”? Hard questions, but we must answer them now!

Hebrews 9:13-14, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Saved to serve!!

Hebrews 10:4 & 12,” For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins…. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” BUT THIS MAN–JESUS!!!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

When we are blood bought, we become the Temple of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we are held accountable. Are we defiling the Temple—our physical body, and the corporate body, the church?

We are representatives of God to the world. What kind of representative are we being? Are we calling the world to holiness or yielding our ‘holiness’ to be appealing to the world? We must remember that the truth of the gospel is not always, in fact seldom is, appealing to the lost. Conviction is most uncomfortable, but it is the only thing that leads to salvation. Is our corporate worship reverent and godly, or is it fleshly and worldly? Does it call people to know God better, or lull them to rest in their own self-righteousness? Are we patterning our lives and worship to follow God’s Word or popular trends? Are we offering sinners new and eternal life or self-esteem? Are we calling them to repentance and faith in Jesus, or simply giving them the “plop, plop, fizz, fizz” of some temporary relief?

Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Luke 18:13, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

The word for ‘merciful’ here is the same word that is elsewhere translated ‘propitiation’ (payment in full for sin). Here we see a truly repentant sinner bowing before the Holy God and asking God to make payment for His sin. That should be our goal, to lead sinners to bow at the cross seeking His forgiveness and salvation through the blood of Jesus.

Isaiah 29:13-15, “ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?” (Jesus referred to this in Matthew 15:8-9) Ring any bells?

Genuine, new birth salvation makes us the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Spirit of God.

Is HE at home in me?

Is HE at home in my church?

Is HE pleased with my choices?

What would God say about me/you?

Are we drawing near to God in reality or pretense?

You must decide!!! Does God have your heart and your life, or are you just talking about it? Only you and God know the answer to that question. Only God and I know my answer to that same question.”

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #241     Really Trusting???

We talked last time about forgiveness and what Jesus said about it in the “Model Prayer”. Jesus calls us to forgive, and He also talks about our focus and emphasis in prayer. Prayer is our ‘life-line’ with our Father God Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ, so we need to understand what scripture teaches us about prayer, rather than the popular leanings of our day. Proverbs gives us a beautiful picture of an accurate attitude towards prayer.

“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

How different from popular rhetoric in Christendom that tells people to just “name it and claim it”, or just “speak positively”, or God wants you to be “happy, healthy and wealthy” and if you are lacking those things then you must not have enough faith (See Hebrews 11:32-40)! Well my friends, scripture has a different approach to prayer, and it’s not a blanket manipulation tool to control God! Prayer is to be our “life-line” to know and live in the center of GOD’S will NOT our own! We’re called to:

Trust in the LORD with ALL our heart—

NOT to trust in OUR OWN understanding—

Acknowledge GOD in all our ways NOT self—

Trust GOD’S direction of our path NOT our own—

So what are you doing about prayer? Let’s dig a little deeper into what scripture tells us about prayer. Let’s go back to the “Model Prayer” and we see what Jesus Himself tells us about the pattern for every prayer:

“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.” Matthew 6:9-10

We are to pray! And as we continually pray, we are to seek God’s will in any given situation or request. We are to ask, and seek, and knock until God answers, reveals and/or opens the doors that accomplish HIS will in us and those we pray for. Prayer isn’t a “heavenly slot machine” where we just put in our “coins” of prayer and keep pulling the handle until we “win” God over to our will. God forbid!!! Why have we who claim His name, forgotten that HE is God and not us? Our heart should be to seek HIS face and desire to see HIS will in and through the circumstances and people that HE has placed in our circle of influence.

“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.” 1 John 5:14-15

People use the example of Elijah’s prayer for the rain to stop, and it stopped; and then his prayer for it to rain and it rained; yet often fail to check out why he prayed that way. But scripture tells us why.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.” 1 K 18:26

Elijah obeyed God in his praying about the rain. Do you get it? Elijah prayed according to the “word” that God spoke to him. How are we to pray? According to His will, and His Word. Our prayer life is to be totally focused on God’s will—God’s will in all the things that burden our hearts—for those who are grieving, those who are suffering, those who are dying, those who are lost without Jesus!

When we truly “trust” God in “all” our ways, and the ways of those around us, we can release the burdens of our hearts into HIS hands. YES, asking for those things we think are pleasing to Him, but always with the caveat of “Thy will be done”; because if it pleases God, it should please us. NO, we won’t always understand, but we can always “TRUST” our Lord God Almighty to do what is best for His purposes, His glory and our good! We can trust the one who loves us and gave Jesus to pay for our “wages of sin”, which was, is and always will be “death” without the gift of God’s salvation through the blood of our Redeemer Jesus! And when we are His, we are His, and HE cares about everything that comes to us and those HE has placed in our circle! We can trust Him with it all. Do you? Or are you dictating to God? Are you willing to trust it all to HIM? None of us do it perfectly right all the time, but may we ever strive to trust HIM more, and stop trying to twist God’s arm to do our will!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:25-39

PRAY ON!!!   We win!!!