Author Archives: Blanche

Joyfulness Is Contagious!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #751

08 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God's love, God's provision, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy To The World?, The Joy of The Lord!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #751  Joyfulness Is Contagious!!!

 

I truly believe this statement of our title—joyfulness is contagious—but we must have joy before we can share it!  I also believe that we can often be distracted from the “joy of the Lord” and become consumed with the “doubt of the world” instead.  Joy is a choice of those who belong to Jesus; a choice to walk in the confidence that our God gives and overcome the doubt that surrounds us.

“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

This passage is from the prophet Nehemiah’s instructions to the people as they celebrated the completion of the wall around the city of Jerusalem.  If you take the time to read the entire book you will find that Nehemiah had led the people in not only a building project, but a project that was completed under great difficulty and opposition.  Here Nehemiah was encouraging the people to put their confidence in God’s provision, and to remember that “the joy of the LORD is your strength”!  It is what we must remember and count on as well.

No matter the challenge, God is ever faithful to provide us with everything that we need; there is never a trial or test that catches our God unaware!  He is ever faithful to provide, especially for HIS own—and God knows those who are really HIS own!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”   2 Timothy 2:19

And as Jesus said, HE knows HIS own sheep, and they know HIM, and follow HIM!  The question is, who are you following?  From whom or what do you get your strength? The world’s praise?  A bottle (no matter what is in it)?  Success on your job?  Wealth, fame, popularity, or any other worldly prize?  If your confidence and hope are not in Jesus, you have allowed yourself to be misdirected.  But the straight way is still here!

“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 10:27-30

For those who deny Jesus’ deity, this passage sets it straight; Jesus made this clear and certain statement of His own deity, “I and my Father are one”!  For those who claim that Jesus never claimed to be God, here is the true statement that HE made, and HE IS GOD!  And back to that straight way!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

This is a contrast that many don’t want to consider today, but Jesus said it, and that settles it, whether you/I believe it or not!  If I may paraphrase, Jesus said that there is a wide, easy, popular way that MANY will choose—but it leads to destruction!  Yet Jesus called us to choose the “strait gate”, even though it is narrow, difficult, and not very popular, for “few there be that find it”!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And we who know Jesus and belong to HIM will have HIS joy, as well as HIS strength to press on for HIS glory and our good.

“As the Father hath loved me,

so have I loved you:

continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments,

ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father’s commandments,

and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you,

that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment,

That ye love one another,

as I have loved you.”  John 15:9-12

So, will you walk in “the joy of the Lord”, or flounder around in the lies of the world?  Won’t you join me and choose JOY?

Please do—HE has never failed me and HE never will, and Jesus surely came that our “joy might be full”!  Let your joy be contagious!!!

“Nevertheless my lovingkindness

will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”  Psalm 89:33

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen!!!

No Matter The Valley??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 20

05 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Looking up Or around?, Valley of The Shadow of Death, Walk in the Spirit, What's your valley?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 20  No Matter The Valley???

 

Perhaps like your household, we have been through many changes in recent days; some due to our health, some simply due to times and seasons of change.  Yet I have been reminded in these perilous and roller-coaster-days that God is still God—God is still good—and I still trust HIM.  I think the Psalmist said it best!

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down

in green pastures:

he leadeth me

beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth

my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk

through the valley

of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table

before me

in the presence

of mine enemies:

thou anointest

my head with oil;

my cup

runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell

in the house of the LORD

for ever.”  Psalm 23:1-6

David makes it so clear that his confidence is in The Lord—

The One who is HIS shepherd—

And HE can be ours—JESUS—

The One who meets our needs—

Physical—Mental–Spiritual—

He provides for us in every way—

Rest—

Direction—

Leadership—

Restoration—

Both physical and spiritual—

HIS presence in the “valley” of death—

Comfort in our trials—

Assurance of HIS care—

A place in HIS kingdom forever—

We simply have to receivce HIM as our shepherd personally.

“All that the Father giveth me

shall come to me;

and him that cometh to me

I will in no wise cast out…

…39 And this is the Father’s will

which hath sent me,

that of all which he hath given me

I should lose nothing,

but should raise it up again

at the last day.

40 And this is the will

of him that sent me,

that every one which seeth the Son,

and believeth on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”   John 6:37 & 39-40

Jesus makes it clear throughout scripture that when we come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice, HE will give us eternal life with HIM—and that eternal life starts immediately when we believe not just when we “get to heaven”!  His promise is faithful for every task, every trial, and every valley that we may encounter!

