Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.09    Abundant Life Or Adultery???

 

I have a burden on my heart today and I would like to make a brief disclaimer before I broach the issues. While I am not in any way trying to condemn, throw rocks or question any individuals personal convictions or perspective, I would desire to call us all to a Biblical view of the world around us. I am of an age that I have lived life, seen a lot of changes in this world—some good, some not so good—and I have seen many of these changes affect the people of God because we, as the people of God—Christians, believers in Jesus, and followers of God’s Word–have not affected our world but have rather often succumbed to the appeal of the flesh. And there is a very real call of the flesh, because we still live in a body of flesh, and in a broken world that calls to that flesh.

“By faith Moses,

when he was come to years,

refused to be called the son

of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction

with the people of God,

than to enjoy

the pleasures of sin

for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ

greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:

for he had respect unto the recompence

of the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26

Moses made a decision to forsake the call of the world he lived in—Egypt—for the call of God, in view of the eternal consequences. A principle that many seem to have lost sight of, that we will reap the consequences of our choices. We can choose to walk in the way of the world, but there is a consequence to every choice, and God is the judge and consequence setter, not man!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”     Galatians 6:7-8

Paul reminds us that life is a matter of choices—choices of where, how, when and what we sow! The thing that has escaped many, and is escaping the world around us today (Both inside and outside of the church!), is that while God has given us the freedom to choose, He is the one who has set the consequences. I am a free moral agent by the creation and order of God, but God Himself tells us that there are consequences for every choice. If we continually sow to the flesh (What our body and mind desires.) instead of to the ‘Spirit’ of God, will “reap corruption”. Yet there is a principle of temporary corruption and a principle of eternal corruption. If we reject Jesus Christ as the One and Only way to God, through His death, burial and resurrection for our sin, we will suffer the eternal corruption of Hell. But even believers, who have been born again by the Spirit of Christ, can make choices that bring consequences which won’t separate us from God eternally, but which can bring us the discipline of God and/or a corruption of our life, our testimony, our service, and/or our influence on those around us. Are your deeds reflecting the goodness of God, or the ‘corruption’ of evil/sin?

“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.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds

may be made manifest,

that they are wrought

in God.” John 3:16-21

What do your deeds reflect? What price have you and I put on our testimony? How important is “sowing to the Spirit” to us? What choices are we making that may ‘corrupt’ our future influence, testimony, service and usefulness to God? What do our choices reveal? Are our deeds “wrought in God” or sown to the “flesh”? It will show! James gives us insight into the dilemma, and remember James is talking to believers not the lost!!!

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 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

Let’s peruse this passage from the bottom up. James’ conclusion is that we (Believers) should:

Submit to God—

Resist the devil—and he will flee.

Draw near to God—and HE will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands—of the sin in our lives.

Purify our hearts—of the duplicity we are living in.

All because God:

Resists the proud—

But gives grace to the humble!

And to whom is James speaking? He is speaking to believers that are not only living IN the world, but living LIKE the world! They are:

Fighting—

Warring with others—

Lusting—

Having murderous thoughts—

Asking for worldly things rather than godly things!

Oh, kind of like our culture? James is talking to a people who have been distracted by the world they lived in. As we read the entirety of the book, we see that they have been distracted by pride, wealth, discrimination and lack of wisdom. They have focused on what they think they “know” rather than Who they know or allowing HIM to be seen in their lives/behavior. What is seen in our lives? What do our lifestyle choices tell the world about us? About our God?

One of the things that James seems to be emphasizing is that we must “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”, yet we seem to have rejected this command from God and decided that if we join “the devil” and use his tactics we can win the lost! NOT!!! We will never, ever win the world apart from doing things GOD’s way! Jesus tells us what our worldly efforts can accomplish.

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

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.”    John 15:4-5

We can “do nothing” without doing it in God’s power, or without doing it by abiding IN HIM! We must, I repeat, we must return to the truth and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must stand with Paul in this single-mindedness!

“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

“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

Paul understood that the power was of God, and that only when we go in the power of God do things really happen that are of life-changing, eternal value. We have settled for “fast-food” Christianity that has very little semblance to Biblical salvation. It has been sanitized, humanized, and uniformized to make a convenient, “happy” meal, carry out, live like the world idea, that has produced a “vain” faith that is based on the ‘goodness’ of and ‘convenience’ for man rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the blood that He shed to “save his people from their sins”. In fact many today have completely eliminated the issue of sin, and replaced it with the Gospel of “Self” esteem. No dealing with sin, so there really isn’t any necessity for a redeemer, for the blood of the Lamb, or His resurrection, and we certainly don’t need to live in light of His Word, or His return to claim His own. We have forgotten the words that Jesus spoke.

