Bible Ballistics: BBs #334 What’s Your Problem???

 

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

Everyone has a problem and some have many problems, but what are we to do with our problems? Well, not to over-simplify, we must take them to the Lord Jesus Christ—not just a problem-solver but the Only solution to living a victorious life in spite of our problems, large or small! God told Zerubbabel (The governor of those who had returned to Jerusalem after Babylonian captivity), that despite the evident and obvious obstacles that where before him, he would be victorious! Yet God told him that his victory would come, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

God would supply that which was necessary for Zerubbabel to achieve God’s victory in political, material and social areas, and this principle is still absolutely valid today. For those who will come to Jesus, those who belong to Him and have His Spirit dwelling within, it is “by my spirit”, the Holy Spirit, that victory can be attained no matter what crisis we find ourselves in today.

But we also need to take account of ourselves as we face the issues of life, the crises that confront us, or the battles that rage around us. We must examine ourselves to be sure that we belong to Jesus; we must also ask God to reveal any un-confessed sin that is in our hearts; and also to surrender the outcome to Him, and truly experience, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” God will reveal His purposes, in His time and as we are willing and able to receive them.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

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

When we allow God to search us, to reveal sin and lead us to repentance and restoration, then we can more clearly assess our situation in light of His purposes, and we will be able to rejoice as David did when he repented and experienced the restoration to fellowship with His God.

“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then

will I teach transgressors

thy ways;

and sinners

shall be converted

unto thee.” Psalm 51:13

God is working through the presence, power and perfecting work of His Holy Spirit in all that comes to us. He is working all that we might “be conformed to the image of his Son”; (See Romans 8:28-29) and while trials and difficulties aren’t usually pleasant, we know by the promise of our Lord God Almighty, that they are ALWAYS purposeful, even when the purpose is to show us our sin, and correct us when we have erred and/or sinned. And while we may not know or understand the purpose in the midst of the trial, God will reveal things to us later down the road and help us see and understand what He is working; yet even when He doesn’t tell us right away, or maybe not until eternity, He can be trusted for He has promised that:

“…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5b-6

God imparts His Holy Spirit to those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in the shed blood of the Lamb of God, who alone takes away sin. One of the things that He, The Holy Spirit, does is to help us understand God’s Word—our road map, our lighthouse, our strong tower and our compass in this world which “is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through…..”(From “This World Is Not My Home”, By Alfred E. Brumley); for we are “strangers and pilgrims” in this old sinful world. (See Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11)! But sometimes we simply get way to comfortable in this world, and that can cause us to stumble into sin and/or complacency. How comfortable are you?

We must see the world through God’s eyes, and faithfully speak the “truth in love”, so that others may hear His voice and come to salvation and maturity in Jesus. The Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us, and remind us just as Zechariah told Zerubbabel that it is “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”! So let’s check ourselves by God’s Word, seek forgiveness of sin where it’s needed, and then “gird up our loins” for battle and follow Jesus, determining to follow Him, no matter the cost. After all, He Wins—and we who are His Win too!!!

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” John 16:7-8

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

I know this is a bit lengthy, but I want you to have these scriptures to think on and listen to the Spirit speaking to our hearts the things of God. Let’s stop seeking the world’s solutions and seek God’s. Stop all the compromise and idolatry that we have bought into and return to the Only One who can truly save, deliver and “cleanse us from ALL sin”. I pray that God will speak to us and that we will:

“Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:8

What’s your pet sin? Ready to forsake all and follow Jesus? Remember, Jesus said that not everyone who ‘says’ “Lord, Lord” is really His (See Matthew 7:13-28). Won’t you ask God to reveal what HE sees in you? Time is short and we need to be ready. Here’s what Paul said—it’s God’s Word—don’t shoot the messenger! If you’re clean by virtue of the cross, then live like it, and many of those self-inflicted problems will dissipate, and the Jesus will help you with it all!

“Know ye not

that the unrighteous

shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators,

nor idolaters,

nor adulterers,

nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves,

nor covetous,

nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but ye are washed,

but ye are sanctified,

but ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God.”      1 Corinthians 6:9-11

So my friend, do you want to continue striving in the “power” and “might” of the world? Or will you depend upon God and His Holy Spirit to do the work IN YOU? God is teaching still, His ‘rest’ is available to all who will follow Jesus and walk “in the Spirit” and not in the flesh. He will teach you “ALL” if you’ll but receive it and obey it!