“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.”  John 10:7-11

The good shepherd, Jesus, gave HIS life for us at Calvary, and we will only find life in HIM.  There is only One Way to God and HIS name is Jesus; and when we receive HIM, we will have that peace, direction, rest and all we need to face every valley—even the one that is the “shadow of death”, where we can “fear no evil” when Jesus is with us, in us, and working through us for HIS glory and our good.  All by the power of the precious Holy Spirit of God, who comes to dwell in those who come 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.”  Romans 5:1-6

Jesus saved us because HE loved us, and only you can decide what you will do with the free gift of salvation that Jesus purchased “with his own blood”!  As Jesus told Mary that HIS life (and death) would deliver us from sin, death, and hell, giving us “LIFE”!

“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming,

went and met him:

but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus,

Lord, if thou hadst been here,

my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now,

whatsoever thou wilt ask of God,

God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her,

Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him,

I know that he shall rise again

in the resurrection at the last day.

25 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 11:20-26

Even as we consider Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, we find that Jesus is the only way!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God…

…7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

….14 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.

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.” Portions of John 3:3-19

So, the question is, have you believed and received Jesus, or will you continue to cling to your darkness and evil deeds (Jesus said it not me!)!  No matter the valley you may be facing Jesus will guide you through it if you will but look up instead of around.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

And in closing, Paul’s words from the letter to the Roman believers as there are always those in the church who still need to hear the truth.

“But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.

12 Wherefore,

as by one man sin entered into the world,

and death by sin;

and so death passed upon all men,

for that all have sinned:”   Romans 5:8-12

Won’t you come to The One who loves you and gave HIS life for you; and He will fill you with His Spirit when you come to HIM.

Amen and Amen!!!

My Strength Isn’t My Own! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 19

30 Monday Aug 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Confidence, Contentment, Encouragement

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 19.  My Strength Isn’t My Own!

 

“The LORD is my strength

and my shield;

my heart trusted in him,

and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;

and with my song will I praise him.”   Psalm 28:7

We have gone through some extreme changes in the last six weeks, and I have to admit, my body is totally weary and tired, but by God’s grace, strength, and power I have been able to do the things that needed doing.  We are in a new season, time, and place in our lives and yet our God is where HE has always been—in total, sovereign control, and I can’t tell you how much comfort, assurance, and confidence this gives to my heart.  It is my sustenance and I praise God for it.  I want to simply share a few passages of scripture to lift our hearts heavenward this morning.  The first may seem a little out of place but I hope you will consider the import of what it says—in fact I believe it is the foundational premise of the segment it begins.

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.”  Ephesians 6:10

This beginning of the “armor of God” passage is often skipped as we jump into the “important” list of the armor, but have you considered the import of this introductory statement that Paul makes?  As Jesus said in John 15, without HIM and HIS power, we “can do nothing”!  Whose strength are you relying on?

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken

unto you.

4 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 15:1-5

And in closing this brief post with you today, I pray that you will look up and not depend on your own “grit” and “power”, but on The Lord God Almighty whom I know reigns.  Is HE reigning in you?

“And I heard as it were the voice

of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent

reigneth.”  Revelation 19:6. Amen!!!

Faithful Provider, Always!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #750

27 Friday Aug 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abraham's Test, All About Jesus!, Faith, Faithful, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, God Knows, God Who Sees, God's love, God's provision, Grace, Let go...and let God, Trusting God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #750  Faithful Provider, Always!!!

 

“Know therefore

that the LORD thy God,

he is God,

the faithful God,

which keepeth covenant

and mercy

with them that love him

and keep his commandments

to a thousand generations;”   Deuteronomy 7:9

When things start (or continue) whirling around you and your strength seems to be sapped, your mind runs rampant with doubt, confusion, and uncertainty, it is then along with every other time in our lives that we need to look UP to our faithful Lord God Almighty, and HIS Son, Jesus, The Lamb of God which “taketh away the sin of the world”!  It is imperative that we understand the import of the truth that Jesus came to save sinners, and as Paul said, “of whom I am chief”, praise God, Jesus came to save sinners like me.

How about you?  Will you run to the One who died that you might have eternal life—abundant life—a transformed, holy life?  Oh, if I could sit down with you and share with you all that HE has done for me, pointing you to HIS cross.  It is why HE came.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

Jesus said of Himself:

“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.”  John 10:9-11

This went beyond even what John the Baptizer had said of Him!