“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 7:21-23

My translation—‘saying so, doesn’t make it so’! Jesus came to save us from our sin, and to give us eternal life. But eternal life doesn’t start when we die and go to heaven; it starts when we receive Jesus Christ and become a new creature.

“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

We are not only “a new creature”, but because we have received the salvation of God, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are also “ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God”, because of verse 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.”

Real Bible proclaimed, heaven sent salvation is the transformation of a sinner into a saint! It is God accepting the sacrifice of Jesus for my sin! It is God accounting me as having the right standing of His righteousness IN Jesus, a new creature, with a new heart and a new ability to walk in God’s Spirit, and not the flesh. But it’s our choice. I still can sin, but I don’t have to. I have the power of God to:

“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.”

So now the part where I may loose some of you, as I simply lay some issues of our world and our culture out for you to assess and take before God to see if they are of the “world” or of “God”? I’m not dictating what anyone’s convictions ought to be. I’m not talking about differences of opinion about what any specific scripture means, but I would like to simply call us all (Myself at the top of the list.) to examine our lives, and our choices and perceptions in light of what God has said, not what the culture is saying, has said or may say in the future. What changes have we accepted in the last 50-75 years? What is our response to sin? How has it changed, and are those changes pleasing to God? Have we drawn “nigh to God”, or have we jumped on the train with the devil, and bought his interpretation of life, sin and death?

What has happened to marriage? Do we accept things now that we didn’t accept in the past? (I’m talking about the sin not the sinner—Jesus called sin, sin, but He loved and reached out to sinners. Yet He never left them in their sin. Remember it is sin that HE came to save us “FROM”!) Divorce is now the ‘simple’ solution that we have cleaned up and approved when God hasn’t changed His Word. We have allowed Satan to rob us of our family structure, and look what has happened to our children because of it.

“For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away:” Malachi 2:16

Putting away is divorce, and God defined marriage as one man and one woman until death parts them:

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4-6 (Also see Genesis 2:18-25)

What about drugs and alcohol (Which is just a legal drug!)? We have excused ourselves from the issue by turning a blind eye to the issue of sin—any/all sin. We have often ceased to call believers to walk in the Spirit not the flesh, after all, “Who am I to judge”? Well friends, I’m not anyone to judge, but I am to share scriptural truth with all, even those taken in a fault—in kindness, love and compassion.

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:14-15

Grow up, stop being deceived by the enemy and judging things by your lusts and the world’s standard, and seek God’s counsel from The Word.

“Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding what the will

of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in

psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

in your heart to the Lord;”    Ephesians 4:17-19

We are to be controlled/pervaded by “the Spirit” not by substances that we put into our bodies, no matter what they are (I’m not talking about medical needs!). What’s your ‘drug’ of choice? Are we “filled” (controlled, pervaded by) with the “Spirit” or the ‘spirits’? Is our speech slurred by the control of alcohol (or whatever) or are our heart and tongue speaking spiritual things from God unto others?

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”    Colossians 4:5-6

Well it’s time to jump from “preaching to meddling”, as they say, but I simply want to ask you to consider some things in light of what God says—not me, then take it to Jesus. The point I want to make is that we need to be “proving” ourselves before God in light of what HE has said, not what man condones and promotes. That’s it!

“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

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”     1 Peter 2:5

“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.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that

ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb

without blemish

and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:14-19

So in light of what Jesus has done, will you consider some life choices along with me?

Modesty: regard for decency of behavior… and dress.

Do we dress to be pleasing to God or to cause others to envy our attire, or cause the opposite sex to lust after us?

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10

 Are we living moral lives? Do we hold to the Biblical standard of purity—no premarital sex, no extra marital sex, no homosexual sex, no pornography, and nothing that promotes or leads to these things?

“I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Paul tells us that singleness is good, but it is better to marry than to burn with lust—but he does qualify that with the command that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. The overriding principle is that we are to seek God’s face in all things—if we are single we are to live holy and chaste lives. If we are married we are to live chaste, faithful and holy lives with our spouse.

What are you doing with your sexuality? Does it match God’s standard? I find it interesting that today, there are as many, if not more, senior couples co-habiting without benefit of marriage than there are young couples. What has happened to us when we put “the check” over morality?

What about our language? We live in a vulgar and lewd culture, and many professing Christians have the vocabulary of the gutter instead of holiness.

