Monthly Archives: April 2022

A Word from THE WORD!!! #3 Bible Ballistics

29 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in Evil and Adulterous Generation?, Faith, Faithful, Seeking Signs?

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A Word from THE WORD!!!  #3

 

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came,

and tempting desired him

that he would shew them a sign

from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them,

When it is evening,

ye say, It will be fair weather:

for the sky is red.

 3 And in the morning,

It will be foul weather to day:

for the sky is red and lowring.

O ye hypocrites,

ye can discern the face of the sky;

but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given unto it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

And he left them, and departed.”  Matthew 16:1-4

Are we seeking Jesus or what HE can do!  Satan tried to tempt Jesus to use HIS power to “do signs”; what are you asking Jesus for?  Are you seeking HIM or want proof of something?  Jesus makes it clear that His resurrection IS THE SIGN.  Don’t get caught up in the culture’s demand, like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, for signs and wonders.  The deceiver who is coming will fool the people with false signs and wonders—salvation and faith are just that, not some magic show.  We need to stop tempting God with our “demands” and bow before the KING of KINGS and LORD of Lords!  See what Jesus said to Satan’s request for “signs”! (And remember Satan can quote scripture too!)

“And saith unto him,

If thou be the Son of God,

cast thyself down:

for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge

concerning thee:

and in their hands

they shall bear thee up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot

against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him,

 It is written again,

Thou shalt not tempt

the Lord thy God.”  Matthew 4:6-7

Seems we often forget who’s God!  Job said it best—with no request for a “sign” about his situation!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain

mine own ways before him.”  Job 13:15

All because:

“For I know

that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:”  Job 19:25

Do you KNOW JESUS today, or are you running around seeking for signs?  “I know”, and you can too!  Simply look unto Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” for you and me!  If HE is knocking at the door of your heart, won’t you open the door and let HIM in?  No signs, just the pure presence of The Master! (See Hebrews 12:1-3)

Amen and Amen!!!

You Can Do This!!! But How??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #791

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Assurance or Arrogance, Changed Lives, Comfort, Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Tomorrow, Trendy Or Truth, Trials, Troubles, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Under His Wings, Unexpected Interruptions, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Heart?, What's In Your Mouth?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #791   You Can Do This!!!  But How???

I have a word to share this morning, a word that we all can use on most days and probably today!  And to set just a bit of context before we dive into this first passage, Paul was talking about Israel in the wilderness (and yes, we are to study the Old Testament as well as the New, so we might learn from the testimonies that God recorded for us!), and how we can learn from their choices.  We can know that God is in charge, and our ‘temptations and trials’ are filtered through His fingers of love; we just need to look up, knowing that HE will provide!

“Now all these things happened unto them

for ensamples:

and they are written for our admonition,

 upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful,

who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”   1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Paul is teaching us to not only live in the truth of God’s written Word, but to remember the examples HE has recorded for us to learn from as we walk through this world of chaos and confusion.  But we need not be either of those things as those who have seen the promise fulfilled of the Messiah who delivered salvation on the cross—salvation for all who will believe and receive the Gospel that Jesus paid for sin—my sin and yours!  And not only has HE paid for our sin but has given HIS gift of The Holy Spirit, just as HE promised to all those who are born again by His power, His provision and His purposes through The Holy Spirit/The Comforter—the source of God’s provision to His own!

So, let’s peruse some references about who the Holy Spirit is, and what HE would accomplish.  First of all, HE is the one who brings us to faith in Jesus (and the “HE” in this passage from John 1 is a reference to Jesus–“The Word…The Creator…The Light of the world!”  The One who promised to send HIS precious Holy Spirit to HIS own!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.” John 1:10-14

God brings us to the cross via the conviction (the work of the Holy Spirit in man to bring them to see sin as sin, and Jesus as the only cure, see John 14:16-18 & 16:6-8) of sin which HIS Holy Spirit reveals to man!  He leads to the truth of the gospel—on which I stand like Paul, and you can too!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

The gospel that Paul declared and stood on is the foundation of our faith—JESUS, and HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for sin– the truth we stand upon! Paul also gave us the “Gospel in a nutshell”, if you would allow me to call it that!  Consider how concisely He proclaims Jesus!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached

unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

 5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-5

The Gospel IS JESUS:

It can only be shared by those who have “received” it—

Christ died for our sins—the only way (See John 14:6)-

 ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES—

Christ Jesus was buried—HE WAS DEAD—

HE AROSE—on the third day—victorious over—

Sin, death, and hell—

ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES—

HE was seen alive by many witnesses!