“But as it is written,

Eye hath not seen,

nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared

for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them

unto us

by his Spirit:

for the Spirit searcheth all things,

yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save the spirit of man which is in him?

even so the things of God knoweth no man,

but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received,

not the spirit of the world,

but the spirit which is of God;

that we might know the things

that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak,

not in the words

which man’s wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;

comparing spiritual things

with spiritual.

14 But the natural man

receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual

judgeth all things,

yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord,

that he may instruct him?

but we have the mind of Christ.”     1 Corinthians 2:9-16

Just as Job went through difficult trials trusting HIS God, so must we determine that with Job we will cry out:

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”     Job 19:25

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

So, what’s your problem? Will you choose to trust in chariots and horses, worldly might and power, or the Spirit of God? It’s your choice, but choose wisely! There’s a test!

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”       Psalm 20:7

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.07    Servant Or Usurper???

 

“Ye are my witnesses,

saith the Lord,

and my servant whom I have chosen:

that ye may know

and believe me,

and understand

that I am he:

before me

there was no God formed,

neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the Lord;

and beside me there is no saviour.

12 I have declared,

and have saved,

and I have shewed,

when there was no strange god

among you:

therefore ye are my witnesses,

saith the Lord,

that I am God.” Isaiah 43:10-12

“I am the Lord:

that is my name:

and my glory

will I not give to another,

neither my praise

to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8

The Lord God Almighty reigns! Always has! Always will! And I’d just like us to take a few minutes today to examine and remind ourselves God is our Sovereign King. No man can stop His hand nor thwart His rule. While He allows the affairs of men to defy and rebel against His authority right now, He never has, and never will relinquish His Sovereign rule. He is working even through those who stand against Him and HE will accomplish His purpose, in His time. We can become so distracted, discouraged, and disheartened by the evil, cruelty and corruption around us that we may need a reminder that God is still in control, and HE will accomplish His purposes—in His time.

“And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord:” Exodus 6:2

“And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.” Exodus10:2

“Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.” Isaiah 41:4

Our God is He that “hath made us, and not we ourselves”! And when we give Him our lives, through repentance and faith in His “Only Begotten Son”, Jesus Christ, we can grow in confidence of all that He is and does.

“This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” Isaiah 14:26-27

“Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep

of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

Jesus Himself, told us that He came to bring us into His fold, His pasture, and that He is the “door of the sheep”, “the good shepherd”, and the one who “giveth his life for the sheep”! Praise God that He “so loved the world that HE gave” Jesus to redeem us who are lost without HIM (And that’s everyone!)! Let’s dig into this great passage and feast on the truth of The Word.

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves

and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 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.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling,

and not the shepherd,

whose own the sheep are not,

seeth the wolf coming,

and leaveth the sheep,

and fleeth:

and the wolf catcheth them,

and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth,

because he is an hireling,

and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me,

even so know I the Father:

and I lay down my life

for the sheep……..

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 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.

30 I and my Father are one.”    John 10:7-15 & 26-30

And because Jesus IS the good shepherd, He saves and delivers those who will believe in Him, from sin, death and hell. It is what HE came to do, and He accomplished His purpose, the purpose of The Father, at Calvary. No surprise to God The Father, or God The Son—because they “are one”! And when we usurp the authority of God we are violating the very core of our faith. And as believers in Jesus, we must stand on the sovereign power and ruler-ship of our God. We must remember it is His power and we are privileged to serve Him (Not vice versa). We can stand in who He is—God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit. It was God’s idea and will to send the Son for us, and it is just as much His will that He will return, and may we strive to be found faithful. We an take confidence just like Mary and Martha in John 11, who while they didn’t fully comprehend what Jesus was about to do for their brother, trusted Him and followed Him in their grief and sorrow to that tomb, because:

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26

Will we follow Jesus to the “tomb”, even though we don’t understand what He is doing? Or will we try to manipulate God; will we try to usurp His ‘ruler-ship’ and do it our own way? Will we bow before Him in our confusion, grief and disappointment? Will we walk on in faith knowing that HE is our loving, merciful and all wise, omniscient God; worthy of our confidence; for He promised to “never leave thee, nor forsake” us (See Hebrews 13:5-6). Jesus came into this world knowing what it would cost Him because God loves us that much. Just as Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem so many years ago, God is in control!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did

by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”      Acts 2:22-24

Just as Jesus asked Martha, “Believest thou this?” will you choose to believe, bow and become HIS follower? Not His dictator, but His servant. He IS GOD—You (Or I) are NOT!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient

unto death,

even the death of the cross.

