Bible Ballistics: BBs #309 Messages From Heaven! #7

 

We looked last time at the “Woman at the well”, and saw our Lord Jesus gently open the eyes of a woman to see Him for who He was/is, and bring her to a place of faith/belief. The truth is, it is all of God that we ever come to see Jesus. Salvation is of God, provided by God and initiated by God—it’s never been our idea! God convicts the hearts of men and women every day, and like the parable of the sower and the seed from Matthew 13, the seed falls on all kinds of ground (hearts of men) but not all will respond. Each one has the freedom to choose God or reject/ignore Him, but we cannot pick the consequences of our choices.

As we wrap up our look at John 4, we find one who had to choose whether or not to believe Jesus.

“So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.

And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee,

he went unto him,

and besought him

that he would come down,

and heal his son:

for he was at the point of death.

48 Then said Jesus unto him,

Except ye see signs and wonders,

ye will not believe.

49 The nobleman saith unto him,

Sir, come down

ere my child die.

50 Jesus saith unto him,

Go thy way;

thy son liveth.

And the man believed the word

that Jesus had spoken unto him,

and he went his way.

51 And as he was now going down,

his servants met him, and told him, saying,

Thy son liveth.

52 Then enquired he of them the hour

when he began to amend.

And they said unto him, Yesterday

at the seventh hour the fever left him.

53 So the father knew

that it was at the same hour,

in the which Jesus said unto him,

Thy son liveth:

and himself believed, and his whole house.”    John 4:46-53

Like many of us, this man was concerned about the welfare of his child. He had heard of this traveling Rabbi, who could heal and do miracles, so he went to request His presence to heal His son. How often do we plead with Jesus to “come and do…..” something for us? While there is nothing wrong with asking Jesus to meet our needs, in fact scripture commands that we who believe are to bring our cares to HIM; there is a right way to come and a wrong way to come! Check out Genesis 4 and you’ll find a perfect contrast of the two choices. But we can come to God with every thing.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“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 4:6-7

This is the message that I want us to focus on today, for there is a lesson that we can learn about depending on God. When people come to God it is usually in one of two ways—there are those who come to God as a “giant slot machine in the sky”; they put in their coin, pull the handle and wait for “God” to supply the “jackpot” of there demands. And there are also people who come to God in recognition of who HE IS, and open their hearts to God with their grief, sorrow, fear, and needs, whatever they might be, knowing that God IS God and we can not only trust Him to meet our needs, but to meet them in the best way possible when we but leave it to HIM!

In this account we have a father, burdened for his sick child, yet Jesus, having just returned from his visit to Samaria, seems to be a bit ‘short’ with this man. Was Jesus rebuking him for coming? I don’t think so, but I do think Jesus was reminding him, and us, that He is not our magic genie, or a grandfather in the sky, who jumps at our command. Jesus The Son of God, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are GOD, and we are to come to HIM as such. Jesus seems to be calling us to believe in WHO HE IS not just what HE does! And responding to this father, Jesus simply says, “Go home, your child is healed!” No fanfare, no magic wand waving, no ‘let’s run to your house’—instead this God/Man simply speaks and now the choice is up to this father.

What will he do? Will he accept what Jesus has said as truth, and just go home to see, or will he balk, pout, or demand of Jesus ‘immediate’ action? How does real faith respond? Just as this man did—no matter how afraid or uncertain he may have been—who took Jesus at His word, went to his home and found the Master to be faithful! On his way home, his servants came to tell him the good news, and he inquired as to the time of the child’s turn-around. Upon realizing that it was the very time that Jesus had spoken, the man’s faith was reinforced in assurance and he was able to share his faith in Jesus with his household. He found that the smallest act of faithful obedience grows.

God is calling us to walk in obedience—even when we can’t see the end. We are to pray believing, and to work the “works of Him” who calls us, and sends us to a lost and dying world. We must trust that God IS God, that He is working all things “for our good”, and as we pray (ask, seek and knock), we are to remember the basics of 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

Don’t miss the point:         Thy name–

Thy kingdom come–

Thy will be done.

THY kingdom, not mine. THY will not mine. May we be willing to rest in the arms of the ONE who knows, hears and supplies.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” 1 John 5:14

So seek, ask, knock and keep on with faith in the One who hears, and leave the answers to Him. They may not always be what we wanted or expected, but it will always be the BEST “……. for he careth for you.” Amen and Amen! And that my friends, is the best news heaven could send!

