Bible Ballistics: BBs #287    I Will Rejoice In It!!!

“This is the day

which the Lord hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad

in it.” Psalm 118:24

A verse most of us are familiar with, and some of us quote it occasionally in praising God, or keeping our mind on our Lord. But do we really “rejoice” in this day? What if I’m sick? What if I’m hurting-be it physical hurt, or emotional hurt, or grief, or disgust with our circumstances? What if our world is falling apart, or we are being persecuted? Is it still the “day which the Lord hath made”? What about all the political upheaval going on all over the world; right here at home? Can we still rejoice? Of course we can, that’s what the Psalmist is reminding us of!!

I can rejoice in “the day which the Lord hath made” because God not only made the “day”, but He also made me. And for those of us who belong to Jesus, we have all the other promises of scripture to rely upon as we truly “rejoice” in the day! And why can we rejoice when our world seemingly is falling apart? Because our God isn’t asleep or off duty—God has it all under control and we can trust HIM with TODAY!!! Why? Because God said we can!

“………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 13:5b-6

Because we are never alone! Never!

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Psalm 28:7

Because God is our strength and shield, and we CAN trust in HIS help! It may not be on our schedule, and we may think Him slow—but HE IS NEVER LATE!!!

And Paul reminds us that God is totally able to deliver us because despite what the world may say—Our God reigns, so I can “Rejoice in the Lord always”!!!

“Rejoice in the Lord always:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known

unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests

be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:4-7

Because He has it all under HIS control! And when we trust Him we will experience that very “peace of God, which passeth all understanding”!!! We can have peace in the midst of the storm—any storm—any time!!!

And one of my favorite passages reminds us that regardless of what we are seeing or experiencing , our God is with us through it all.

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:” Isaiah 43:1-3a

So, here’s the shot for the day:

Look up, rejoice and press on. God has you, the circumstances and the outcome. He is conforming us into the image of His Son when we belong to HIM….. You can “let it go”!

“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

Are you reflecting HIS image? He is with His own! Rejoice!

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No. 08 We Must Remember This!!!

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”      Romans 12:1-2

All around us American Christianity (as a whole) is trying to blend in with the world. Seemingly trying to be unobtrusive, and conciliatory to worldliness and sin, rather than being the “salt” and “light” that our Lord saved us to be. In fact He said we who are truly HIS, “are” salt and light—but we can weaken our saltiness and hide our light from view when we, in effect, dilute our holiness with worldliness. (See Matthew 5:13-16) So I’m asking us all to ‘remember” who we are in Jesus, and whose we are in Him—to remember that if we are truly “born again by the Spirit of God” we are called to reveal God’s salvation, power and glory to the world; living in such a way that the world will see Jesus in our lives and actions through a life controlled by the Holy Spirit not our flesh.

How do we do that? We must keep our priorities set on Jesus. It’s a battle of the mind and we must pursue God’s excellence by God’s power. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

“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

“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

What are we glorying in? Our progressiveness? Our open-mindedness? Our ability to blend in with the world? Or are we pursuing God, His Word and His ways? Are we “abiding in the vine”?

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling

of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.”      Philippians 3:13-15

Paul reminds us that our goal is to press toward the mark of excellence that can only be found in doing things God’s way! By having a mind of non-conformity just like Paul mentioned in Romans 12. The world is trying to conform us to itself, even the church is often guilty of falling into this error—yet we are called to live “transformed” lives (the Greek word from which we get our English word ‘metamorphosis’)—a transformation that only the blood of Jesus can accomplish; the change of “such a worm as I”, into a butterfly of glory by our creator’s salvation in Christ Jesus! Jesus will make us a new creation, enabling us to live like His children! A change that can only take place by God’s power and Spirit working within us through the blood of the Lamb (See John 1:12-13).

“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 2:5-8

We must humble ourselves before the Lord Jesus Christ, allowing His life to be evident within us, and that can only take place at the cross; it will never be found in luxury, arrogance and worldliness, but only in humility and submission to the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Knowing that only the new birth by the Spirit of God, and receiving that new birth, can and will work the righteousness of Jesus Christ through His Spirit within us.

“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

And when we are “born….of God” we are new!!! Yes, a work and progress of maturity will take place, but we are new. If you can claim to know Jesus and never experience any change in your life, you might want to check and see what you think saved you.

