Author Archives: Blanche

If It’s In It Will Come Out??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #357

06 Wednesday Mar 2019

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #537   If It’s In It Will Come Out???

 

“Shall not God search this out?

for he knoweth the secrets

of the heart.”  Psalm 44:21

We often talk about making lemonade out of the ‘lemons’ that we find ourselves with, but there’s a catch to that.  As the old adage asks, “What do you get when you squeeze a lemon?”  While most say, “lemon juice”, the truth is, you’ll only get out of the lemon what is in it! If it’s a dry lemon, you won’t get any juice at all—you’ll just squeeze and get nothing.  Well, our spiritual walk with God is much the same; when the squeeze comes—trials, burdens, sorrows, difficulties, or tragedies—and it will come, what you’ve put in your heart will come out; what we continually put into our hearts and minds, will be revealed when that ‘squeeze’ comes.  Jesus tells us the same thing, and more than once!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”    Matthew 12:34-35

And again, Matthew records:

“But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”  Matthew 15:18-20

Jesus makes it clear that what is IN our heart will come out sooner or later!  We can fool others, we can even fool ourselves, but we will never fool God.  And when the crisis comes—what is inside will be revealed, and it may surprise even us! So, it’s important to spend time with God personally, reading His Word, praying and seeking His face, His will and His way.  I understand that we all have to deal with life, but we are to “walk in the Spirit”; meaning that we are to live every moment—at work, at home, at play, at school—asking, seeking, and knocking with God’s eyes and perspective in all we do.  Whether it’s making coffee for a friend, or washing dirty clothes and dishes, or digging ditches, or checking out of the grocery store—it’s all to be done by His power which is within each one who is His own.  But that means we must-–must—guard our hearts and minds from the attacks of the enemy.

“Keep thy heart

with all diligence;

for out of it

are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

And as Paul told the Colossians, we are to work and live in His love and peace (both of which only Jesus can impart to lost hearts and minds)!

“And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 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 3:14-17

We are to continually pursue the holiness of Jesus, and “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus”; and that doesn’t mean just slapping “in Jesus’ name” on the things we do, but doing His work, His way, for His glory and our continual surrender to HIM!  His name isn’t a magic “potion”, but HIS presence in HIS own is a supernatural power of grace, mercy and redemption!

So, what’s inside you?  Have you opened every room of your heart to Jesus’ presence, work and control? Or have you those locked off rooms that are coming out in the most inopportune times?  Jesus is ready, willing and able to forgive, restore and renew your life and walk with Him!  Won’t you join me today as we check out what’s “inside”?  It will come out, and what we have put in will truly come out!!!

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You In Focus??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 03

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in Crucified With Christ, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.03     Are You In Focus???

 

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders

obtained a good report.

3 Through faith

we understand that the worlds were framed

by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things

which do appear…….

6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”   Hebrews 11:1-3 & 6

There is a lot of talk about “faith”, but the thing that we often miss, is that ‘faith’ doesn’t save and keep, but the object of ‘our faith’ is our only security!  I may ‘believe’ that a stone will save and keep me, but the truth is that it has no existential power.  God on the other hand, is all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient), and omnipresent (all present).  It’s not so much that God is everywhere, but that wherever anyone is, God is already there.  The Psalmist reminds us of God’s power, pre-imminence, and provision.

“Whither shall I go

from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee

from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold,thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not

from thee;

but the night shineth

as the day:

the darkness and the light

are both alike to thee.”  Psalm 139:7-12

We learn so much about the character of God from the Psalmists, as well as all of scripture, for those who come to HIM. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we “must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.  God loves us and calls us to trust Him—Him who is worthy of our trust and faith—and faith placed in Him will never be insufficient.  Only Jesus can and will save—HE is the only way to God, for HE paid the price for our salvation on the cross!  Peter reminds us that we can come to Him with confidence!

“To whom coming,

as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God

by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion

a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone

which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were

appointed.

9 But ye

are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth

the praises of him

who hath called you

out of darkness

into his

marvellous light:”   1 Peter 2:4-9

Jesus is the “corner stone” and we who come to Him in repentance and faith, are built upon Him.  As we compare the contrasts in Peter’s warning above, we see that there are those who “stumble at the word”—those who refuse to believe, and hence are “being disobedient”, and yet Peter tells us that “ye” (we, those who have come to Jesus and have been born again) have answered the call and placed our faith in the only One who saves.  The point being that we are given the free will to choose whether we will believe in the Gospel or go our own way.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we are to yield ourselves to His Spirit and walk in His ways—the way of the Holy Spirit.