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 2:5-11

Will you bow/serve or usurp? Will we as believers bow before Him in every thing He asks of us? Or will we usurp the authority of the very one that we claim to serve? It’s a question that we each wrestle with daily, to believe, to bow and to be pleasing to our God. Or will we disobey and incur the discipline of the God who loves us (See Hebrews 12:6-11)? It is a choice that we must be conscious of! And we must choose wisely, rightly and consistently to be productive for the Kingdom in these tumultuous days. We must stand fast dear friends for we are in the “evil day”! Our failure may affect someone’s eternal destiny. We must be diligent and focused on Jesus, our ‘soon coming’ King! Will you join me as we bow before Him today—His loving, grateful and faithful servants?

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:25

Bible Ballistics: BBs #333 Lovest Thou Me More Than___???

 

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

As a word of encouragement on this Friday, I would like to draw our thoughts to the import of guarding our heart. The proverb warns us to “Keep thy heart” because it is the foundation of our life, and we live in a time of multitudinous distractions. And while many of these distractions appear to be “good” things, they have the ability to adversely affect our lives. There are so many seemingly good things that we can become involved in and passionate about, yet we must measure wisely the things that we allow into our lives, the things that we pursue. Even as Jesus asked Peter after the resurrection:

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” John 21:15

Jesus took time to restore Peter after his denial of Him. Jesus asked three times “do you love me?” and while Peter answered yes, each time, I imagine his mind was going back to his great failure. Yet Jesus walked him through this process, and called him to do the work that He had called him to, in love and newness. We can take heart in the restoration that Jesus brought to Peter, because we have all failed Him, and probably will again. Yet Jesus calls us to press on in a service to others that reflects the “love” which only Jesus, His presence and His power, through His precious Holy Spirit at work in us, can accomplish.

Jesus didn’t call him to work His way back, but to simply love Jesus, first and to serve others out of that love.

“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.” Romans 5:5

Praise God for the gift of His love—His love that is imparted to us by His Holy Spirit when we are saved. This love “OF” God that transforms us from sinners to saints—love that is of Him, from Him, by Him, and through Him. The only “love” that transforms ‘hearts’ through the blood of Jesus and the salvation that HE bought at Calvary; the only ‘love’ that can change the world as He is reflected in our lives.

But we must remember that it’s not “doing” good works that saves us and pleases God, but is our loving Him that produces the works that are pleasing to God (See Eph. 2:8-10). Jesus rebuked the church for this very thing in the first of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2.

“I know thy works,

and thy labour,

and thy patience,

and how thou canst not bear them

which are evil:

and thou hast tried them

which say they are apostles,

and are not,

and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne,

and hast patience,

and for my name’s sake hast laboured,

and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless

I have somewhat against thee,

because thou hast left

thy first love.” Revelation 2:2-4

We must take ‘heart’ and guard our ‘heart’, “with all diligence” being aware of all the things that are vying for our love and devotion. We must examine those “good” things that are calling us, and be sure they are not taking the place of our love for, and devotion to Jesus. And if you’ll note, Jesus didn’t say that they had ‘lost’ their love, but that they had left it. I don’t think they had just cast it away, or rejected it in any way (Because Jesus commended their service but rebuked them for their deficient motives!) but they had been negligent to guard their hearts and while doing the right things, they had lost sight of the One whose love was and is the only way to accomplish God’s work! We must keep a watchful eye to our hearts and be sure that “good” things haven’t been creeping into the “best” place that belongs only to God The Father and God The Son. If we will but listen and give heed to the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can maintain the pure, single-minded love and devotion that Jesus alone is worthy of!

Won’t you join me in setting our hearts on our “first love”, JESUS? May we each examine our heart and see what is standing between Jesus and ‘me’? What will we answer when Jesus asks us, “lovest thou me more than these?” What is your “these”? I’d like to share one of my favorite hymns with you, may it speak to you as it has so often to me. May we see through HIS eyes!

Be Thou My Vision                 By Dallon Forgaill

“Be Thou my Vision,

O Lord of my heart;


Naught be all else to me,

save that Thou art


Thou my best Thought,

by day or by night,


Waking or sleeping,

Thy presence my light.



 

Be Thou my Wisdom,

and Thou my true Word;


I ever with Thee

and Thou with me, Lord;


Thou my great Father,

I Thy true son;


Thou in me dwelling,

and I with Thee one.