Jesus paid the price that only the Lamb of God could pay.  Have you come to HIM in repentance and faith?  I pray that you have and if you haven’t, that you will come to HIM today!  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

“For God so loved the world,

 that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:16-19

There is so much more that I wish I had time (and finger strength left) to share here, but I pray that God will open our hearts to receive HIS truth as truth—that we will respond in faith and obedience—and share that which we have received, in whatever ways God provides and leads us to!  I would like to share a few passages to encourage and assure us that Jesus died for you and me—for our sin—but when HE died, rose again, and ascended to heaven (until HIS return), HE sent us the amazing gift of HIS Holy Spirit to reside within and lead us into HIS truth, equipping us to minister truth to a lost and dying world.  Jesus promised that The Holy Spirit would bring us into all truth if we will but receive and heed HIS leading in our lives—our every day, our walking about days, our tear-filled days, our laughing days—our EVERY hour days! Jesus promised us all we would need to press on.

“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:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

 because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged.”  John 16:7-11

And some more from Paul’s letters that I pray will help and encourage each of us to look up, walk straight and press on!  (See Acts 1:1-8)

“In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed,

ye were sealed with that holy Spirit

of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance

until the redemption

of the purchased possession,

unto the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:13-14

“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.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

And the message to the Galatian believers:

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

….. 24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 24-25

Are we walking in The Spirit, or our own ways?  Oh, Jesus, please do your work in our hearts through this precious Holy Spirit which you have imparted to all who are born again by HIS work of conviction and awakening to the debt of sin we owed.  Thank you, Lord, for your love, your sacrifice, and your forgiveness of my sin—for paying my ‘sin debt’!

“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

Jesus gives forgiveness of sin, and we should be recognized by actions which reflect the ONE who lives in us.  How about me?   How about you?  Will we honor the One who saved us—the ONE who calls us to walk in “holiness”?  While it’s simple to remember that God “has it”, it’s not always easy to remember how that looks.  Remember that God filters everything that comes into our lives, and whether its “Job” like tragedy and strife, or blessings—He is working “all things” for our good!

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,

but unto holiness.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7

“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

‘Nuff said!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

You Can’t Get Yesterday Back??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 22

25 Monday Apr 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Children, Choices And Consequences, Family, Teach The Children, You can't get yesterday back!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 22  You Can’t Get Yesterday Back???

A prayer that I wrote several years ago, and which I try to pray before The Lord each day, touches on what I want to share tonight.  We have “today”—no more, no less, in reality, we can have memories, we can have wonderful feelings of days gone by, we can have regrets that will haunt us beyond comprehension, but we can never second-guess God’s tomorrows, or bring back yesterdays of regret.  But we can live “today” in JESUS!

“Father,

Your will for today—IS mine

Your pleasure for today—IS mine

Your work for today—IS mine—

Tomorrow IS yours alone to reveal—

Yesterday IS ours alone—

mine to release to you,

yours to weave into the image                                    of Jesus Christ my Lord!”

The key to true “joy of The Lord” is living in the “todays” of life.  Even as Jesus commanded us to in the Model Prayer.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:11

The Psalmist also calls us to consider our days with respect.

“So teach us

to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts

unto wisdom.”  Psalm 90:12

Oh, that we can learn to live each day to God’s glory, and by His grace and wisdom.  I can’t tell you how many times I have wished to have certain occasions back to change my actions or behaviors, to get some time and life back, but that won’t happen; but God does often give opportunities to be restored, but sometimes—gone IS gone!  Yet Paul reminds us that when we have been born again by the power of God we have a different take on life—by dying to self, and living to Jesus in all I am and all I do, the world can see what Jesus can do in a life submitted to HIM (even when my heart is broken over missed, and lost opportunities, for some are still fresh on my mind some 2 ½ years after my dear daughter’s violent death, when a life is gone, we can never say those things we wish we had said, we can never see that smile again, we can never offer help or share that encouraging word that we wish we had…. BUT GOD—restores, heals and turns pain into sweet memories, if we let Him).  When I live for Jesus today, HIS provision is perfect!

