Author Archives: Blanche

Who Dropped The Ball??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #486

22 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Family, For Such A Time As This, Who Dropped The Ball?

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs #486 Who Dropped The Ball???

 

It’s almost football season—in fact many schools have already started, and the pre-season has begun—and no matter how you feel about sports, we’ve all heard of players dropping the ball, or missing a catch, or even running the wrong way. Those mistakes can have a high price tag—often the loss of the game. Well, my friends, we are in a much greater struggle than a sports competition, we are in a war for the hearts, minds and souls of men, women, boys and girls—the spiritual destiny of a world, a nation, a city—and even more of a root issue—the hearts and lives of families. Have we dropped the ball as a culture in the ideology of family? I believe we have, but we must strive to recover from our folly and restore the important core of our culture, of any culture—the family, the home, marriage and the valuing of life, all life!

When we abandon the moorings that God has given us we will see our ships drift into dangerous waters, storms and even destruction from the winds of life. We must recognize our true state, ask God’s forgiveness, and seek HIS wisdom and courage to make/be a change as we “stand fast in the evil day”! We can find some biblical insight into a ‘changing of the guard’ in scripture, which seems to parallel our state.

“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.

16 And the people answered and said,

God forbid

that we should forsake the LORD,

to serve other gods;”   Joshua 24:15-16

Joshua had led the children of Israel into the Promised Land and given each tribe their inheritance to possess and to complete the conquest of the remaining enemies. We find Joshua near the end of his life calling the people together to remind them of what God had done for them, and to call them to confront their tendency to wander from God and choose poorly. It is here that we find the great call that still stands the test of time, the call that we all face at one time or another, “choose you this day…….but as for me and my house we will serve the LORD.” We all must choose, and we do choose every day! But what are we choosing?

Like Israel, we often choose poorly, and the consequences of our choices always become manifest, and I believe our choices here in the US have sadly become clearly manifest.

“And Joshua the son of Nun,

the servant of the LORD,

died,

being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation

were gathered unto their fathers:

and there arose another generation

after them,

which knew not the LORD,

nor yet the works

which he had done for Israel.”   Judges 2:8-10

I saw an example of this principle a long time ago, it was a an empty chair—and the speaker reminded us that when we fail to pass on the truths to those who are following us when we are in “the chair”, then the next “chair” will be empty and our heritage will fail. The generation which followed Joshua and his contemporaries, “knew not the LORD”, and we are finding ourselves in the same boat today. But how did this happen? Let’s see what the word tells us.

“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:”   Deuteronomy 6:5-6

God makes it clear in this wonderful passage that we can never pass on that which we don’t possess—the first thing that we must each do is have a relationship with GOD, through His Son Jesus, and in that relationship “I” come to love The LORD “my” God! And when I am in a relationship with Him then I can love Him with “all my” heart, soul and might/mind—for He and His Word are in “my heart”! If I don’t have Jesus, then I have nothing to pass on, but when we do know HIM, God lays out the plan for passing the baton to the next generation. I wish we had time to go over this entire passage, but for time’s sake we will look at only a few verses today (I encourage you to spend some time today in this entire chapter, it will bless your soul, and it may transform your relationships!).

“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…..

18 And thou shalt do

that which is right

and good

in the sight of the LORD:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in

and possess the good land

which the LORD sware

unto thy fathers……

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…..

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.”    Portions of Deuteronomy 6:7-24

God’s plan was that we who know Him, would share our love of Him by our conversations with our children-morning, noon and night, and that we would do what was pleasing to GOD not man! And the thing that is so amazingly simple, is that God tells us that if we would do these things, and make sharing HIM a priority in our lives, and live a life that backs up what we profess, that one day our child would “ask” us why, and then we would have an opportunity to share with them the truth of what God has done for “me/you”! WOW! I love the beauty and simplicity of this passage—not easy but simply put and irrefutable!

If we will do things God’s way, we will see amazing results. I pray that you and I will take this to heart and regardless of our past failures and shortcomings before God, that we will commit to faithfully pursue God, follow His will and His Word, and be a reflection of His glory to those around us. That we will teach those in our charge at every opportunity—to see and avail ourselves of every teachable moment God places before us. Oh that God would grant us mercy and grace to see our culture experience a great awakening and move of God—and I believe it can start in our homes, spread to our churches and then to our towns, cities, states and even to the cultural sewer that we call our capital. May God have mercy on us, and may we pursue Him tirelessly.