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” 1 Cor. 15:33-34

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:29-30

And a few things to just pique (as my pastor says) your ‘ability for abstract thinking’! And remember what I said earlier—take it to Jesus, with a heart truly open to hear what HE has to say—even if it hurts for a time.

“Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:27-28

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:35-36

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

So my friends are you ready to live an “abundant life” in Jesus, or will you continue to pursue what James calls the “adulterous” life that is not pleasing to God? Have you given in to the thief of your soul? Or will you walk in victorious, abundant holiness by the power of Jesus? Enemy of friend? It’s your choice!

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

Bible Ballistics: BBs #337   Wisdom To Walk Right???

 

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me

from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.” Psalm 119:133-134

Just a ‘Word’ (Some wisdom from God.) for us to think on through this weekend, as we are out, about and probably caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, so that like the Psalmist we would desire to have God “Order my steps in thy word”!

With that thought in mind, I’d like to share a few insights that I pray will be helpful to you in your pursuit to “Walk Right” in every step.

First, we must realize that to ‘order our steps’ in God’s Word, we must know God’s Word! That requires spending time in His Word: not just reading it quickly to be able to mark something off of our ‘check-list’, but searching out its riches, feasting on the “meat” of the Word.

Eating meat is for the mature, those who will commit time to know Jesus through HIS Word. We must make time (Because you’ll NEVER find time for it!) to be in God’s Word—time spent not only reading it, but asking God to give us understanding of what we are reading. It means not only reading it to see “What does it say?”; but going farther and studying to see “What does that mean?”; and possibly the most important part of searching the scripture, asking, “What does this mean to ME?” What does God want me to do about what He has revealed to my heart in His Word?

God wants us to apply His truth to our daily lives. Only when we are willing to hear and obey, can we truly pray:

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me

from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.”

To walk right we must realize that The Word of God is the road map to successful, holy, right living/walking.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:67

Think on these things—every day, every moment of every day. God calls us to Himself that we might know HIM and be a reflection of His glory. And we can only fulfill that purpose as we draw near to Him through His Word, and prayer, which will lead us to right walking/living!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Perfect means mature.)

Bible Ballistics: BBs #336 What Did You Say???

 

We often hear in sports that a particular coach or team has determined to “get back to the basics”, sometimes because they have gotten off track. The same could be said about those who are following Jesus, we often get side-tracked and need to “get back to the basics”, and today we’ll look at some basics, that I pray will encourage you today.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1

God is the foundation of all that we believe, and while there is a lot of debate over the account of creation, I am one of those who hold to the truth that God said what He meant. And what God meant is that HE started it all. And He started it with a word—HIS Word.

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4

In Genesis 1 we see God The Father, and The Holy Spirit identified as being at creation, and John 1 reveals to us that Jesus was also there as the agent of that creation. Jesus is “THE WORD”! Why is that significant? Well, let’s take a look at Genesis 1 again:

“3 And God said, Let there be light:

and there was light…

         6 And God said, Let there be a firmament….         

7 And God made the firmament ….

and it was so…..

9 And God said, Let the waters …. be gathered and let the dry land appear:

and it was so…….

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image…

27 So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God created he him;

male and female created he them.”

Portions of Genesis 1:3-27

 

God spoke and “it was so”, and God is still speaking and it is so, and will be so! We can take God at His Word because God always does what HE says.

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that

which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing whereto I sent it.

12 For ye shall go out with joy,

and be led forth with peace:

the mountains and the hills shall break forth

before you into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55: 10-12

God is accomplishing HIS purpose by His Word, both His spoken Word, His written Word, and His only begotten Son-The WORD! God isn’t finished yet, He’s not dead, and He’s not deaf to the cry of His children, but He’s on HIS schedule, not ours!

“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

Just as “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); there is only One Way to God and that is through Jesus The Son. Without Him there is only sin, death and hell—that which He came and overcame, for all who will come to Him in faith and repentance. But for those who reject and refuse Him, there is no hope. I know that sounds severe, but friends, it is truth, the whole truth, God’s truth! And without knowing “the truth”, Jesus, the future is severe. And it’s not just knowing ‘about’ Jesus, but knowing Him through the power of His Spirit who imparts to us the new birth. And those who know HIM receive “abundant life” (See John 10:10) rather than death.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away;

and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

coming down from God

out of heaven,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,

and he will dwell with them,

and they shall be his people,

and God himself shall be with them,

and be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears

from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow,

nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold,

I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write:

for these words are true and faithful.”    Revelation 21:1-5

Redemption will be realized in HIS time!!!