“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

I would like to speak to parents and grandparents, to all who hold a child’s life in your hands; for the lives we hold in our hands are there for such a short time.  Even though in those developing years they seem like such long years, with so much busy-ness of little minds and fast bodies, as we chase them all around the house and yard in perpetual motion it seems; then they are grown and gone in the flash of an eye.  Yet, oh I must tell you how often I have wished that I could regain those years for a “re-do”.  How I wish that I could have seen through the eyes of God’s Word, and taken those moments more seriously and with more love and commitment to doing things God’s way!  How about you?  Do have regrets?  What are we to do with those regrets?  We bring them to Jesus, and focus upon HIS Word, and His provision, redemption, and restoring grace.

“Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend

that for which also I am apprehended

of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren,

I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore,

as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing

ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this

unto you.”  Philippians 3:12-15

So, parents and grandparents, we can reclaim the future by the power of God and HIS Word; by determining to live for, with and through Jesus, and by joining the Psalmist in praying:

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

And again:

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”   Psalm 37:23-24

We must be governed by God’s Word and know our children (as the scripture calls them) are a blessing, a heritage, and a gift from God, deserving of our love, time and effort:

“Lo, children are an heritage

of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are

in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children

of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

in the gate.”  Psalm 127:3-5

How I wish that I had seen the import of the time that I put into my children—not just the clean house I provided for them, or the home-cooked meals that I provided, or even the clothing that was provided for them, but more importantly the time that I often neglected to spend with them, or the teachable moments that I missed because I was distracted doing my own thing!  To put it in a more modern example—I was too busy watching my “soaps”; or talking on the telephone (you know the one with the 25-foot cord so I could walk around the house while I conversed with my friends at will—we didn’t need “cell phones” ha ha ha), spending perhaps more time on my apps, my texts, my games, my communications with people much less important than my children!.  God gives the best advise that I could ever pass along; and while I shared some of it recently, I hope this review will help each of us reassess how we look at opportunities for “teachable” moments.

“Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest

in thine house,

and when thou walkest

by the way,

and when thou

 liest down,

and when thou

risest up.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-7

We are to be open for every opportunity to teach our children the ways of God, His laws, principles, and His longing to have a relationship with us–not just ‘religion’ (a practice of a set of rituals) but a relationship.  God wants to extend to us, and us to our children the truths of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection purchased at Calvary.  All this means that my children are to be one of the most important things in my life, not just an add on for the future; we are to teach them by sharing truth at every opportunity, teaching by example as well as speaking the truths of God’s Word; we are to live out our relationship with Jesus (and this portion of scripture reminds us that we can only share what we possess!) in all our ways—from the inside out—not just teaching with our words; but by talking and living out the Word of God– when we sit around, when we walk around/or drive around, when we get ready for bed (a most teachable time for our children as we share their day’s activities with them), and when we rise up to get them ready for a successful day “in the Lord”, be that at home with mom or to a school environment!

God gave Moses such an amazing picture of the home which I think we have lost sight of (I know I did all those years ago, and I so regret not making better use of my time to make a greater difference in the lives of my children and grandchildren [especially my daughter who is lost to me through a violent death] and been a more effective witness in their lives)!  So, I encourage you to live a life without regrets by wisely, and diligently using the time that you have—for you can’t get it back– heeding the plan of God from Deuteronomy 6! For God says if we live it, our children (and others) will ask, “Why are we living this way?”, then we can share what God has done, and is doing in our lives.  But to share a testimony, we have to have one!!!

“And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates…

….. 20 And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt,

upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do

all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”   

Portions of Deuteronomy 6:8-25

Will we live for Jesus today…and today….and today?  You’ll never get one back—no, not one!  But you can build memories without regret!

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

 neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD

is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

I can have this joy because Jesus gave His life for mine, and yours!  And when He gives us “new birth”, God imparts to us, HIS righteousness, then we are enabled to make a difference in the lives of our posterity, and others!  Let’s live each “today” and make a difference in the lives of those whom God brings across our path—kin or not!

“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

Now in closing, there are many who read this article who are like me, of an age when we don’t have the opportunities we once did, but I want to remind us all, regardless of your age, God is a gracious and merciful God, and even if you’re like me, with many regrets, the God of mercy gave me a “word from HIS word” long ago, one that may bring as much comfort to you as it has to me!  And I must say, I praise God today for answering many of my prayers in that regard!  I praise HIM for His restorative love and mercy to bring life, and resurrection power in so many ways to that which the “locusts” had eaten.  So, take heart my friends, Satan may come to “steal…kill….and destroy..”, but Jesus can bring LIFE and restoration to “stolen” relationships!  But don’t wait too long—for while we can’t get “yesterday” back, we can live in Jesus’ power TODAY, and watch God restore “the years that the locust hath eaten” as we walk with HIM today and each day that He gives us.  And believe me, I have learned that each day is truly a gift from God to be used to bring HIM glory and benefit those around us—especially the children!