“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 5:17-21

Did you get that? God sent Jesus to be “made” sin for us, because He had no sin of His own, but when He laid down His life for us on that cross He took my sin and yours, so that when we come to Him in repentance and faith we are “made” the “righteousness of God in him”!!! All accomplished by the blood of the Lamb of Glory!!!! Just as Jesus declared in John 14:6, that “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”, when we do come to the Father through Him, our living should reflect HIS presence within us! He doesn’t call us to be self-absorbed and worldly but He enables us to die to ourselves and the world, and to live victoriously by His Spirit continually working within us.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Jesus died for us so that we could live to Him and for Him; yet the frequent message today is that Jesus came to give you a “get out of jail free” card with no commitment, no change, no devotion to the one who died to save us “from our sin” not “IN” our sin!!! This results in worship that isn’t focused on gratitude to a God who gave Himself for us, or a reflection of His call to the world, but rather, it is often instead a mish-mash of entertaining, worldly accommodation to fleshly, worldly desires of those who want to feel good when they come, feel good while they are there and feel good when they leave, with no idea or desire for the conviction and move of the Holy Spirit to reveal sin and draw people into HIS presence! We are much more inclined to worship what we have created as “worship” instead of worshipping the Holy God Almighty who demands to be GOD, and anything less than total devotion to Him is idolatry. We have abandoned true “seeker” worship that seeks God, and have settled for “seeker” worship that pleases seekers regardless of whether or not we are telling them the truth, or what they may be “seeking”. As my mother was often wont to say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions!” And we today have lots of good intentions, but unless they are aligned with the truth of the Biblical Gospel, we are in danger of sending thousands of people down the wrong road with our watered down “gospel” of convenience and popularity. Jesus was so ‘popular’ that they put Him to death, but He never changed His message—HE is the only way to God, through repentance and faith.

So, how do we remind ourselves of truth? We can follow Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians. And with a little liberty to add some commentary I’d like us to look at his advice, which reminds us that we are at war; we are wrestling against the forces of evil, not at a picnic. We are wrestling for the hearts and souls of men, women, boys and girls; yet we have laid down our armor and are trying to sooth them into the kingdom rather that preaching truth and allowing the convicting work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to a place of repentance of their own personal sin, and faith in the one who died for that sin. Just as it tells us in the Revelation:

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15

And there is only ONE WAY to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life—Jesus, and faith in His atoning sacrifice for you at Calvary.

“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 when we truly know Him, His work will be seen in our life and our obedience to Him—doing His will and not our own. And to do His will, we must know what He has said in His Word, because ‘saying so, don’t make it so’, and if all we are doing is claiming that “get out of jail free card”—it doesn’t exist!

“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.” Matthew 7:20-23

What will Jesus say to you? Are you ready for the battle? This is what we need to remember—it’s not a picnic but a battle—are you ready for the fray?

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers

of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore,

having your loins girt about with truth,

and having on the breastplate of

righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation

of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all,

taking the shield of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able

to quench all the fiery darts

of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God:

18 Praying always

with all prayer and supplication

in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication for all saints;”      Ephesians 6:10-18

Don’t miss the order of these instructions: the first thing we must do is “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”!!! These instructions are for believers and only believers can truly walk in God’s power and God’s might, and we can when we belong to HIM! To sum up in an easily remembered form, I pray that this will help us all to suit up every day! Remember, be ready, and rely on GOD!!!

Put it on—every day without fail, God told us to–

Wear it with the power of God not self, He is able—

              “I can do all things through Christ….” Phil. 4:13

Belt of Truth—Jesus IS truth, holding it all together—

              “I am….the truth….”   John 14:6

Breastplate of Righteousness, protecting your heart—

              I’m righteous only “…in Him” 2 Cor. 5:21

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace—sharing TRUTH–

              Only Jesus can give peace with God….Ro. 5:1

Shield of Faith—resisting in HIS power not mine–

              “we walk by faith, not by sight…” 2 Cor. 5:7

              “without faith it is impossible….” Heb. 11:6

Helmet of Salvation—Keeping our mind on HIM—

“transformed…renewing your mind..” Ro 12:2

              “bringing every thought captive…” 2 Cor. 10:5

              “let this mind be in you….”   Phil 2:5

Sword of the Spirit—THE WORD OF GOD—

              “study …..approved unto God…” 2 Tim. 2:15

              “it’s profitable..unto good works..” 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Praying ALWAYS—it’s our connection to God—

              “with all perseverance….” Eph. 6:18

              “effectual fervent prayer….” James 5:16

              “continuing instant in prayer…” Ro. 12:12

So, please remember we’re not playing games, this is serious—the hearts and lives of those that we love are at stake. The hearts and lives of a lost and dying world are at stake and we will give an account. Are you ready? May we realize the urgency of the hour and seek the Lord’s face and follow where HE leads?