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.20 Messages From Heaven! #6

 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

We saw last time that John the Baptizer testified that Jesus was the Son of God, and that “He” would increase while John himself would decrease. In fact, Herod would put John to death not long after this time, so let’s not miss the import of John’s message. While John was speaking of the physical realm, the principle is also true in the spiritual realm. When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, yielding our will to His, and surrendering our control to Him—knowing the more we yield to Him the more His power and presence increase in our lives, and the more our will can decrease. It’s the same principle that Paul talked to the Galatians about:

“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

And we see this message painted out in the examples in John 4. Here we find a woman who was consumed with her own ways—ways of delusion, disappointment, doubt and discouragement due to a life out of control. Yet her life had a “changer” on the way, a Savior who would change her life, her heart and her influence. And on top of all of that, she was a woman of Samaria—those hated by the Jews– yet Jesus, in love, had an appointment there, a divine appointment with an outcast, immoral woman (Like me!).

“And he must needs go through Samaria.”    John 4:4

Why would Jesus “need” to go through Samaria? Because there was someone there He intended to encounter with an amazing “Message from Heaven”! While John 3 finds Jesus revealing to Nicodemus that He had come to save those who would believe, and John the Baptizer clearly gave testimony that Jesus was/is the Son of God, Jesus intended to reveal even more truth at this ‘appointment’. Let’s dig in.

“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria

to draw water:

Jesus saith unto her,

Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away

unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

How is it that thou,

being a Jew,

askest drink of me,

which am a woman of Samaria?

for the Jews have no dealings

with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water.

11 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with,

and the well is deep:

from whence then

hast thou

that living water?

12 Art thou greater

than our father Jacob,

which gave us the well,

and drank thereof himself,

and his children,

and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh

of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh

of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water

that I shall give him

shall be

in him

a well of water

springing up

into everlasting life.”    John 4:6-14

We find Jesus sitting alone at the well of Sychar, when this woman comes to draw water. The question comes to mind, why would she come alone, and why at noon rather than in the cool of the morning or evening? It is very likely that this woman’s past had caused her to be an outcast among the women of the town, and it was simpler for her to go and draw water at noon rather than to endure the snide remarks and rejection that would be normal fare if she went to draw water with the women of the city. We do know that she was there alone with Jesus for this encounter, and Jesus was never anywhere by chance or mistake! Amen!

Jesus begins the conversation with this woman with a simple request for a drink of water. Oh, how much we could learn from the Master about how to handle our encounters with people God sends our way. We don’t have to be a great orator or evangelist, we simply need to encounter people with the simple things of life, and be ready with the Good News as the opportunities presents itself. This woman, like us, is only seeing the physical, she is seeing only with her eyes, not her heart—yet! But Jesus has a plan as He piques her interest by talking about “water” that will spring up and quench thirst “eternally”! Now she becomes the one asking questions. Yet what He is about to reveal openly and clearly for the fist time, that we have a record of, is the greatest “Message from Heaven” ever, and this lowly, sinful Samaritan woman has been chosen to receive the message!

“The woman saith unto him,

Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her,

Go,

call thy husband,

and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said,

I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her,

Thou hast well said,

I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands;

and he whom thou now hast

is not thy husband:

in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain;

and ye say, that in Jerusalem

is the place where men

ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her,

Woman, believe me,

the hour cometh,

when ye shall neither

in this mountain,

nor yet at Jerusalem,

worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what:

we know what we worship:

for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh,

and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit

and in truth:

for the Father seeketh

such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him

in spirit

and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him,

I know that Messias cometh,

which is called Christ:

when he is come,

he will tell us

all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her,

I that speak unto thee am he.” John 4:15-26

What an amazing encounter; yet this woman (again like most of us) is still perceiving only the physical, and she asks for this water, but why?

“Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.”

She simply wanted to have her physical needs met, and to save her time and energies for other things than having to come to the well every day to draw water. But what Jesus had to tell her would go much farther and be of more import than to simply save a few steps, and meet physical needs. Jesus was talking about greater water than H2O! But what a unique way to turn her attention to the spiritual; Jesus now asks about her personal life. “Go, call thy husband, and come hither”! Jesus turned her attention to her heart condition, and while her answer was still in the physical somewhat, Jesus uses this opportunity to reveal himself to the brokenness within her heart. In her answer that “I have no husband”, she has finally opened her heart to The One who already knew her condition, but He is leading her to see her own condition as God sees it. And only when we see our lost, sinful condition, will we recognize our need for a Savior.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:10-11

“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

Jesus was bringing this precious woman—this outcast from her society, but loved by God—to encounter the Savior of the world, the Son of God, in fact Jesus would give her a distinction that would amaze even His disciples. He was not only talking to a woman (something that wasn’t done in that day), but He was talking to a Samaritan woman, an immoral woman. What did Jesus have to say to her?