“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

“I indeed baptize you

with water

unto repentance:

but he that cometh after me

is mightier than I,

whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:

he shall baptize you

with the Holy Ghost,

and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand,

and he will throughly purge his floor,

and gather his wheat into the garner;

but he will burn up the chaff

with unquenchable fire.”   Matthew 3:11-12

I love the Gospel of John for its beautiful and picturesque descriptions of Jesus and His many faceted work as the Lamb of God, The Good Shepherd, The Door, The Water of Life, The Bread of Life and more (I encourage you to delve into the Gospel of John and search these out for yourself!)!  This faithful God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—is ever working on our behalf; and if we will but avail ourselves of His provision, we would find a hope, power, and strength to press on no matter the challenges that confront us.

One of my favorite examples of the faithfulness of God is found in Genesis 22, where God puts Abraham’s faith to the test, and the result gave Abraham, and us, a profound picture of the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless “all” through Abraham (See Genesis 12:3).  Let’s peruse just the highlights of this amazing truth.

“And he said,

Take now thy son,

thine only son Isaac,

whom thou lovest,

and get thee into the land of Moriah;

and offer him there for a burnt offering

upon one of the mountains

which I will tell thee of.

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning,

and saddled his ass,

and took two of his young men with him,

and Isaac his son,

and clave the wood for the burnt offering,

and rose up, and went unto the place

of which God had told him.”   Genesis 22:2-3=

God called Abraham to yield up this “son of promise” and he willingly obeyed, as Hebrews makes so clear; for Abraham knew God would keep HIS promise.

“By faith Abraham,

when he was tried,

offered up Isaac:

and he that had received the promises

offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said,

That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up,

even from the dead;

from whence also he received him

in a figure.”  Hebrews 11:17-19

This is the crux of the story, that God gave Abraham a picture (“in a figure”) of what HE was going to do to fulfill HIS promises to Abraham; God would give HIS own son for us, just as God provided a ‘ram’ in Isaac’s place—God would provide “Himself”—”The Lamb of God”– to take “away the sin of the world”!  Redemption for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith, yesterday, today and until HE comes for HIS own!  For there is coming a time when many will find themselves coming one day “too late”!  But let’s finish up with Abraham’s story, with just a few verses to highlight the events, and you can fill in the rest as you take some time to read the entire chapter.

“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said,

My father:

and he said, Here am I, my son.

And he said,

Behold the fire

and the wood:

but where is the lamb

for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said,

My son,

God will provide himself

a lamb

for a burnt offering:

so they went both of them together.”  Genesis 22:7-8

And they went on and even as Abraham held the knife God spoke and provided! Praise God!  Praise God!  Praise God!  Jesus died for you and me!  God didn’t spare Jesus, because for you and me to be spared, “God so loved the world that HE GAVE” Jesus!!! (emphasis is mine).

“And Abraham stretched forth his hand,

and took the knife

to slay his son.

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him

out of heaven, and said,

Abraham, Abraham:

and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said,

Lay not thine hand upon the lad,

neither do thou any thing unto him:

for now I know that thou fearest God,

seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,

thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes,

and looked,

and behold behind him a ram

caught in a thicket by his horns:

and Abraham went and took the ram,

and offered him up for a burnt offering

in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place

Jehovahjireh:

as it is said to this day,

In the mount of the LORD

it shall be seen.”  Genesis 22:10-14

And in closing, I encourage you to ponder the wonder of what God truly revealed to Abraham!  Have you tuned your heart, mind, and ears to hear and see what the Lord has provided on your “Mount” of sacrifice?  I find it most interesting that it is likely that the same site of this experience for Abraham could have been the very spot of the sacrifice of God’s “only begotten son”!  Food for thought!

Wont’ you let HIM have your issues today?  It is so hard sometimes to humble ourselves and simply “let God” “be God”!  May this word from James remind and encourage each of us today.

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall

lift you up.”  James 4:10

Amen and Amen!!!

Grieved For Closed Eyes??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 18

22 Sunday Aug 2021

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Consider Your ways, Ears that hear not, Eyes that SEE HIM, Eyes that see not, Grief, Growing in Jesus!, Guard Your Heart, Turn to God's Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 18  Grieved For Closed Eyes???

