Bible Ballistics: BBs #324     On To 2017 To…….???

 

As we talked last time about the need to remember that Jesus didn’t stay in the “manger”, I’d like us to take it a bit farther and consider where we are going from the “manger”. I pray that we will join with Paul and commit to be devoted to the cross of Christ and His power, not the appeal of the flesh, nor the gratification of worldly pleasures. I want to move on from the manger to the crucified life with Jesus.

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony

of God.

2 For I determined

not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.

3 And I was with you

in weakness,

and in fear,

and in much trembling.

4 And my speech

and my preaching

was not with enticing words

of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration

of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith

should not stand in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”   1 Corinthians 2:1-5

We can stay at the manger, enamored with the baby, or we can go on and grow through the work of the cross. We can embrace the life that is totally lived out by the power of the cross and the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. We can allow the work of the Holy Spirit to purify, cleanse and sanctify us for His service. Sanctify:

“Verb (used with object), sanctified, sanctifying

1. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.

2. to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.

3. to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate  or binding: to sanctify a vow.

4. to entitle to reverence or respect.

5. to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.”

Jesus will grow us in His grace, power and courage to be bold servants who accomplish His work, by His power, and for HIS glory, if we will but “fix our eyes on Him”. May this be our heart’s desire as children of God?

“But what things were gain to me,

those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless,

and I count all things but loss

for the excellency

of the knowledge of Christ Jesus

my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss

of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through

the faith of Christ,

the righteousness which

is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable

unto his death;”    Philippians 3:7-10

Oh, to “KNOW HIM”—more and more each day. To march on into 2017 with a heart set on KNOWING HIM more each day. And that can only be done as we march on, in His power and Spirit, to the cross from the manger; growing in our devotion to Him and our sensitivity and yieldedness to His Spirit’s leading. (See John 16:13)

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”      Galatians 5:16-25

This is not a cause for condemnation, but a clear contrast between the flesh and the Spirit—the Holy Spirit of God, who is dwelling within and at work in the lives of those who genuinely belong to Jesus. What marks your life? Is the Spirit’s work evident in your heart and life? And as I’m often heard to say, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!” But belonging to Jesus, and having His Spirit within us does make it so. No Holy Spirit—No Jesus—No Life!

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him

that raised up Jesus from the dead

dwell in you,

he that raised up Christ from the dead

shall also quicken your mortal bodies

by his Spirit

that dwelleth in you.”     Romans 8:1 & 9-11

Will you choose Jesus, and walk in the power of His Spirit? I pray that you will go on from the manger to the cross in this coming year. May we take up our cross, die to self, and live the crucified life with the Lord Jesus Christ who gave His Blood for US! Resolve to stay near the cross, letting nothing come between your heart and the Savior!!!

“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

Bible Ballistics: BBs #323     From The Manger To…???

 

We have been celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it comes to mind that there are many who will leave Jesus in the manger. But that is not why He came! He came to die for our sins; to live a sinless life on this earth in a body of flesh; to take on flesh and blood so that He could go to the cross to die for our sin—yours and mine—so we could have life with HIM!

“But we see Jesus,

who was made a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honour;

that he by the grace of God

should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him,

for whom are all things,

and by whom are all things,

in bringing many sons unto glory,

to make the captain of their salvation

perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause he is not ashamed

to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name

unto my brethren,

in the midst of the church

will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust

in him.

And again, Behold I and the children

which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers

of flesh and blood,

he also himself likewise took part of the same;

that through death

he might destroy him

that had the power of death,

that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them

who through fear of death

were all their lifetime

subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature

of angels;

but he took on him

the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things

it behoved him to be made

like unto his brethren,

that he might be a merciful

and faithful high priest

in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered

being tempted,

he is able to succour them

that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:9-18

Jesus came to the manger as the God-Man, taking on flesh and blood, as the virgin-born child of promise. And while we’ve talked about many of those passages that promised His coming, we must make sure that we do not leave Jesus in the manger. Unless we go to the cross, the manger is futile. For just as it says in the above passage from Hebrews, He came to endure the Cross! He came to be The Reconciliation for sin. And He came to succour (comfort) those who are tempted—and that is ALL of us– all who will come to Him at the Cross in repentance and faith!