“If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble

themselves,

and pray,

and seek

my face,

and turn

from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14

Amen and Amen—even so Lord Jesus!

What’s In Heaven??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 02

19 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by in Heaven or Hell, Witness

≈ 2 Comments

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 02 What’s In Heaven???

 

There’s an old gospel song (written by Don Nix as best as I can determine) with a refrain that reflects the mentality of our world, “Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die”! I want us to consider heaven in light of what scripture says in contrast to what popular culture has tried to make it. Jesus makes it really clear in his words to the disciples just before He went to the cross.

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go

and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord,

we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:1-6

We live in a culture that has concluded that ‘nice’ people go to heaven and ‘bad’ people go to hell; but there are a few problems with that outlook—first they have taken on the authority to determine “who” is ‘nice’ and who is ‘bad’ by their own standard not God’s. Another problem is that many today have also created “heaven” in their own image—anything from party-time for eternity, to a never-ending rodeo, to a ‘nirvana’ for all, totally oblivious to the holiness and character of The Almighty God who sent His only son to save those who will believe!

Jesus told his disciples, and us, that the only way to heaven is through HIM—salvation through His blood on the cross—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for all who will repent and believe in/accept His sacrifice for sin. For our sin is the issue no matter what men may say—it is what separates us from God, and it will have no place in heaven—for heaven is where Jesus The Son, God The Father and The Holy Spirit have their eternal home. Heaven is also contains a place Jesus is preparing for His own. And it is a place where HE is worshipped. As I’ve often heard—“Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people, who have placed their faith in Jesus”, and are pleased to love and serve HIM who delivered their souls from hell.

“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.”    John 3:14-19

While Jesus saves us by grace through faith, He also saves us and equips us for HIS service, a service of love given to the One who loves us, for His purpose, and His glory as well as our own good!

“But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 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 2:4-10

We are born again by the Holy Spirit of God, and being born again we become “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works”, with heaven as our home, not just in eternity but even now—for our minds are to be set on our heavenly king–always. We have access into the throne-room in heaven by Jesus, our constant Savior and source.

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

When Jesus puts us into His Kingdom service, we’re not on our own, but by His power we are empowered to continually pursue HIS mission for us (whatever that may be) by depending on His supply!

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying,

Lord, wilt thou at this time

restore again the kingdom

to Israel?

7 And he said unto them,

It is not for you to know the times

or the seasons,

which the Father hath put

in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost

is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses

unto me

both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part

of the earth.”   Acts 1:6-8

His witnesses, but if you don’t know Him, you have nothing to witness to! Why would people who reject God want to go to heaven when it will be so full of GOD everywhere? In fact it saddens me that so many in Christendom today, are so eager to make the “church” palatable to the world, that they have made the church a place where everything is welcome except God’s Word and His Holy Spirit! The church was commissioned to be God’s witnesses—God’s way—not man’s.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,

All power is given unto me

in heaven

and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore,

and teach all nations,

baptizing them

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them

to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo,

I am with you alway,

even unto the end of the world.

Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

We are sent out in Jesus Name—but also HIS power “Go ye therefore”, not our own. What an amazing way God has—He never asks us to do anything that HE hasn’t already provided for. In fact Jesus told us that without Him (and His power) we can do nothing!

“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

What does all of this have to do with “heaven”? A lot really, for Jesus is “Who” is in heaven, and “who” has provided the way to be there. So it ought to be Him that we desire to be with—yet it amazes me that people have made “heaven” something totally removed from Jesus and scripture—simply a place for “nice” people, with or without Jesus   To read the obituaries is to see that almost everyone has gone to heaven, regardless of whether they have a relationship with Jesus or not. Well, I’m sorry friends, scripture is clear, heaven is where God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit are, and only those who belong to them will reside there (who also have their citizenship there when they are born again)! While this is not an easy, or popular thing to communicate, it is truth—God’s truth that never changes—it is life or death truth.

“And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write:

for these words are true and faithful.

6 And he said unto me,

It is done.

I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end.

I will give unto him that is athirst

of the fountain

of the water of life

freely.

7 He that overcometh

shall inherit all things;

and I will be his God,

and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful,

and unbelieving,

and the abominable,

and murderers,

and whoremongers,

and sorcerers,

and idolaters,

and all liars,

shall have their part 

in the lake which burneth

with fire

and brimstone:

which is the second death.”    Revelation 21:5-8

Jesus died so that mankind—all who believe in HIM—won’t have to experience the “second death”, but can have life in and through HIM!