“For thou hast had five husbands;

and he whom thou now hast

is not thy husband:

in that saidst thou truly.”

Jesus knew this woman and her issues, and this revelation is finally getting her thoughts to turn to her real need, not just her “thirst”! She begins to question who this man is, who can tell her the truth about herself. Yet, I find it most interesting that she attempts to distract Jesus from her own “sin”, and brings up the subject of “denominational” differences (so to speak)—who is right about where to worship! But Jesus is not deterred from His mission of revealing Himself to her. He answers her question with the truth of “Who” God really is—The God who is seeking those who desire to worship Him “in spirit and in truth”! And remember, we know “WHO” truth is—Jesus! And this woman is about to find that out! Amen, and Praise the Lord—He’s still revealing Himself to sinners today!

“But the hour cometh,

and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit

and in truth:

for the Father seeketh

such to worship him.”

God knows how to reach those willing to hear and receive His “message”! And God knows those who are truly His own—those who truly receive His saving grace!

“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

This precious woman is about to understand, while she has asked Jesus if He is greater than Jacob, now she asks about the promised Messiah, knowing that “he will tell us all things”! Finally, she has asked the right question, of the right person, and HE is about to reveal to this precious outcast woman the truth of the ages—redeeming grace!

“Jesus saith unto her,  

I that speak unto thee am he”!!!!!

Jesus IS the Messiah—the Lamb of God, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (See John 1:29)! And that my friends, IS the “Message From Heaven”, and it is the message that we must share with confidence and boldness. Let’s be busy about the “Father’s business”! The days are short and the time of HIS coming is near—we surely want to hear “well done” when He comes for us!

But let’s not miss the rest of the story. What was the woman’s response—because as great as the message IS, we must respond in repentance and faith to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord as the payment for OUR SIN!!! Those who receive Jesus for who HE IS, can’t help but share the truth of His life-changing, transforming power. What did this woman do?

“The woman then left her waterpot,

and went her way into the city,

and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man,

which told me

all things that ever I did:

is not this the Christ?

30 Then they went out of the city,

and came unto him.” John 4:28-30

She spread the message! And I find it interesting that when she went to share the message she had just heard and received, she says that Jesus “told me all things that ever I did”, yet Jesus’ conversation only dealt with one of her issues—yet when we come to Jesus HE cleanses us of ALL sin! He cleans us up from top to bottom, and that’s what this woman had found in Him, and she readily shares the Good News. And at her testimony they went out to hear Him, invite Him into their city and received His message. It’s amazing what can happen when we encounter the Savior and receive His salvation and then share it with others.

“And many of the Samaritans

of that city

believed on him

for the saying of the woman,

which testified,

He told me all that ever I did.

40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him,

they besought him

that he would tarry with them:

and he abode there two days.

41 And many more believed

because of his own word;

42 And said unto the woman,

Now we believe,

not because of thy saying:

for we have heard him ourselves,

and know that this is indeed

the Christ,

the Saviour of the world.”

So let’s be bold to share the “Message From Heaven”-Jesus!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #308 Messages From Heaven??? #5

 

We talked last time about the things that Jesus revealed about Himself to Nicodemus. And today we will continue to look at John chapter 3 for what John the Baptizer had to say about Jesus. Because, my friends, WHO Jesus is, IS the issue—

He is the promised Messiah—

He is The Word—

He is the Light of the world—

He is THE Way—The Only Way–

The Way—

The Truth—

The Life!

Without Jesus, God in the flesh, and His substitutionary, redeeming death for us, we would have no hope. And if you choose to reject HIM, then you have no other hope! Not a very welcome stand to take but it is what Jesus said Himself about the way to God.

“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

So what did John have to say about this One come from God? Let’s dig in and examine John 3:25-36.

“Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he

that was with thee beyond Jordan,

to whom thou barest witness,

behold, the same baptizeth,

and all men come to him.”