“Wherefore in all things

it behoved him to be made

like unto his brethren,

that he might be a merciful

and faithful high priest

in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people. “

This tiny baby that we have focused on during this season, grew to be the sinless, perfect, sacrifice for the sins of all who will trust in Him for salvation. Jesus IS the only way of salvation—NOT one of many—but the ONLY way to come to God and have eternal life.

“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

I pray that you will not leave Him in the manger, but that you will walk with the Savior who gave Himself for you and me. I pray that if you don’t know Him, you will come to Him in repentance and faith—realizing that you have a sin problem that you can’t fix, and only Jesus can—He paid the debt HE didn’t owe, because we owed that debt we could never pay and live.

“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

He came for YOU! Will you meet Him at the Cross?

“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 3:16-19

He came for the mankind’s salvation, and that includes YOU and ME! If you don’t know Him, I call you to consider His gift FOR you. If you already know Him, please don’t leave Him in the manger yourself. Walk with this One who gave Himself for you, the One who ever lives to walk with us, interceding for our every need. He gives abundant life because HE IS LIFE—living as our Redeemer, Savior, advocate and soon coming KING!! Press on dear ones, press on with the KING! He’s not still in that manger—He went to the cross to die for us, He was buried and rose again on the third day, victorious over sin, death and hell. He has won, so we win! He is our KING!

“Wherefore

he is able also to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God

by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

Amen and Amen!!!  The manger without the cross is futile, the cross without the manger is impossible—together they have purchased our salvation! “Praise God from whom all blessings flow”! Amen!

 

 

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.01

JESUS-

The Reason For Every Season!!!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus came that we might receive His righteousness in exchange for our SIN! He who “knew no sin” came:

Via a virgin—to save us from our SIN.

In response to every mother’s question,

“Were you born in a barn?”—He said yes!

Because HE was/is the Lamb of God,

slain before the foundation of the world.

He was placed in a manger-

a cattle trough not a throne.

He was wrapped in swaddling clothes—pointing to His

substitutionary,

sacrificial

death

for us

on Calvary.

His birth was announced-to shepherds and strangers—

not the royalty and elite of His day.

He was worshipped by those shepherds and wise men-

but ignored by the elite of His day who heard.

He was acclaimed by two elderly saints—

with little response,

and no pomp,

no rejoicing

or celebration of those who heard.

His parents fled with Him,

from danger

at the attempts to kill Him.

But in all these unusual circumstances HE remained the newborn “King of The Jews”, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”! So as you sing “Happy Birthday Jesus” on this special day, or light your candles –remember the high price that God paid for you and me, and be sure and thank Him and take time to acknowledge and rejoice before Him for all this HE IS, as well as all that HE does!!! Keep your eyes fixed on the sky—for our “REDEMPTION draweth nigh”. Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Son of God, The Lamb of God, The Kings of Kings, and Lord of Lords IS coming again in power and glory. He won’t come to a manger but to sit on the throne of His eternal Kingdom. He won’t come as a meek and humble carpenter and Good Shepherd but as the King and Judge of all. I pray that you are ready to meet Him. I pray that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you are seeking Him at the cross, and not just taking advantage of His grace and using His birth as an opportunity to revel in greed and indulgence.

He loves you and desires that all will come to Him.

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:9-14

There is a time when opportunity will have passed and He will come and separate the “sheep from the goats”! What have you done with Jesus—I hope and pray that you know Him through His death, burial and resurrection for our salvation, and have put your faith, trust and hope in the One who is the only way to know God. It is the reason that HE came. It’s what Christmas is all about. HE IS coming again!

“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders,

stood a Lamb

as it had been slain,

having seven horns

and seven eyes,

which are the seven Spirits of God

sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came

and took the book

out of the right hand

of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book,

the four beasts

and four and twenty elders

fell down before the Lamb,

having every one of them harps,

and golden vials full of odours,

which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power,

and riches,

and wisdom,

and strength,

and honour,

and glory,

and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven,

and on the earth,

and under the earth,

and such as are in the sea,

and all that are in them, heard I saying,

Blessing,

and honour,

and glory,

and power,

be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen.

And the four and twenty elders fell down

and worshipped him

that liveth

for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:6-14

Let me simply say, may we be in unison with those who continually (Not just once or twice a year.) proclaim HIM with our lips, our hearts and our lives —

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power,

and riches,

and wisdom,

and strength,

and honour,

and glory,

and blessing.”