“But now

being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”(The Doxology)!!! Amen and Amen. Heaven is the place where God is, and I want to be there with Him, and while many may make jokes about ‘going to hell to party with their friends’, Hell is no joke and Jesus tells us about a man who painted a picture of hell; and he didn’t’ reveal it as a “party hardy”, but as a place of torment; a place where he didn’t want his loved ones to come. You can read the entire account in Luke 16:19-31, while we’ll just look at portions:

“…. the rich man also died, and was buried; 23

And in hell he lift up his eyes,

being in torments,

and seeth Abraham afar off,

and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, ….

send Lazarus,

that he may dip the tip of his finger

in water,

and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented

in this flame.

25 ….. but now he is comforted,

and thou art tormented……..

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him

to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren;

that he may testify unto them,

lest they also come

into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him,

They have Moses

and the prophets;

let them hear them.

30 And he said,

Nay, father Abraham:

but if one went unto them from the dead,

they will repent.

31 And he said unto him,

If they hear not Moses

and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded,

though one rose from the dead.”   Portions of Luke 16:22-31

Hell is a place of torment! But the part of this story that I don’t want us to miss is that when the man in hell (hades) asked to have the beggar, Lazarus, sent to testify to his brethren, the response is surprising– that if they wouldn’t believe Moses and the prophets, they wouldn’t believe even if one returned “from the dead”! I find it most interesting that as Jesus told this story (and I believe this is a true story not a parable, as Jesus didn’t’ call anyone by name in any of His parables), He knew He was going to the cross to die for our sin, be buried and rise from the dead—and that most wouldn’t believe this truth then, and still don’t today.

So my point is, what are you expecting heaven to be? A party where you’ll just keep on doing what you want in a Utopian paradise; or are you just wanting relief from you present consequences? Or are you in love with Jesus and want to spend time worshipping HIM forever—for that is what we’ll be doing in heaven—not experiencing our earthly passions to a higher degree!

“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:

and they rest not day and night,

saying, Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

which was,

and is,

and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give

glory

and honour

and thanks

to him that sat on the throne,

who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders

fall down before him that sat on the throne,

and worship him

that liveth for ever and ever,

and cast their crowns

before the throne,

saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory

and honour

and power:

for thou hast created all things,

and for thy pleasure

they are

and were

created.” Revelation 4:8-11

Total, perfect, complete, and continual worship from His creations in Heaven! It’s what we are to seek here and now, and what Jesus told us to pray for (and pursue) continually.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

And while we’re on the subject, let me just say this—God’s Word reveals that “worship” is a life lived in yielded-ness to HIM and HIS will—not a 20 minute song service once a week. Worship is a 24/7 response to God’s authority and will in our lives—His Word and His Way, a heart that longs for heaven and the God who dwells there!

Yet we also need to consider that when believers face God, we will give an account of our stewardship of the life that HE gave us to use in service to Him. We will give an account to Jesus for our use of the resources that HE has blessed us with. So as we close, I want to share a passage with you, and simply say that “gold, silver and precious stones” are the things that are of God and His Spirit (man can’t produce them); and the “wood, hay and stubble” are the things that men/women do out of our own wisdom, strength and pride—that which is produced by ‘flesh’ not God! Do you have your foundation in Jesus? What are you building with on that foundation? Only One Way–Jesus—and heaven for those who are HIS own!!!

“For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work

shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire

shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work

shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.”   1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Are you longing to worship God every day or just once a week? If heaven is all about the worship of God, will you be at home there, or are you worshipping the creature (see Ro. 1:25)?

“Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:8

Amen and Amen!

Be Still…..Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #485

17 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in The Love of God, Walking With Jesus, Worship Him!

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs #485  Be Still……Really???

 

Just a few passages today to get us through a busy Friday with some encouragement from The Word. Sometimes we just need to take a break with Jesus!!

“Be still,

and know

that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”   Psalm 46:10-11

To ‘be still” is often a hard thing to do, but when we don’t take time to “be still” before God, we become overcome with the busy-ness of life that continually bombards us.

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke

upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

We have a wonderful Savior who calls us to walk beside Him as He promises that when we “yoke up” with Him, that He is the strength and sustenance that we need in any situation. It’s when we try to pull our own load that we become weary in soul, mind and body! Jesus knows that we need “rest unto your souls” and HE will provide it—even when the weariness is from serving HIM!