“And I will restore to you

the years that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm, and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army

which I sent among you.”  Joel 2:25

Amen and Amen!!!

Resting IN HIM Is A Must!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #790

22 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Commitment Or Convenience, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Daniel's Prayer, Faithful, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Remember, Resting In Jesus, Resting Or Wrestling?, Safe Place

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #790   Resting IN HIM Is A Must!!!

 

I hope this finds you enjoying spring; here in Oklahoma it’s been a revolving-door spring, with 90’s one day and 60’s the next, but I’m so glad to see green grass, daffodils, and looking forward to the Iris to bloom.  The beauty of God’s creation is such a blessing to me, and I pray that it is to you.  I am sitting here watching my hummingbird feeder (I finally have one little bird coming), and even had a visitor to my seed feeder, which pleased me greatly.  I miss the cardinals but, in our apartment, we are too far from the trees to see many of them.  I say all this to remind us that we can take comfort and joy in all of God’s creation, and it can be balm to our soul.

“For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then is not the health of the daughter

of my people

recovered?”  Jeremiah 8:21-22

Jeremiah grieved for the spiritual condition of his people, and I feel much the same way, yet Jeremiah asked the question, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?”; for he knew that Gilead (a region in Israel known for its healing balm) had a balm for physical healing, yet his people were still in need of spiritual healing, yet had no desire for it!  How like our culture today, yet are we hurting for the condition of our world?  Are we throwing up our hands in frustration, or praying for our country?  How do we do that?  We can take a lesson from Daniel (and while we won’t look at all of chapter 9 here, I encourage you to spend some time in this portion of Daniel), and humbly identify with the sin and desperate spiritual condition of our nation’s people, seeking God’s face for mercy and help!  Notice that Daniel was in God’s Word and what he saw brought the need of prayer to his heart and mind!  What are we reading?  Watching?  Jesus, please help us to remember to “rest” in YOU, not the world, feasting on YOUR Word, and learning to not only rest in YOU, but to also walk and work in the power of YOUR precious Holy Spirit!

“In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood

by books the number of the years,

whereof the word of the LORD

came to Jeremiah the prophet,

that he would accomplish seventy years

in the desolations of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face

unto the Lord God,

to seek by prayer and supplications,

with fasting,

and sackcloth,

and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God,

and made my confession, and said,

O Lord, the great and dreadful God,

keeping the covenant and mercy

to them that love him,

and to them

that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned,

and have committed iniquity,

and have done wickedly,

and have rebelled,

 even by departing from thy precepts

and from thy judgments:

6 Neither have we hearkened

unto thy servants the prophets,

which spake in thy name

to our kings,

our princes,

and our fathers,

and to all the people of the land.

7 O Lord,

righteousness belongeth unto thee,

but unto us

confusion of faces,

as at this day;

to the men of Judah,

and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and unto all Israel,

that are near,

and that are far off,

through all the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

and unto all Israel,

that are near,

and that are far off,

through all the countries whither

thou hast driven them,

because of their trespass

that they have trespassed against thee.

8 O Lord, to us belongeth

confusion of face,

to our kings,

to our princes,

and to our fathers,

because we have sinned

against thee.

9 To the Lord our God

belong mercies

and forgivenesses,

though we have rebelled against him;

10 Neither have we obeyed

the voice of the LORD our God,

to walk in his laws,

which he set before us

by his servants the prophets.”   Daniel 9:2-10

What does this have to do with rest?  Good question.  As we think about the life of Daniel, we find that scripture has nothing negative to say about this faithful man of God; this man who was a teenage captive of the Babylonians when they conquered Jerusalem, yet he had made up his mind to be faithful before his GOD regardless of his circumstances, and we can have that same confidence when we learn to rest in God in total obedience with a commitment to faithfulness before HIM (Dan. 1:8).  Notice that Daniel never says “they did….”, but we; even though he was personally innocent before God (see chapter 6:22), yet he identified with his people’s sin.  Oh, to be found faithful before God, even when that means I must learn to “rest” in HIM, not depend upon ‘self’ as I identify with other’s failures! Ouch!

The Psalmist says it better than I can:

“Fret not thyself

because of evildoers,

neither be thou envious

against the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down

like the grass,

and wither

as the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off:

but those that wait upon the LORD,

they shall inherit the earth.”  Psalm 37:1-9

And just some food for thought about “rest”—it can also include: rely upon God, run to God and not the world, relax in God’s total sovereign control, and rehearse continually what I know to be the true, reliable and proven character of my God by staying in HIS WORD!  Fret not—but rest IN HIM!