 

Be Thou my battle Shield,

Sword for the fight;


Be Thou my Dignity,

Thou my Delight;


Thou my soul’s Shelter,

Thou my high Tower:


Raise Thou me heavenward,

O Power of my power.



 

Riches I heed not,

nor man’s empty praise,


Thou mine Inheritance,

now and always:


Thou and Thou only,

first in my heart,

High King of Heaven,

my Treasure Thou art.



 

High King of Heaven,

my victory won,


May I reach Heaven’s joys,

O bright Heaven’s Sun!


Heart of my own heart,

whatever befall,


Still be my Vision,

O Ruler of all.”

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #332 I Am Determined To_____???

 

“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 2:2-5

What have you determined to be? To do? To say? Or not to say? What goals and pursuits have you determined and set before yourself? Are they the things of the world or the things of God? I would like to challenge each of us today, to join with Paul and set our hearts and minds on The Lord Jesus Christ, and His great work of salvation accomplished on the Cross, and to measure all things by HIM?

Paul very clearly and evidently set his heart and mind on Jesus, and because of his determination to keep his eyes “fixed on Jesus”, God used him in ways that were world changing! How about you and me? Have we set our hearts to seek Jesus? Are we so distracted by the things around us that we loose our focus on Jesus? There are so many demands, voices, obligations, jobs, toys, desires and pursuits that can distract us. Are we ready and willing to yield ourselves to Jesus alone to do what He alone can do?

But how do we accomplish that? It is simple but not easy, and Jesus himself tells us how to do it.

“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

Abide: “…..to have one’s abode; dwell; reside…..

to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship …..”

Oh, how simple but powerful; to abide with Jesus; to dwell with Him; to be “fixed” on Him; to maintain a right ‘attitude’ in, through and for Him.

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17

This is a reference to making Jesus “at home” in your heart, not the fact that He dwells in His children. Are we making a good home in our heart for the Lord, or is He ill at ease with the other things that we fill our heart with? We must be selective of what we allow into our hearts. The Psalmist reminds us that we must “guard” our heart—what you put in WILL come out. Will you join me in pursuing Jesus, and abiding with Him, revealing HIS power before the world?

“Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

with grace in your hearts

to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks

to God and the Father

by him.” Colossians 3:16-17

Simple, but not easy—yet remember, YOU can:

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”     Philippians 4:12-13

 

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 9 No.06    A Spiritual Eclipse???

 

It seems that we are inundated with “star” fever. But rather than the luminaries of the sky; instead of the wonder and beauty of that which God created on the fourth day; instead of the beautiful lights that adorn the night sky, that have lead people through the wilderness, through the western frontiers of America and lands across the world; these aren’t the “stars” that people are focused on today.

“And God said,

Let there be lights

in the firmament of the heaven

to divide the day from the night;

and let them be for signs,

and for seasons,

and for days,

and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the

firmament of the heaven

to give light upon the earth:

and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights;

the greater light to rule the day,

and the lesser light to rule the night:

he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament

of the heaven

to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day

and over the night,

and to divide the light

from the darkness:

and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning

were the fourth day.” Genesis 1:14-19

Many today are so affixed to their television programs, media input, and movies, that they seem to have traded the beauty of creation for the artificial ‘glamor’ and ‘glitz’ of Hollywood! How sad it is to trade the spectacular beauty of God and His creation, to be spectators of the great ‘imitation’ of life; to trade “abundant life”, that only Jesus can give, for an artificial alternative that the world presents; and alternative that cannot bring life, but only death and delusion!

Even we as believers have often bought the lies of the enemy, and have allowed our “light” to be hidden under a bushel, instead of letting our “little light shine” with the truth and glory of God. We have allowed the “stars” of Hollywood to get in our eyes, instead of allowing the true “light of the world” to sustain, transform and shine HIS truth through us.

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5

Jesus came to do the work of His Father, which was to take on flesh, live a sinless life and give Himself as the perfect, sacrifice for sin, so that we might have The Life and Light of the world come to dwell within us, to redeem us (Buy us back from death), transform us into HIS image, and take us to glory with Him! Jesus wants to shine through us to bring HIS light into the darkness.

