Bible Ballistics: BBs #265    Standing In The Gap!!!

 

Those of us who belong to Jesus have been called to share the truth of the gospel, even though we live in a world that has gone after lies; lies about almost any subject that you’d like to mention. So how are we to respond? We must hold fast to the truth, and even when we are opposed on every hand we must cling to, and speak out the truth that Jesus is the ONLY way to God; Jesus is the only way to have peace with God; the only way to have a relationship with God; the only way to receive the forgiveness of sin (See Colossians 1:12-14). And without a personal relationship with God, through repentance and faith in the only Son of God and His death in your place and mine, there is no real hope—now or in eternity. JESUS is the truth and we must hold Him high.

“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

Jesus said of Himself, that HE is the only way to come to the Father. But how do we come to Jesus? We must come to Him realizing our lost, hopeless and desperate condition in our own sins—that we have a problem that we can’t fix. We must come to know and understand that while the “wages of sin is death”, God has made a way for us and Jesus is that way. We must trust and believe that those “wages” have been paid by Jesus; that while “the wages of sin is death”, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus came to deliver us from the power of sin—from the eternal death in hell—and yes, hell is real, but even more so, the “life” that Jesus gives! The choice is ours, yours and mine! (See Romans 3:23 & 6:23)

“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 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 8:23-24

We must believe that Jesus is God the Son, and that He came to dwell in a body of flesh through a virgin birth, that He lived a sinless life, and willingly went to Calvary to pay for MY sin! I have only to see my sinful condition before God, repent of my sin (simply turn from my way to God’s way, see Isaiah 53:6) and give myself to Jesus in faith and total dependence. And when we know the grace and mercy of God’s salvation in Jesus, then we are to share that truth with our world. Sharing with our lives, our words, our actions, and our responses to the evil around us—being a testimony of God’s truth, grace, holiness and love, through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.

But who is speaking truth. We hear lies all around us—calling people to be ‘happy’, ‘confident’, and full of “SELF” esteem, when what we need is the gospel which reveals our sin, and calls us to the only Savior, Jesus Christ The Lord!!! But are we standing in the gap of lies with the truth?

“The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 22:29-31

There is a price to pay for going our own way; we will “reap” what we “sow”!!! God makes His truth available through His Word, and we who know it are responsible for knowing and sharing it, but we have often failed to do so. Whose way are you going? Your own, or God’s? And we can only do God’s work God’s way, through HIS Son and HIS Spirit and power.

“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

We must choose to be God’s true and faithful servants, so we don’t fall for he lies of the enemy ourselves. And we also must prophesy the truth—Jesus! God has a message for those who share “lies”.

“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord;

3 Thus saith the Lord God;

Woe unto the foolish prophets,

that follow their own spirit,

and have seen nothing!

4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.

5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. 6 They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying,

The Lord saith:

and the Lord hath not sent them:

and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

7 Have ye not seen a vain vision,

and have ye not spoken a lying divination,

whereas ye say,

The Lord saith it;

albeit I have not spoken?

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God;

Because ye have spoken vanity,

and seen lies,

therefore, behold,

I am against you, saith the Lord God.”    Ezekiel 13:1-8

So, the decision is yours. Will you trust your life and salvation from sin to Jesus? If you already belong to Jesus, will you live a life of obedience, reflecting the holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world? The choice is ours—and the future of our world depends upon us—will we share the truth and bring others to the Savior that we love, or will we be false prophets who give people false hope, or by our silence give them no hope at all? May we all be listening to the voice of the Lord as we walk through this wicked and desperate world? We who know Jesus have been called to follow Him, and share His truth—HE IS TRUTH!!! The world needs us to “stand in the gap”—won’t you join me and ‘stand’?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #264    The Breath Of God!!!

All around us we hear about the “big bang”, or the “explosion of matter”, or other ‘theories’ of creation, yet we who believe in Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ know that God revealed our origins in HIS Word! We believe that “In the beginning God” was, He is now, and ever will be the creator of all. But why is it so important that we believe the first eleven chapters of Genesis? It is essential to believe these portions of scripture because without them, the rest of the Bible is of no value or import.