This conversation began between John’s followers and the Jewish leaders. It seems that they are trying to cause a rift between John and Jesus, and if you remember Jesus knew that the Jewish religious leaders had not believed in John, or his “baptism” (See Matthew 21:24-26). So why would they bring up this question except to slight John and Jesus—since they didn’t believe that either one was truly from God or preaching God’s truth. John in his wisdom answered them with the truth about himself, and Jesus, whether they received it or not. And we can learn a lot from his response: not just how to respond, but also to understand that regardless of the wisdom of our response, not everyone will receive what we say or believe it. 

“27 John answered and said,

A man can receive nothing,

except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness,

that I said,

I am not the Christ,

but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride

is the bridegroom:

but the friend of the bridegroom,

which standeth and heareth him,

rejoiceth greatly

because of the bridegroom’s voice:

this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase,

but I must decrease.

31 He that cometh from above

is above all:

he that is of the earth

is earthly,

and speaketh of the earth:

he that cometh from heaven

is above all.

32 And what he hath seen

and heard,

that he testifieth;

and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony

hath set to his seal

that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent

speaketh the words of God:

for God giveth not the Spirit by measure

unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son,

and hath given all things

into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son

hath everlasting life:

and he that believeth not the Son

shall not see life;

but the wrath of God

abideth on him.” John 3:25-36

That last verse is the point—You will choose, but there is only ONE way to God. You can choose to come to Jesus, the Savior, Redeemer and The Lamb who died for YOU and ME! You can receive the word of John and rejoice in this One who loves you more than life itself; who has given HIS life for us. And He will also give us all we need to live for HIM.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

Rejoice in who HE is and what HE has done, is doing and will do for you, for me!!! Eternal life or eternal death—the choice is yours and mine, so choose wisely, for when we belong to Him we can stand in the truth knowing that we have:

“all things

that pertain

unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge

of him

that hath called us

to glory and virtue”

Jesus has called us to “glory and virtue”, but not our own—His glory and His virtue, which He lovingly and willingly imparts to us. We have but to keep our eyes on Jesus, and follow His Spirit’s leading as we live day by day. It truly is ALL about Jesus. Press on dear ones—IN HIM!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”     Hebrews 12:1-2

Bible Ballistics: BBs #307 Messages From Heaven??? #4

 

Continuing in our look at the Gospel of John and the Good News from Heaven, we get to John chapter 3—one of the most familiar of all chapters of the Bible. Here, once again, we have the testimony Jesus Himself, and one of the final recorded testimonies of John the Baptizer, and yet the two accounts recorded in John 3 are often overlooked because of the attention given to verse 16—important truly, but there is so much more in this great chapter. Let’s dig in.

As the religious leader, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night to inquire of this young Rabbi, the things he heard were clearly new and immediately incomprehensible by this leader and teacher. Yet Jesus took His time to bring him to a place of comprehension (He’ll do the same thing for us if we will but come to Him!). And we know that while Nicodemus came by night (probably to avoid being ridiculed by his peers for coming to talk to Jesus), we also know that his timidity had passed by the time of the trial, and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ—two ‘secret’ disciples found the courage to express their love for Jesus publicly, even if it seemed to be “too little, too late”. But we know that it wasn’t “too late”—because His burial wasn’t the end of the Master and Lord! Sunday was coming!

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” John 19:38-40

But back to our focus for today—looking at the message of Jesus to Nicodemus and then the message of John to his followers about Jesus.

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 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.

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.

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.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him,

Art thou a master of Israel,

and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

We speak that we do know,

and testify that we have seen;

and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things,

and ye believe not,

how shall ye believe,

if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended

up to heaven,

but he that came down

from heaven,

even the Son

of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds

were evil.” John 3:1-19

Jesus came that we could have eternal life, abundant life, new birth life, powerful, life-changing “life” IN HIM!!! And who is this “life-changer”?

The Only begotten Son–

The Savior for the world—

The Light of God—

The One come down from heaven—

The Son of Man (God taking on flesh to die for us.) —

The One who would be “lifted up” to die in our place—

And while it’s not recorded in John chapter 3, it is clearly proclaimed by our Savior in chapter 14:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3

HE IS COMING AGAIN!!! For us!

Are you ready for His return? I pray that you will hear the voice of His Spirit and come to Him if you don’t know Him. And if you know Him, that these truths will encourage you to share truth with those around you know who need to hear it. Praying that we believers will be diligent and busy in these last days. Remember we are to be salt and light—let’s make a difference today. We’ll finish looking at John 3 next time.