“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus,

and told him all things,

both what they had done,

and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them,

Come ye yourselves

apart

into a desert place,

and rest a while:

for there were many coming and going,

and they had no leisure

so much as to eat.” Mark 6:30-31

So as you hustle about on this busy day, take some time to look up, and draw near to Jesus and “rest” in HIM!

“Know ye that the LORD

he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.” Psalm 100:3-5

Amen and Amen!!!

But I Can’t Do THAT??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #484

15 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Contentment

≈ 4 Comments

Bible Ballistics: BBs #484 But I Can’t Do THAT???

 

I want to share with you all this morning something that is on my heart. As I was thinking about the difficulty that we face finding contentment in this crazy world of a “Get all you can. Can all you get. Then sit on the can!” mentality, it seems that every one wants more! It is reported that John D. Rockefeller, when asked, “How much money is enough?” responded, “Just a little bit more!” And he is considered by many to be the richest man of modern times, as he was the first “billionaire” in the early 1900’s. But no matter how much “more” we get—it will never be enough to satisfy, especially if “more” is where we are seeking our hope and fulfillment!

Consider the mentality of our culture—advertising is one of the biggest industries in America, trying to convince us that we need the latest, fastest, smartest, most popular techno-toys on the market; receiving exorbitant fees to convince us that we need to eat this “food” of “beauty”, the healthiest new ‘gimmick’ food fad, or the newly tweaked bling that “everyone” has! But God has a different message for us.

“For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37

Peter also wrote on the fleeting nature of this world’s ‘gain’!

“But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens

shall pass away

with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat,

the earth also

and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things

shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for

and hasting unto

the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens

being on fire

shall be dissolved,

and the elements

shall melt with fervent heat?”    2 Peter 3:10-12

As life is fleeting, we need to wisely choose to live for Jesus, pursuing a godly attitude and a contented heart and mind.

“But godliness

with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing

into this world,

and it is certain we can carry

nothing out.

8 And having food

and raiment

let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Paul reminded Timothy to pursue godliness rather than material gain, even as Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount to pursue heavenly treasure! Where is your heart?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures

upon earth,

where moth

and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

break through

and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures

in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”   Matthew 6:19-21

And just one more passage for us to ponder today as we get our mid-week activities checked off of our list.

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

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

Let’s make sure our confidence is in our God and Savior—not in this world’s ‘gain’! We don’t have to fret or fear—our God is faithful to provide!!! Amen and Amen!

Don’t Miss The Little Things!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 01

12 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, The Little Things., To Me To Live Is?

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 01 Don’t Miss The Little Things!!!

 

We often look at scripture cursorily (going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hastily; superficially) and miss things that can make a difference in how we understand what we are reading. I want us to consider a passage that has some small words that make a real difference.

“For to me

to live

is Christ,

and to die

is gain.”   Philippians 1:21

We often hear this verse quoted as “to live is Christ, and to dies is gain”, and while that is partially true, it gives a false impression of what Paul is saying, so we must look at the extended context of this passage and find that Paul said that “to me”, “to live is Christ”! Paul is encouraging the Philippian believers by sharing his sufferings for the sake of the gospel with them, he points out that many were being encouraged to boldness because of his perseverance in suffering. Yet not everyone was ‘living’ for Christ Jesus!

“And many of the brethren in the Lord,

waxing confident by my bonds,

are much more bold

to speak the word

without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ

even of envy

and strife;

and some also

of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention,

not sincerely,

supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love,

knowing that I am set

for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then?

notwithstanding, every way,

whether in pretence,

or in truth,

Christ is preached;

and I therein do rejoice,

yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation

through your prayer,

and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation

and my hope,

that in nothing I shall be ashamed,

but that with all boldness,

as always,

so now also

Christ shall be magnified

in my body,

whether it be by life,

or by death.” Philippians 1:14-20

Paul can rejoice, though he is in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, glad that his fellow believers in Philippi are being encouraged and growing in grace despite his suffering (and theirs) for the Gospel of Jesus! He also reminds them that the gospel has not only genuine followers, but also detractors—yet God is still in charge!