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Prasie Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts.

Praise FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST!”

       The Doxology     By Thomas Ken (1674)

We’re not the first ones to praise Him, nor will we be the last; but may we be known as those who lift and sing His praises most faithfully and passionately than any before us. Have a great day praising God our Creator, Jesus The Word of God, who came to save us from the penalty of sin, death and hell, and The Holy Spirit who is given to all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His death, burial, and resurrection for sin! If you hear His voice, don’t ignore it today, none of us are guaranteed a ‘tomorrow’!

“….To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts…..” A portion of Hebrews 3:15

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.08    Not Without A Fight???

 

Some Christians today live with a naiveté’ toward the world. Some have been led to believe that the Christian life is like a walk in a ‘rose garden’; while others have come to believe that it is a right of “childish temper tantrums” to manipulate God. Then there are those who believe that “If you’re nice to everyone, then everyone will be nice to you!” None of these are biblical perspectives of being a follower of/believer in Jesus Christ; I’d like us to consider a biblical perspective today. After all, a true biblical perspective is the one that we want to possess and live by. Let’s begin with the Psalmist’s perspective in Psalm 2.

“Why do the heathen rage,

and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord,

and against his anointed,

saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder,

and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:

the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,

and vex them in his sore displeasure.” Psalm 2:1-5

The world is the territory of the enemy, Satan, and he is always working around us to: “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (See John 10:10), and he is gaining ground at an alarming pace. We can’t expect the world to like us, or to be happy when we choose to follow Jesus, and the Word of God. We should understand that that while they are against God and His children, they are not our personal enemies, but the one who is the “thief” and the great “liar” is.

“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.” Ephesians 6:11-12

And while men and women who are deceived by the enemy, are not the enemy, we must realize that they are under the influence of the real enemy, and will often respond to us as enemies. Jesus identifies the character of this enemy.

“Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.” John 8:44

We must be aware of the enemies tactics and understand that the world will view us as the enemy, just as they see God as the enemy, yet we are to love the unlovely while standing firm against sin, with Biblical truth. Jesus changes us from the inside out, and gives us eternal life, delivering us from eternal death. It is a choice between life and death.

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b

The Gospel IS the Good News. And just as the light dissipates the darkness, Jesus delivers us from the “darkness” and brings us into HIS light.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”     Colossians 1:12-14

But the darkness doesn’t like the light. And remember, Jesus said it would be this way, not me!

“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.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.”    John 3:18-20

Jesus told us that this is truth, and if it was true of His life, it would be true of His children. But many don’t like to hear this part of the Gospel, the Christian life that Jesus calls us to live.

“If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them,

they had not had sin:

but now they have no cloak for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”    John 15:18-23

Do you see that? While Jesus tells us that we are not to consider the lost as the enemy, they will often consider us the enemy. They will hate it when we stand for Jesus, the Cross, and the Word of God, yet it is imperative that we walk in truth and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. We also must realize that we won’t always walk forward without a fight with the enemy. Just as Paul told us in Ephesians 6:12, we do “wrestle”! He didn’t say when we wrestle, if we wrestle, or we may wrestle, he said “For we wrestle”, or “because we wrestle”! It is a fact that we are in enemy territory and we will encounter opposition when we walk in obedience to The Lord and His Word. There is a fight, yet we must remember that our fighting isn’t in the flesh but in The Spirit.

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself

against the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”     2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We can have confidence knowing that while we do “walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh”! God is our strength and power, even as Paul told us in Ephesians 6:10:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

In my power and strength, I am weak to say the least, but in God’s power we can be victorious overcomers.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

I “can do all things”….. I can be victorious, but it may not always look like I think it will look. Sometimes God takes us through that “valley of the shadow of death”, but remember Jesus has overcome sin, death and hell—but that makes the enemy angry and we should expect opposition. Even more than that, we know that Jesus wins, and that means we win!!! Those who are against God cannot prevail!

“……upon this rock I will build my church;

and the gates of hell

shall not prevail against it.”    Matthew 16:18b

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.”    John 10:27-29

A war is raging and we serve the soon coming King. How are we serving Him? Are we ready for His return? Are we ready to give an account of “every idle word”? (See Matthew 12:36)

“And I saw heaven opened,

and behold a white horse;

and he that sat upon him

was called Faithful and True,

and in righteousness he doth judge

and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire,

and on his head were many crowns;

and he had a name written,

that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed

with a vesture dipped in blood:

and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies

which were in heaven

followed him upon white horses,

clothed in fine linen,

white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth

goeth a sharp sword,

that with it

he should smite the nations:

and he shall rule them

with a rod of iron:

and he treadeth the winepress

of the fierceness and wrath

of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture

and on his thigh

a name written,

King Of Kings,

And Lord Of Lords.” Revelation 19:11:16

He IS our soon coming King, and when He comes He will “judge and make war”, although it will be a most short-lived war!!! But until that time, the nations rage against Him, and the lost and dying world will often rage against us with hatred, prejudice and persecution.