“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 & 25

We can only do this by pursuing the crucified life—Jesus calls us to it, and Paul describes it beautifully.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-26

There is no other offering/sacrifice for sin but Jesus, and as He said, “what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”.  The only payment for sin, is death and hell, or Jesus’ sacrifice, it is only Jesus who gives life—eternal life.  And when HE gives us life, we have victory in Him—not only victory over death and hell, but victory in everyday living; all by dying to self and living unto Him, led by His Spirit.

“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

This is how we walk by faith, with confidence in the veracity and dependability of God and His Word.  Yet if I don’t know His Word, I may fall for the lies of the enemy, and they are abundant around us.  There are two choices—a life lived in the fleshly lusts or a life lived in the Spirit of Jesus, and the works or fruit will reveal our choice!  What do your works/fruit reveal?

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such

there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.”  Galatians 5:17-24

Did you notice that Paul lists the “works of the flesh”, but then he contrasts this to the “fruit of the Spirit”!  We don’t “work” our way to heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He imparts His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, and we simply have to live for HIM, to bear fruit—and notice it is “fruit” (singular) and not ‘fruits’ (plural).  The “fruit” is God’s not ours, we simply need to fix our eyes on JESUS, and “walk in the Spirit”, abiding IN Him, and He will lead our every step and be glorified in our lives as we abide IN Him!

“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 15:5

And that’s why Paul could say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

I can only ‘do’ because I “be” born again (not good grammar, but a great example) and have the Holy Spirit within!  So, I am determined to keep my focus on Jesus!  I long to hear that “Well done, thy good and faithful servant” when I face Him!  In the mean-time, we are to run our race (no one else’s race, but the one that Jesus has set before ‘you/me’)!  And whether my race includes ease, or pain; joy or sorrow; lack or abundance, I/we can proclaim with Job, “though He slay me, still will I trust Him”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son, despise not thou

the chastening of the Lord,

nor faint

when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth…

 8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:1-6, 8

Do you know Jesus the Savior? Are you focused on YOUR race for and with Him?  Jesus gives “abundant life” IN Him, so may you have a blessed week keeping your eyes on Jesus, focusing on HIM, and run your race faithfully before The Lord, that others may see HIM!

Amen and Amen!

Faithful Is HE Who Promised!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #536

01 Friday Mar 2019

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #536   Faithful Is HE Who Promised!!!

 

There is a conundrum (something that puzzles) in speaking of God’s promises, in that not all of His promises may apply to us specifically!  What do I mean?  Simply put, we must always consider the context of any promise, for some things that people consider ‘promises’ are simply principles of truth instead of promises; and also, some promises are to specific people in specific situations or times.  We can never violate the context to claim any promise!  Let’s look at some promises and principles.

“And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly;

and I pray God

your whole spirit

and soul

and body

be preserved blameless

unto the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he

that calleth you,

who also will do it.”   1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Paul was free to pray for his friends in this church—to pray for their sanctification and spiritual maturity unto “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul wasn’t speaking for God, but simply praying for his friends, and reminding them to trust The One who was able to grow them, the faithful God who had called them to Christ!  Our confidence must always be totally in HIM, not ourselves.

“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 10:12-13

There are those who debate what this passage means, and whether it is a promise; but I’d rather simply look at what Paul says!  He warns those who think they are ‘above’ stumbling, to take heed and remember that it is God who delivers, keeps and protects—not self!  Paul also reminds these believers that “God is faithful”, that we will never face anything that is outside of God’s sovereign control!  He assures them—and us—that no matter what temptation or trial we may face, GOD knows where we are, and HEwill provide a means to “able to bear it”!  God will get us through it, whether He gets us “out of it”, or as the three Hebrew children in Daniel 3 understood—if it’s not in God’s timing or will to deliver us “out of” the fire—HE is still faithful and will deliver out of or through–and we can trust HIM (so we will not bow before other ‘gods’)!

Job understood this principle of the faithfulness of God, and I pray that we will all learn to trust Him and rest in His promises and His principles—and there is often a difference.