“In the beginning God

created the heaven and the earth…..

And God said,

Let us make man in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God created he him;

male and female created he them……

2:7 And the Lord God formed man

of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.”  Portions of Genesis 1 & 2

Why does it matter whether or not you believe this? Simply put, if God didn’t create the ‘heaven and the earth’, then none of the remainder of the account recorded in Genesis 1-11 are true either. If there was not a literal creation by our God, if there was no literal man and woman, called Adam and Eve, if there was no ‘Garden of Eden” and no command in regard to the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, then we can just throw in the towel. Why? Because if these things aren’t true, then there was no Adam and Eve, there was no breath of God in them, there was no command broken, there is then no “SIN” and we don’t need a “Redeemer”! It’s that simple! Either it’s all true, and we are dead in sin and need a Savior, or it’s not and we have no need of a Savior and Redeemer.

Oh, my friends we must understand that this is why it is so important to know the truth and be ready to defend the faith and the veracity of the Word of God. We must be prepared for the onslaught of the enemy to continue and gain in intensity and scope. We have become “fair game” to the world and it shouldn’t alarm us. It has been happening since the beginning. Those who follow God will often be in conflict with the world. Jude calls us to be aware and ready to “contend for the faith”.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3

Jesus told us that there would be opposition; after all they opposed and hated Him right to the cross. Why should we expect to be exempt (often because here in America we have historically had religious freedom, but that is changing rapidly)? We must hold to the tenets of scripture, and know that we were and are created in the “image of God”, and while sin brought death to the part of us that had intimate fellowship with God, we have the privilege of being restored to relationship with God through the blood of Jesus, by faith through God’s grace. A blessing, but also a responsibility to know the Truth of God and reflect His Glory! To display the “life “ that He puts within us through His Spirit when we are “born again”. It’s God’s work of grace and redemption that brings the “dead” to “life”—“life” through the blood of Jesus.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 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.” Ephesians 2:1-7

Have you received the “breath” of God into your life? Have you experienced the “new birth” that Jesus gives? Without it there is no hope. For we will all stand before God—those who have believed and trusted their lives to HIM– before Him as Redeemer for all eternity, but for those who refuse and reject Him a different fate. They will stand before Jesus not as Redeemer, but as Judge, and receive the consequences of their choices.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

So will you receive the “breath” of God and become a new and “living” soul, quickened (made alive) by the power of the cross? Will you trust to the saving power of the “blood of the Lamb” and have your name written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”? Or will you reject Him (by neglecting to respond to His call) and suffer the “breath” of the judge, Jesus Christ, and be “cast into the lake of fire”? The choice is yours. And if you know HIM already, will you be faithful to proclaim His truth and warn those who don’t?

I do not relish writing such heavy words, but they are words we need to hear, and share. The time is short, and we must sound the alarm. It is what we’re called to do.

“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 33:7-9

You’ve heard the call and the warning. What will you do with it? The choice is yours. May God do a work in our hearts, that we might be faithful “watchmen”! And may He call the lost through us. Even so Lord Jesus!

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 7 No. 19  He Is Our Hope!!!

When trials come, and they will come, we need to be prepared! And we prepare by knowing that God is faithful and true to His Word—and staying in His Word. Unless we know the truth about our God and His Son Jesus Christ, and realize all that we are and have “in Him”, we will just flounder from one place to another, or be tossed about through the difficulties and challenges of life. Paul warns about the need for maturity and confidence in Ephesians 4:

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with

every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:14-15

We must have our bearings set on God and His Word, with our focus on the faithfulness of our God, and His Son, our Redeemer. We can rejoice that our God never fails, and He always knows where we are, and what we need. In Him we can persevere, and stand in the “Blessed Assurance” that is found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The Lord reigneth;

let the people tremble:

he sitteth between the cherubims;

let the earth be moved.

2 The Lord is great in Zion;

and he is high above all the people.