“Blessing,

and honour,

and glory,

and power,

be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

May we each join with the heavenly host:

“And the four beasts said, Amen.

And the four and twenty elders fell down

and worshipped him

that liveth

for ever and ever.”

Amen and Amen, and Merry Christmas to you, one and all!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #322     Prince Of Peace!!!!!!!

 

“For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government

shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Christmas IS Jesus! First, last and always—Jesus IS the ONE whose birth changed the world, the One who came to deliver those who will believe in Him. And as I send you Christmas greetings from the Brittain household, we just want to share Jesus with you today– the wonder and glory of His coming, Who He IS, and what HE came to BE and do!

Jesus is the “promised” child, and God told us hundreds of years before He arrived on that glorious night, who and what he would be:

The Ultimate Governor—

The Wonderful Counselor—

THE Mighty God—

THE Everlasting Father—

The Prince of Peace—

And ‘Prince of Peace’ isn’t just a meaningless name, nor any of His other names and titles, but it reveals that His coming would bring us back into a relationship with God—He would made peace between God and man at Calvary!!!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope

of the glory of God.”     Romans 5:1-2

Yet Jesus is so much more, as the God-Man-Savior He came to deliver us from our sin–God come for man’s deliverance.

“….and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21b

“….and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23b

“……Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2b

“…..Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11b

“And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69

Paul summed it all up nicely when he gave us the Gospel in a ‘nutshell’.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-6

Jesus came to give us life. He came to live a sinless life, to die as our substitute and sacrifice, He was buried (because He was dead), and He rose again on the third day, triumphant over sin, death and hell; and HE IS coming again for His own, and to establish HIS eternal Kingdom. Jesus also made it clear by His own testimony that He was, is and ever will BE God!

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25

It’s why we can come to Him in repentance and faith and have life with Him for all eternity, and life abundantly right now, by His Spirit’s power, living to His glory in all we do.

“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:5-6

Amen and Amen!!! We can know the “way”—Jesus! We can know “The Truth”—Jesus! We can know “The Life”—Jesus! And knowing Him enables us to be and do all that He calls us to do—through His power and by His Spirit– but we must be alert and aware of the struggle with our flesh, and consciously abide IN HIM!

“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

So, my Merry Christmas greetings to you are a prayer for you to draw near to Him, that you will abide in Him and bear much fruit, remembering, “without me ye can do nothing”. Let us who belong to Him take the “Light of the World” to the ‘world’ bringing glory to our Lord in all we do!

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“We wish you a merry Christmas……

And a happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring–To you and your kin;

We wish you a merry Christmas—

                                   And a happy New Year!”

All “Because He Lives”!   May His presence abound!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #321      REJOICE!!!!!!!

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say,

Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

“And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” Psalm 35:9

“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

As the wonderful Christmas Carol says, “JOY To The World, The Lord has come”! And praise God Almighty HE HAS COME!!! Jesus came as that tiny babe, who was laid in a manger instead of a kingly bed; who was worshipped by shepherds instead of Kings; who was worshipped by Kings from afar but ignored by ‘His own’ Kings and leaders who heard about Him, but didn’t come to seek Him. Yet, this tiny baby was and is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who came because He loves us and He gave Himself to die for our sins, that we might have life, abundant life now and eternal life with Him forever. Those who will trust in Jesus for salvation are “born again” and always have cause to Rejoice! And Jesus IS that cause!

We don’t have to wait for “Holidays” to praise Him, we can (And should!) praise Him and Rejoice every day—every moment of every day for not only all He does, but for who HE IS! He is the Great I AM. And not only can we praise Him for who He IS, but we can rejoice because HE is coming again, and I don’t believe His coming is very far off. We can look up and not only watch for Him, but also be living in light of His coming, and rejoicing.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

And since our “redemption draweth nigh”, we can rejoice—always rejoice! No matter if it’s Christmas time or any old mundane day of the year—we can rejoice because God is still God, and Jesus has made us children of God and partakers of His Spirit and His life eternally!!! We can rejoice with Habakkuk, who knew that it wasn’t dependent on what we see or feel, but our joy is in WHO we know.

“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.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

Is He the God of YOUR salvation? If not, He wants to be. If He is, then REJOICE and press on dear ones. We win!!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures;” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Rejoice in HIM today!