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain

mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:10

Job knew that God’s faithfulness was totally trustworthy, but he also understood that he had a responsibility to live a life of integrity before God and man. And we only do that, with our eyes fixed on Jesus, in the power of the cross, and by His indwelling Holy Spirit!  Job knew about abiding in God.

“Now ye are clean through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abidein me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abidein the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abidein 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 15:3-5

So, let us take heart today, no matter the trials or temptations that you/I are facing—our
God is faithful and we can draw near to Him!

“Let us draw near

with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast

the profession of our faith

without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised😉”   Hebrews 10:22-23

All because, “whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”!

Amen and Amen!

 

Faith Trusts In The Dark!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #535

27 Wednesday Feb 2019

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #535   Faith Trusts In The Dark!!!

 

Israel went through the wilderness for forty years, and sometimes we can feel like we are in that situation; but our God is faithful in the wilderness, in the valley and on the mountain top!  He is with us in the light and in the dark—no matter how we “feel”, we must walk by faith and rely on our confidence in The One who holds “today” as well as “tomorrow” not our ‘feelings’!  (That might make a great song 🙂 !)

I simply want to share a brief reminder for us today.  As so many across the country are in difficult situations with floods, blizzards, ice and storms, political chaos and fear, but we can take heart knowing our God has us in HIS hand.

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee,

O Jacob,

and he that formed thee,

O Israel,

Fear not:

for I have redeemed thee,

I have called thee by thy name;

thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire,

thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God,

the Holy One of Israel,

thy Saviour…:”  Isaiah 43:1-3a

We can be victorious IN JESUS, because our God reigns!  And a young prophet and servant of God, Daniel, reminds us that when we are faced with the crises of life—our God still reigns!!! You can trust HIM in the dark—always!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God

for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep

and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom

and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

Amen and Amen!!

 

Where Are Your Idols??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 02

24 Sunday Feb 2019

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.02  Where Are Your Idols???

 

Ezekiel was a Levitical priest taken into Babylonian captivity during the second siege of Jerusalem; there he was called to prophecy to the people during their captivity.  You might say that while Jeremiah was called the ‘weeping prophet’, Ezekiel was the ‘graphic prophet’—for God called him to act-out various ‘skits’ before the people showing what was yet to come in Jerusalem/Judah!  And while there was very little good news, God did give us a mighty picture of what He thinks about our sin—whether it’s open or hidden.

“And he put forth the form of an hand,

and took me by a lock of mine head;

and the spirit lifted me up

between the earth and the heaven,

and brought me in the visions of God

to Jerusalem...”  Ezekiel 8:3a

Ezekiel was taken in this vision to Jerusalem, but what God showed him was heartbreaking; and I think if we will receive the message ourselves, our hearts may be broken too!  Maybe we can start to see things the way that God sees them, and that’s what we need to do all the time.

“He said furthermore unto me, Son of man,

seest thou what they do?

even the great abominations

that the house of Israel

committeth here,

that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations.

7 And he brought me to the door of the court;

and when I looked,

behold a hole in the wall.

8 Then said he unto me,

Son of man,

dig now in the wall:

and when I had digged in the wall,

behold a door.

9 And he said unto me,

Go in,

and behold the wicked abominations

that they do here.

10 So I went in and saw;

and behold every form of creeping things,

and abominable beasts,

and all the idols of the house of Israel,

pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

11 And there stood before them

seventy men of the ancients

of the house of Israel,

and in the midst of them stood

Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,

with every man his censer in his hand;

and a thick cloud of incense went up.

12 Then said he unto me,

Son of man, hast thou seen

what the ancients of the house of Israel

do in the dark,

every man in the chambers of his imagery?

for they say,

The LORD seeth us not;

the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

13 He said also unto me,

Turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

that they do.

14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate

of the LORD’S housewhich was toward the north; and, behold,

there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

15 Then said he unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

than these.