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36

“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?” 1 Peter 4:17

And remember, men may be easily fooled but God never is, He knows those who are His own.

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

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #286    Praise God For His Grace!!!

 

“But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we

were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew

the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 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 2:4-10

We often hear verses 8-9 about God’s grace saving us, but I want us to look a little deeper at God’s wondrous grace and mercy. Walk through it with me and rejoice in all that God has done, is doing and will do for us in HIS time.

It is HIS mercy and love that reached down to us. No one on the face of this earth (except Jesus, the Son of God) thought about God first, as John reminds us, “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

And God didn’t love us because we cleaned ourselves up for His perfect, holy presence, but HE loved us when we were “dead in sins”—loved us so much that He paid the price for our sin with the blood of HIS “only begotten Son” on the cross!!! His SON for my SIN!!! And not only did He save us from our sins, He gives us “eternal life”; “Abundant life”– which Jesus will give to those who come to Him by “grace …..through faith”!!! And that’s not just eternal life in the great by-and-by, but abundant life right now. Life that is lived in the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who saves us; amazing grace life that shows His love, grace and glory to the world, both now and in the world to come.

Finally, Paul reminds us that our salvation is all about Jesus; that our lives are to be lived out revealing His work in and through us to a lost and dying world. It’s all His grace—then, now and forever. It’s all to His glory.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

So take some time today and thank God for His grace. Remember that: “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”! What kind of walk are you walking? Walking in God’s grace works or your own fleshy works? It’s all about GRACE!!! His grace makes all the difference. Get busy living in GRACE!!! Today!!!

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No. 07 Being Confident Of This???

 

I am writing this from the hospital where we have been since Friday, with complications from my husband’s CHF (Congestive Heart Failure). He is better and other than extremely tired we are both doing ok. Life is often totally unpredictable, and we have experienced this in the last week, but we have been so beautifully reminded of God’s total faithfulness and trustworthiness. We know that our God reigns in all of our ways and we are trusting Him to continue working His purpose in us and our circumstances.

So often today, people praise God when things are good but blame all adversity on the ‘devil’, or disobedience, or lack of faith or many such other often-empty explanations for the issues of life. Job dealt with this issue many thousands of years ago, and the same God who was faithful to Job back then is faithful to work His will through all that occurs in our lives (Regardless of what Job’s friends had to say, or what others may say today—the Word speaks for itself!). He has promised to work His purpose in His own children, and we have learned to trust Him in all things, won’t you? Together with Job we stand on HIS faithfulness, not our own understanding.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

Much like the Psalmist that we looked at last week, our God is faithful even when we must “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”, we can be assured that we can confidently “fear no evil”! And I am so grateful that we serve the faithful God of all creation. And even though we may not know what tomorrow holds, or what the outcome may be—we know that our God reigns and He will provide in His way and in His time!

“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 19:25-27

So what does that mean for you and me? It means, among other things, that we can rest secure in the faithfulness of our God—Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! It means that nothing can defeat us because we belong to Jesus.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

We can rejoice as Habakkuk did in the looming judgment and provision of God.

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

So the thing that I want to share with you tonight is to remember the hope and confidence that you can take in God! Whether your difficulty is natural in nature–health, family, emotions, finances—or if it’s persecution for your faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, God is there with you working out HIS purposes, and I tell you from not only faith, and confidence in His Word, but also from experience—GOD never fails. And He never fails because Jesus overcame sin, death and hell in tis world by His death, burial and resurrection. God’s Son paid the sacrifice that bought redemption for man (who lost intimate fellowship and relationship with God in Eden), and based on His Work, God is working on our behalf in all these things….

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9

We are seeing the persecution of Bible believing people in our country increase, so we must take heart and prepare ourselves for confident living based on whose we are—not on where we are, or the circumstances we find ourselves in! We can take God at His word, and we can take His Word as truth!

“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

We who belong to Jesus can take heart!!! Whether you are dealing with life issues that are overwhelming, or persecution for following Jesus—we can know that God isn’t caught off guard, or by surprise. Our God is working to strengthen our faith, grow us in grace and power and conform us into the image of HIS SON!!! A confidence that can transform your attitude and walk.

So, choose to follow Jesus and trust all the circumstances of life to HIM!!! He holds YOU! He holds the circumstances!!! He holds the work and outcome, and you simply need to keep your eyes on Jesus, for you will NEVER walk alone!!!

“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

“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