Monthly Archives: April 2018

I WILL Trust In YOU, LORD!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #451

06 Friday Apr 2018

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fearfulness, Fearlessness, Growing in Jesus!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Look UP, Made like Jesus!, Sanctuary, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #451 I WILL Trust In YOU, LORD!!!

 

We all have trials and difficulties—it’s common to all of us—but what’s not common is the ability to trust our past, present and future to The Lord God Almighty through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, I want to take a few minutes this morning to remind us all to just look up!

“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

I know the immediate context of this verse is the “latter days”, yet we can take heart today because this is true whenever or whatever the difficulty, or how hard of a trial we are encountering. Our hope is in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and HE will see us through. It hasn’t caught Him by surprise, and as one of my favorite evangelists says, “God never says, ‘oops’!” And I’m sure glad that’s true. God is ever at work molding His own and making us more and more like The Son.

“And we know that

all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image

of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn                            among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

God’s purpose for you and for me is that we will become more and more like Jesus!!! And my dear friends, when we get a hold on that reality, it will transform how we view the difficulties that come upon us! God isn’t wasting one iota of our circumstances—HE is orchestrating them to lead us closer to Himself, and more like Jesus!!! I can’t balk at that!

So whatever your situation or circumstance today, step back and take another look up, and remember that God has YOU in HIS hand, and He’s not letting go! You can trust Him and overcome your fears and frustrations when we just remember to “lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”! And I believer He is more “nigh” than we believe! Take heart my friend—don’t be afraid—don’t give up—press on—for we win!

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.“     Psalm 56:3

And our old standby reminder:

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5-6

Blessings on your day, and remember—Look UP! Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

Bearing It Or Baring It??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #450

04 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #450 Bearing It Or Baring It???

 

Scripture calls us to “bear” one another’s burdens—and while we all often feel that we have enough to bear on our own, as followers of Jesus we are to help carry the burdens of others. But we are to “bear” not “bare”!!!

Bear: to hold up; support….

Bare: without covering or clothing; naked; nude….

Sometimes we confuse these two ideas, so my focus for today is to examine the crazy world we live in and the sad state of affairs on much of social media—where many people feel compelled to “bare” it all, focusing on themselves rather than being concerned for the welfare and needs of others. Rather than “bearing” the burdens of others, many seem to be inclined to slam them all over social media, often without bothering to know the facts of any given situation.

“Brethren,

if a man be overtaken in a fault,

ye which are spiritual,

restore such an one

in the spirit of meekness;

considering thyself,

lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something,

when he is nothing,

he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work,

and then shall he have rejoicing

in himself alone,

and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught

in the word

communicate unto him

that teacheth

in all good things.

7 Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.”   Galatians 6:1-7

This last verse of our passage is where I would like us to begin—but with a twist. This verse that we have heard so often is clear and plain—we can’t fool God, and what we “sow”, we will also “reap”!!! This agricultural example that Paul uses hits pretty close to home, as I’m married to a farmer—and if we plant wheat seed, we will reap wheat (with the right temperatures, sunshine and rain); and in life whatever we plant will produce a harvest. So the question is, “What are we sowing?” Are you ready to reap the same?

Will we follow this call to uncommon decency to others—uncommon in the sense that the supernatural “… love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost..” when we are saved by Jesus? Or do we sometimes fall to the common indecency that is displayed all around us, particularly on social media in unkindness and mean-spirited spite and vitriolic fury!

Paul seems to present an oxy-moron in this passage when he calls us to bear “one another’s burdens” by way of compassion and truth; while at the same time, calling each one to bear “his own burden”! Well, it is and it isn’t; we are to carry our own load (which is always measured by God, see 1 Cor. 10:13) with courage and faith, without whining, but to know that as believers and followers of Jesus, we can share the load with one another! What a glorious privilege and blessing we have in Jesus.

My challenge for us today is that we will exhibit the compassionate character and actions that Paul calls us to in this letter to the Galatian believers, we are to be:

Spiritually mature—

Reconcilers of those who have stumbled—

Humble in our ministry, considering our own weakness-

Bearing each other’s burdens (as Christ does for us)—

Wise and discerning about our own human frailty—

Living a life that reveals that Christ Jesus dwells in us—

“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

Sharing with those in need—

Sharing and caring for those who minister to us—

Ever conscious that GOD sees and knows our hearts–                                                    and our deeds                                                                                            & we will reap accordingly!

So, my friends, may we go forth today bearing “one another’s burdens” and not falling to the low and baser nature of this world, and “baring” naked souls of corruption to a lost and dying world who needs Jesus not more hate. May we ask God to search our hearts and reveal what’s really there, so that we can walk with Him in “spirit and in truth”? Remember, ‘saying so, doesn’t make it so’!!!

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17 (Read verses 14-22)

Amen and Amen!

To Dye Or To Die??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 10

01 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Holiness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 10 To Dye Or To Die??? (An edited repost of BBs #149 from 2015)

“I am crucified with Christ:                 

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Jesus and Jesus alone died, was buried and resurrected for our salvation—according to the scripture (see 1 Cor. 15:3-5). Jesus alone, not anyone or anything else is worthy of our devotion and worship. To belong to Jesus Christ means we have died to ourselves and are walking in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, who enables us to accomplish that by God’s power, not our own. Empowered and enabled to:

“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

Only by the blood of Jesus can I do any thing that God calls me to do. ONLY through Jesus Christ and His Father, and ours, can we accomplish anything godly, or of eternal value. We are called to serve Him–not ourselves or the lusts of this world. The pull of this world is strong and we live in a culture that ridicules and rejects the call to holiness and separation from a lost and dying world. While we are to live in the world we are not to be of it.

Knowing how strong the pull of the world is, Jesus prayed for us just before He went to Calvary, will you heed His words?

“And now come I to thee;

and these things I speak in the world,

that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. \

14 I have given them thy word;

and the world hath hated them,

because they are not of the world,

even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not

that thou shouldest take them out of the world,

but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”  John 17:13-15

Are we choosing evil over good? Are we more concerned with fitting in, than being fit for HIS service? These are hard questions which can only be answered for ourselves. I simply ask that we each examine our lives, and the things we do, and practice in our daily lives,  measuring them by the Word of God; letting His Holy Spirit direct our daily choices. We all must choose, but whose glasses are we looking through as we make those decisions:

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

“Love not the world,                                                                         

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father

is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God

abideth for ever.

18 Little children,

it is the last time:

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,

even now are there many antichrists;

whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:15-18

What does all this have to do with “dye” or “die”? A lot really, because as we look at the activities of this weekend of celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord, I notice that we have often become so entwined in the world that we look more like the world, than the ‘body of Jesus Christ’. It seems that more people are ‘dyeing’ eggs, than ‘dying’ to self for HIM!!!  How about you?  How about me?

James was very clear to the people of his day, how much more do we need to heed his words and consider the choices we are faced with?

“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 4:4-10

Are you dying (being crucified) to self and living for Jesus, or are you so busy dyeing (coloring) eggs that you’ve missed the Savior who calls us to be holy and separate from the world. Do we allow ourselves to get so busy with the “holiday” that we’ve forgotten the “HOLYday”? It’s a question that only YOU can answer. Let’s celebrate and worship HIM EVERY DAY!!! To God be the glory—great things HE HAS DONE!!! What will you do?

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said                                                                                      I will dwell in them,                                                                     and walk in them;                                                                           and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;                                                              and I will receive you.                                                                            18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:16-18

Amen and Amen.  And may you have a most glorious Resurrection Day!!!