“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

And just an observation: if we are called to “rightly” divide God’s Word, it can also be “wrongly” divided; and if we haven’t “rightly divided” for ourselves we will be subject to believing the “wrongly divided” opinions of the world!

Amen and Amen!!!

Grace That Sustains??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 21

18 Monday Apr 2022

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Daniel's choices, Good News, Grace, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Repentance, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Turn to God's Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 21   Grace That Sustains???

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

We’re all familiar with the story of Daniel’s three friends and the fiery furnace, but do we really understand the import of the stand that these three godly young men took?  They demonstrated an amazing trust, confidence and assurance of the grace, power and sufficiency of their GOD—The Sovereign Lord God Almighty of Israel!  The God who reigns in all things; all things that they had seen, and experienced because they had determined to serve their God faithfully no matter the circumstances of their service to a pagan king in Babylon!  They knew that God’s power, grace and provision would deliver them, either out of the fire or through it into HIS presence!  How about you and me?

“But Daniel purposed in his heart

that he would not defile himself

with the portion of the king’s meat,

nor with the wine which he drank:

therefore he requested of the prince

of the eunuchs

that he might not defile himself”. Daniel 1:8

While Daniel and his friends had a faith and confidence in God’s grace, we can also have that amazing, glorious, life-giving grace which God in His mercy has provided for us at Calvary.

“For we ourselves also were sometimes

foolish,

disobedient,

deceived,

serving divers lusts and pleasures,

living in malice and envy,

hateful,

and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love

of God our Saviour

toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.”   Titus 3:3-7

Kind of like something I recently heard, “No matter how hard you try, you can’t get an egg from a rooster”!  Now some of you dear city friends may not get it, but just FYI, only “hens” lay eggs!  So, our self-righteousness is just about as likely to get us to heaven on our own, as waiting on an egg from a rooster!  Paul had a great deal to say about our inability to save ourselves, apart from the grace of God.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And as he told the believers in Rome:

“What then?

are we better than they?

No, in no wise:

for we have before proved

both Jews and Gentiles,

that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no,

not one:

11 There is none that understandeth,

there is none that seeketh after God…

….23 For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:”   Portions of Romans 3:9-24

We must decide if we want to be a man, woman, boy or girl of faith and obedience, or if we want to walk our own way! Grace is God’s provision, but we must be willing to repent of our sin—going our own way—and believe in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for SIN.  The very resurrection of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus, whose saving work of redemption we celebrate and praise God for each day but especially on this most special day of recognizing the work of grace, love and redemption that God has provided, and continues to provide for “whosoever will”!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”  John 3:14-16

Jesus was lifted up in a ‘wilderness of sin’, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in a geographic wilderness.  The question is which “whosoever” are you?  One of the believers and receivers, or one of the rejecters and hence the doomed?

“And he commanded us to preach

unto the people,

and to testify

that it is he

which was ordained of God

to be the Judge

of quick and dead.

*** 43 To him

give all the prophets witness,  ***

that through his name

whosoever believeth in him

shall receive remission of sins.”  Acts 10:42-43

Paul reiterated to the believers at Rome that salvation is a grace gift that is available to “whosoever” will call upon Jesus!

“But what saith it?

The word is nigh thee,

even in thy mouth,

and in thy heart:

that is, the word of faith,

which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess

with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe

in thine heart

that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart

man believeth unto righteousness;

and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith,

Whosoever believeth on him

shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference

between the Jew and the Greek:

for the same Lord over all

is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.”  Romans 10:8-13

I implore you to please come to The Lord Jesus to receive HIS saving grace!  There is only one alternative, and I pray that you will choose Jesus instead.  God’s sufficient grace is just that, “all sufficient” for saving, leading, keeping and escorting us into the very presence of God, in HIS time!

“And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man according to their works.

14 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 20:12-15

The choice is yours, but don’t miss the grace of God which is there for YOU; not just saving grace, but as I mentioned above, ‘saving, leading, keeping and escorting’ grace—provided by the blood of Jesus Christ, which “cleanseth us from all sin”! (See Matthew 1:21 & 1 John 1:7)!

“But by the grace of God

I am what I am:

and his grace which was bestowed upon me

was not in vain;

but I laboured more abundantly than they all:

yet not I,

but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

Amen and Amen!!!