“For it is God which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things

without murmurings

and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless

and harmless,

the sons of God,

without rebuke,

in the midst of a crooked

and perverse nation,

among whom ye shine

as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth

the word of life;

that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,

that I have not run in vain,

neither laboured in vain.”     Philippians 2:13-16

We are saved to shine in the darkness—and my friends, if you haven’t noticed the darkness is crowding in around us, but the darkness cannot put out our light if we will but live and let the light of Jesus shine to our world. But how do we do that? Let’s look at some truths from scripture that will help us do just that, remembering that we “have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” We must fully trust in Him, knowing that it is “not I, but Christ liveth in me” (See Galatians 2:20)! Oh, that we can come to understand that it is the truth of the new birth, that “Christ liveth in me” and I don’t have to do it on my own—I can’t do it on my own–it is all “of God, and not of us”!

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry,

as we have received mercy,

we faint not;

2 But have renounced

the hidden things of dishonesty,

not walking in craftiness,

nor handling the word of God deceitfully;

but by manifestation of the truth

commending ourselves

to every man’s conscience

in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid,

it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world

hath blinded the minds

of them which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel

of Christ,

who is the image of God,

should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves,

but Christ Jesus the Lord;

and ourselves your servants

for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God,

who commanded the light to shine

out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure

in earthen vessels,

that the excellency

of the power

may be of God,

and not of us.”    2 Corinthians 4:1-7

It is ALL about Jesus! And Only Jesus!!!

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”    Romans 11:35

It makes me sad to see people I love chasing after the glitz and glamor of the world, because it isn’t real. It will fail them in the end, and the little lives that are following their example will be misled as well. Why will we teach our children to imitate the world, and not the Savior? Why do we dress our daughters like the immoral “stars” of the music and movie world. What are we teaching them? We don’t have time to teach them truth, or take them to church, or teach them modesty or purity, then we seem to be amazed that they act like the very people we have helped them to “admire”? Many push their sons to be the athletic “star” while neglecting the spiritual lessons that will establish their character first. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of excellence, but how often do we lead our children and other adults around us to pursue the excellence of the world rather than excellence in spiritual things. Do we point them to the Bible as much as the ‘playbook’? Do we enjoy godly music and movies before our loved ones, or do we thrive on the music and movies that promote the very things that God hates? When we belong to Jesus shouldn’t we love what He loves, and hate what He hates (and yes there are things that God hates.)!

“These six things doth the Lord hate:

yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked

imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies,

and he that soweth discord among brethren.

20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment,

and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart,

and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest,

it shall lead thee;

when thou sleepest,

it shall keep thee;

and when thou awakest,

it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp;

and the law is light;

and reproofs of instruction

are the way of life:”  Proverbs 6:16-23

If God hates these things, shouldn’t we (And if you’ll notice these are the things that permeate and pervade the entertainment industry?) Yet we so often spend our time, effort and money to embrace these very lies of the Devil that they promote. We are called to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” and we can’t do that while clinging to the world. James sums it up rather succinctly.

“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.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

Will we humble ourselves before God, or let pride lead us in the other direction? So what does any of this have to do with an ‘eclipse’? Let me tell you. We all know that an eclipse is a darkening/covering of the moon, the earth or the sun to cast a shadow that creates a darkening/covering. God put this on my heart several years ago, and I’d like to share it with you in relation to all that we have discussed today. God The Father and Jesus the Son are the “Sun”, we are the “moon”, and the world is ‘the world’. The ‘light’ originates from The Son who has shined forth in our hearts:

“….who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

When the light of the sun is shining onto the moon, it reflects light to the world, and dissipates the darkness. But when the earth comes between the sun and the moon there is no light reflected and darkness pervades the earth. We as the children of God, through faith in the blood that Jesus shed for our sin, are to reflect the light that God has “shined in our hearts” and then we can “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” to a lost and dying world. We are the reflection of the “light of the world”, Jesus, yet when we allow the world to come between our Lord and us we tarnish our reflection of HIS light into the darkness. But when we stay clearly and single-mindedly focused on Jesus, His Spirit and His Word, we will shine forth that very “light of the knowledge of the glory of God”! And my dear friends, that is the only hope that our world has. And we who have the truth, and know the Lord Jesus Christ, must, I repeat, we MUST, get our eyes off of the world and it’s glamor and “fix our eyes on Jesus”. I invite you to join me in praying that God will help us commit ourselves to seek a renewal in our devotion to God and His truth and a hatred for the things that God hates (And God doesn’t hate people, just the sin that mars His beloved creation, and I can say beloved because “God so loved the world….”, John 3:16, check it out!!!)!!! Let’s be diligently about the work that Jesus calls and equips us to do! (See John 4:34)

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”   Matthew 5:15-16

Do NOT let the world eclipse your light—JESUS!!!  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!