“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:18

The earth will become even more belligerent as the time draws close to the coming of The King! And the time will come when Philippians 2 will be fulfilled.

“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

The question isn’t, “Will you bow?” for God tells us that “every knee should bow”! The question isn’t ‘will you bow?’, but when. You will either bow before Him now as your Lord and Savior, or you will bow before Him then, as your judge. It’s your choice! He can and will save you if you call upon HIM! And those who have bowed before Him are to worship, obey and love Him, and I/we can do no less than that, because He has placed His love within us, and HE is worthy of our praise always. Paul told us that we could “give thanks in all things” and “rejoice in all things” because we belong to Jesus.

“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.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience;

and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God

commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.” Romans 5:1-8

While the love of Jesus transforms all who will believe, that transformation can bring opposition. Yet we are to stand in our armor, girded up for battle and standing fast in God’s power and might. Are you ready for the battle? As I was thinking on this article, I thought about how painful “healing” can sometimes be. When a splinter comes into our body, it will fester and can make a horrendous ‘sore’, but it is the body trying to rid itself of the poison, and when that fester is lanced and the poison is expelled from the body, healing can truly take place. Healing and victory are God’s work, when we will but yield to His work in our lives.

Some of us may be in a battle, a time of trial or opposition, or something may be festering—be it a test, or a trial or even discipline for sin—whatever it is, God may be working and using this ‘fester’ to rid us of some poison, be it the past, the present trial or some other unwelcome conflict in our life and/or our body. That’s when we must seek the Father regardless of the trial that we are experiencing, or the battle that we are engaged in. We must remember that victory seldom comes without a ‘fight’ but we can truly have “Victory In Jesus”! Today and every day we can overcome, one step at a time, one day at a time. I pray right now that God will help you find the victory in your battle, whatever it may be. We win—but it may not be ‘Without A Fight’!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #335 Tears And Prayers???

 

Difficulties come, pain, sorrow and tears overwhelm us, and in those times we can cry out to God for answers, for relief, for direction, for comfort:

“These are the time that try men’s souls.”,     Thomas Paine

What about the believer? What do we do when our souls are “tried”? We can go to the only sure place of refuge, our security always; we go to our Lord, to our Redeemer, to the One who said He would “never leave” us alone. When the tears fall until it seems that our tear ducts have dried up, God hasn’t been asleep, as the Psalmist reminds us, deliverance is in The Lord—and we can praise HIS name, because HE never fails, and He loves us.

“My tears

have been my meat

day and night,

while they continually say unto me,

Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things,

I pour out my soul in me:

for I had gone with the multitude,

I went with them

to the house of God,

with the voice of joy and praise,

with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him

for the help of his countenance.”    Psalm 42:3-5

We can take delight, comfort and joy in the sovereign rule and control of our God. Though the foundations shake around us, God is still on HIS Throne, and He is at work all about us. It is “the help of his countenance”, the very presence of His Spirit in us, and at work about us, that gives us the “peace…. which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). We can have confidence in Him whose presence is our sustaining power.

“God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear,

though the earth be removed,

and though the mountains be carried

into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar

and be troubled,

though the mountains shake

with the swelling thereof. Selah.”   Psalm 46:1-3

Regardless of what is going on around you this morning, if your eyes are red with weeping over the burden, grief or pain of your present circumstance—you don’t have to fear your circumstances. Our God is the circumventor of any circumstance!!! We can have the confidence of Daniel today, knowing that the same God, who heard and answered his prayer, is listening and answering today. God knows and is working regardless of what our circumstances are—even when we don’t understand. So let’s praise God with Daniel, and remember that Jesus is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Always! Think on this prayer of Daniel in all of its depths and take comfort in it!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 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 2:19-23

Did you get it? God has it all—

Wisdom—

Might—

Times and seasons—

Politics—

Knowledge—

Understanding—

Revelation of deep and hidden things–

What is in the darkness—

He IS light, HAS light, and GIVES light! (In HIS time!)

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Psalm 56:8