Paul reminds them and us that we can have total confidence in truth, because God is ever at work in “all things” and that he was assured that “whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached”, and we can trust our God to glorify HIS Son! At the same time, I pray that we will grasp the confidence that Paul is sharing with us, that we can depend on our God to accomplish HIS purpose, even when we don’t understand what is going on as we work and testify for HIM! Paul reiterates His confidence in the faithfulness of God, the Philippians, and even shares his confidence that God will deliver him (“my salvation”=his salvation from prison not from sin!) through their prayers for him. All of this context leads to verse 21 that we started with—that Paul is confident in God’s plan for him whether he lives or dies—that is why he could proclaim that “to me to live, is Christ”, and while he would love to continue his ministry for Jesus in the flesh—he longs to be with Jesus—that is “gain”!!! Yet Paul was willing to do whatever God had for him to do, for as long as God saw fit for him to help others! How do we assess things—by God’s standard or our own? Are we serving God? Others? Or self? Can we take Paul’s words for our own?

“For to me

to live

is Christ,

and to die

is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh,

this is the fruit of my labour:

yet what I shall choose

I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two,

having a desire to depart,

and to be with Christ;

which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh

is more needful for you.” Philippians 1:21-24

This is the same principle that Paul shared with the Galatians in a little different way! To be where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us to do—for HIS glory, and the good of others as well as ourselves—the crucified life:

“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 

So as we consider these things, may we truly say that “to me” to lives is Jesus ‘living in me’? It is the prayer of my heart—that I can truly be a reflection of Jesus to those God places in my path, and you and I/we can only accomplish that as we “walk in the Spirit” and “abide” in Jesus.

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

It’s all about leaning to ‘abide’ in HIM and ‘walk’ in the power and direction of His Holy Spirit, so that we can produce real fruit that brings Him glory—because it is all:

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

We need a mindset focused on pursuing God, continually desiring to hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant”, but the choice is ours. We choose the building materials of our life, and Paul describes the difference in his letter to the Corinthians. Paul had laid a foundation of truth when he shared the Gospel of Jesus with them—the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, for our sin (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-7)–and we can only build on that foundation—the only foundation, Jesus—“the way….the truth….the life…” for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”—there is only One Way! When we belong to Jesus we can choose to yield to His Spirit’s work and leading in us or we can try to “wing it” in our own strength and will—a blueprint for trouble—the difference between the precious building materials that Paul calls ‘gold, silver and precious stones’ and the futility of earthly things of ‘wood, hay and stubble’! What will you choose?

“According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation

can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”   1 Corinthians 3:10-16

We can please God only when we do things His way, with His provision—only God can create ‘gold, silver and precious stones’—the are material elements of creation. On the other hand we can grow the basics materials of ‘wood, hay and stubble’—but the fire is the test. The things of God will pass through the fire; the other will leave only a pile of ashes!!! May we follow the example of our Savior and seek to do God’s work, God’s way!

“Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him

that sent me,

and to finish his work.” John 4:34

And to know God’s will and way we must pursue and long for His Words—even the small ones, if not especially the small ones! Paul faced these issues many years ago, yet they are still “alive and well” in our culture today. We must choose each day whether we will go His way or not! We must read all the words—big and small—and apply them to our lives, not just pick and choose to go our own way, justifying our disobedient choices as we go!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…….

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.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of

vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”   Galatians 5:16, 22-26

Did you notice that little word, “if”? If we “live in the Spirit” we ought to “walk in the Spirit”, rather than to pursue “vain glory”, or to be “provoking”, or “envying one another”! Our “walk” needs to match our “talk”, as we sometimes hear in the modern proverb, “You may talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?” Many around us today are busy talking in a way that is provocative, full of envy and vain glory—self seeking seems to be the order of the day, rather than selfless pursuit of God’s purposes—may we ever choose Jesus’ way!

Simply put, I pray that we will keep our focus on our Lord Jesus, pursuing His pleasure not our own—not missing the little things because we’re in a hurry, or just don’t want to be bothered by the truth—feasting on His words, all of them! Glorying in Jesus not anything else!

“But God forbid that I should glory,

save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world is crucified unto me,

and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

May we ever keep our focus on the cross, and the Savior who gave Himself for us there, growing more and more into HIS image. Looking to HIM in all things.

“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.”   Hebrews 12:2

May we join the faithful mentioned in Hebrews 11, and as the gospel song says, “May all who come behind us find us faithful” (Find Us Faithful, by John Mohr), remembering that God is ever at work in us all the time—

in every way—         in every situation—

in every crisis—       in every triumph—

for our good and His glory—and God never says “oops”!

Amen and Amen!!!