16 And he brought me into the inner court

of the LORD’S house,

and, behold,

at the door of the temple of the LORD,

between the porch and the altar,

were about five and twenty men,

with their backs toward the temple

of the LORD,

and their faces toward the east;

and they worshipped the sun

toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

Is it a light thing to the house of Judah

that they commit the abominations

which they commit here?

for they have filled the land

with violence,

and have returned

to provoke me to anger:

and, lo,

they put the branch

to their nose.”    Ezekiel 8:6-17

I know this is a lengthy passage, but it’s important that we see that just claiming to be God’s own, isn’t what it’s all about!  The nation of Israel had disregarded the worship of God and gone their own way! But even more heart-breaking is the fact that they didn’t walk away, but they brought all their idols, and abominations, and wickedness into God’s house!  The place that was to represent to them, the very presence of God, they had disregarded so much that they brought all of their ‘ways’ into His house and abandoned HIM!

Much like the church of today, which has chosen so often, to replace God’s way with the world’s way! We are no longer contented to seek God’s way, to spread the undiluted Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ The Lord; but have invited the world to come in with their glitz and glamour, so to speak, to replace the truth of God.  We no longer cling to The Word of God, we trust to popular psychology, men’s ideas, plans and programs instead of the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was shown a religious people—even the leaders of the nation and the temple—yet they had brought idolatry, false worship, and abominations into the sanctuary of God! How it breaks my heart that we have so abandoned the piety that used to represent the church.  I’m not talking about arrogance or hypocrisy, but a genuine regard for the purity and humility that God’s Word calls us to.  As well as the desire to cling to and preserve biblical standards, and the exclusivity of the Gospel!

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die

in your sins:

for if ye believe not

that I am he,

ye shall die

in your sins.”   John 8:24

We are all born in sin, but we have the opportunity to choose life in Jesus.  As Jesus told the religious people of His day, and us today—if we don’t believe that HE IS the God-Man-Savior, we will die in our sin—HE is the only cure for the penalty of sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Even the Apostle Paul calls us to singularity of purpose—to preach Christ alone for the salvation of men, women, boys and girls!

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined

not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Jesus is not only our only hope—He is the One who saves and transforms lives to the glory of God, and for our good. He came to save us from sin—not leave us in it!

“ And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name

Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus came to be “God with us”, to pay for our sin! Sin is the issue, no matter how our culture renames it, colors it, or tries to make it look acceptable—Sin Is Sin!  It is, it has been, and it will always be the issue!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

Yet, because God loves us, we don’t have to die for our own sin!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I hate to be so repetitive, but with so many voices around us denying the truth of the Gospel, I must proclaim HIS truth, no matter how old the message seems!  Jesus makes it perfectly clear in His conversation with Nicodemus.

“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

We can never be good enough to gain God’s favor, or work our way into heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He makes us new creatures IN Himself, because HIS blood cleanses us from sin, and makes us new!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us

from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:5-9

John wrote that if we continually walk in darkness, we ought to check out what we think saved us. He says that we are deceived if “the truth is not in us”, for Jesus IS the truth, and if His truth isn’t in us (in the person of the Holy Spirit), HE isn’t in us—and if HE isn’t in us, then we can’t walk in the light!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not

the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”   Romans 8:8-9

 It is the Holy Spirit of God who imparts the new life to us and comes to dwell within those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, by the blood of Jesus.  It is Jesus’ blood and His righteousness that helps us be what HE saves us to be.

“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…….

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 5:17-19 & 21

Jesus took our place when He died on Calvary, and God imparts His righteousness to us when we receive HIM, because HE took our sin upon Himself on that cross!  Praise God for His amazing grace, love and mercy.

But back to Ezekiel and his people; are we lying to ourselves and others just like Israel did? Have we brought our idols into HIS church?  Have we, are we now, trying to conform the church to the world?  Or are we willing to stand fast and hold the church to God’s biblical standard?  Would we rather accept whatever makes people feel good about themselves; or are we willing to speak the truth in love, trusting to God to bring them to the cross for whatever need they may have?  Have we died to self, that we might live to Christ Jesus our Lord with our whole being?

“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.”   James 4:1-4

James was writing to those in the church—he called those who were being friends of the world—adulterers and adulteresses!  Who is your friend?  Jesus or the world?  Only you can choose.  And no matter who you may fool in this life, you can never fool God.  Are you measuring life by God’s standard or the world’s?  What are your idols?  Or will you join me in asking God to help us to be a “living sacrifice” to our God—on HIS terms?

“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.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

Are you leading others to be conformed to Jesus?  Or is the world conforming you to the image of itself?  May God open our eyes to see truth—His truth.

“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

Amen and Amen!!!