 

Perhaps I am alone, but I must say my heart is grieved for the state of our nation, our culture and maybe even more for the church in America!  We seem to have become a people who regard our own ways more than the ways of The One we claim to love and serve.  How is it that our standards seem to be so far afield of The Word of God?  The prophet Jeremiah dealt with a people who claimed to be God’s own but walked in their own way, refusing to receive a Word from God, or heed what His prophets had to say!

“Declare this in the house of Jacob,

and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this,

O foolish people,

and without understanding;

which have eyes,

and see not;

which have ears,

and hear not:

22 Fear ye not me?

saith the LORD:

will ye not tremble

at my presence,

which have placed the sand

for the bound of the sea

by a perpetual decree,

that it cannot pass it:

and though the waves thereof

toss themselves,

yet can they not prevail;

though they roar,

yet can they not pass over it?

23 But this people hath a revolting

and a rebellious heart;

they are revolted and gone.”  Jeremiah 5:20-23

God also sent Isaiah to speak to a people who would not hear or heed, and He made it clear that HE knows the true hearts and motives of all men, women, boys, and girls, and He will keep account.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated

between you and your God,

and your sins

have hid his face from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.”  Isaiah 59:1-4

What are we choosing today?  As we look into the New Testament, the author of Hebrews makes it very clear that God’s Word IS the standard not ours; and HIS Word is the standard to which all will be held, and we need to discern wisely.  Yes, we have the freedom to choose, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

My whole confidence is centered in The Lord and HIS Word, and I pray that we will all run to HIM to not only seek HIS face but to know Him more and more through the power of His Word and His Spirit’s work in teaching us the truths it contains.  (See 2 Timothy 2:15 and 3:16-17)

“These things have I spoken unto you,

being yet present with you.

26 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 14:25-26

Notice The Spirit’s work is to bring things to our “remembrance”—that means I have to ‘member’ it first, HE won’t plant it for us.  I pray that this short post today will stir our hearts to prayer, Bible study, and faithful, holy living, that others will be drawn to the cross.  Here are a few more passages to direct our steps toward our Lord and HIS ways!  Remember God can and will often close the eyes and ears of those who choose to reject HIM.  Every person has been given the freedom to choose.  Joshua understood this as he called Israel to choose whom to serve.

“Now therefore fear the LORD,

and serve him in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods

which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you

to serve the LORD,

choose you this day

whom ye will serve;

whether the gods

which your fathers served

that were on the other side

of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:14-15

While the people responded in obedience before Joshua, Israel nor we today who claim Jesus/God, have always been faithful to HIM!  May we heed the warnings that God has for us today, as well as those in the past!  Even as Jesus gave John the message in The Revelation:

“Blessed is he

that readeth,

and they that hear

the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things

which are written therein:

for the time is at hand.”  Revelation 1:3

“They have not known

nor understood:

for he hath shut their eyes,

that they cannot see;

and their hearts,

that they cannot understand.”  Isaiah 44:18

“The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man,

thou dwellest in the midst

of a rebellious house,

which have eyes to see,

and see not;

they have ears to hear,

and hear not:

for they are a rebellious house.”   Ezekiel 12:1-2

Jesus also reminds us:

“Therefore speak I to them in parables:

because they seeing

see not;

and hearing

they hear not,

neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,

which saith,

By hearing

ye shall hear,

and shall not understand;

and seeing

ye shall see,

and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart

is waxed gross,

and their ears

are dull of hearing,

and their eyes

they have closed;

lest at any time

they should see

with their eyes,

and hear

with their ears,

and should understand

with their heart,

and should be converted,

and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes,

for they see:

and your ears,

for they hear.”   Matthew 13:13-16

And a couple of last truths to consider.

“Saying, Go unto this people, and say,

Hearing ye shall hear,

and shall not understand;

and seeing ye shall see,

and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people

is waxed gross,

and their ears

are dull of hearing,

and their eyes

have they closed;

lest they should see

with their eyes,

and hear

with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and should be converted,

and I should heal them.”    Acts 28:26-27

May your joy be full, and delight in the assurance that the Apostle John had in his Lord!

“That which was from the beginning,

which we have heard,

which we have seen with our eyes,

which we have looked upon,

and our hands have handled,

of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested,

and we have seen it,

and bear witness,

and shew unto you that eternal life,

which was with the Father,

and was manifested unto us😉

3 That which we have seen

and heard

declare we unto you,

that ye also may have fellowship

with us:

and truly our fellowship

is with the Father,

and with his Son

Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you,

that your joy may be full.”  1 John 1:1-4

Amen and Amen!!!