3 Let them praise thy great

and terrible name;

for it is holy.” Psalm 99:1-3

“And said, O Lord God of our fathers,

art not thou God in heaven?

and rulest not thou over all

the kingdoms of the heathen?

and in thine hand is there not power and might,

so that none is able to withstand thee?”    2 Chronicles 20:6

In Psalm 139, the Psalmist paints an amazing picture of the sufficiency, sovereignty and security that we have in the Creator of the Universe. Confidence in the God who is the omniscient, omnipotent Redeemer of our souls—the one who had the plan before we ever needed it. God is in total control, and never fails! He will accomplish HIS purpose in you and me:

“O lord, thou hast searched me,

and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting

and mine uprising,

thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path

and my lying down,

and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue,

but, lo, O Lord,

thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me

behind

and before,

and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high,

I cannot attain unto it.

7 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.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully

and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect;

and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also

are thy thoughts unto me,

O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them,

they are more in number

than the sand:

when I awake,

I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:1-18

Where can we go and not be in His presence? No where! God our creator knows us better than anyone else here on this earth! The God of all creation knows us, loves us and offers His “Amazing Grace” to all who will believe and come to Him in repentance and faith. He offers forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from the penalty of sin–which is Hell—no way around it. There is only one way and that way is JESUS! Our God loves us and in that love, He provided His Son to pay for our sin!

“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

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meetelse

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath

delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”   Colossians 1:12-14

It is the greatest of all love stories that God sent His only Son to pay for our sin, to deliver us from the “power of darkness”. But not only does He deliver us from Satan’s power, He gives us entrance (translates us) into “the kingdom of his dear Son”—and the price of admission was, is and always will be, “through his blood”, and the blood of Jesus provides “the forgiveness of sins”! The salvation that Jesus purchased at Calvary—by His blood—is the one and only way to peace with God. And when we have peace with God through Jesus, He is ever working to conform us to the image of His Son.

“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

But having peace with God, we will often have conflict in a world that is antagonistic toward our God, and His Son Jesus Christ. And this antagonism may bring suffering and/or persecution for which we need to be prepared. Peter wrote a letter to a group of believers who were suffering for their faith, and we can take heart and confidence from Peter’s encouragement for God’s people. He reminds us that our confidence is in The Lord, NOT our circumstances.

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,

and his ears are open unto their prayers:

but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer

for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always

to give an answer to every man

that asketh you a reason

of the hope

that is in you

with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that,

whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation

in Christ.” 1 Peter 3:12-16

As Peter was preparing the believers of his time to deal with the suffering that they were encountering because of their faith in Jesus Christ, we can likewise take heart and be prepared for the times in which we live. Biblical faith is becoming more and more offensive to the world, and that can bring opposition and persecution for those who will stand faithful in the midst of these volatile times.

So where is our Hope? I pray that your hope and confidence are in the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ. He is able!

“For the which cause

I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love which is in Christ Jesus.”    2 Timothy 1:12-13

Press on dear ones—our only Hope is in God!!! God is triumphant!!! Now and always. There is no better HOPE!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #263    The Sun Is Shinning!!!

I don’t know about you, but it’s been a long, hard week at our house. Issues came out of the blue and slammed us to the floor!!! Overwhelmed with grief, shock and sorrow for the things that are going on in not only “the” world, but in our world. Those unexpected difficulties that come and make us feel like we’ve been kicked in the teeth! Not to say that we haven’t had some good things going on as well, but it’s been one of those times when the cloud of grief and sorrow have camped out right over my head and my heart.

So, what do we do in those horrific times of trial and shock to the mind, heart and make our body feel like we’re carrying the weight of the world. And truly we sometimes do carry the weight of “our” world, and the difficulties that come to us and those whom we love dearly. But unlike those who don’t know Jesus, we have a hope that is secure. These are the times when we can join Paul and proclaim confidently:

“….for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.”    2 Timothy 1:12b

This is one of my favorite verses (As well as the song of the same name) because it reminds us that we can KNOW, that we KNOW, that we KNOW, that we KNOW!!! You see the confidence that we have is in the Redeemer, and Savior of our souls, and not in our own frail efforts. Our job is simply to trust HIM with it all, and obey His direction. Another of my favorite verses sums this up as well.

“Trust in the Lord

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

He is ready, willing and able to do all that needs to be done!

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20 (His Spirit IN us!)

I’d like to leave you today with a rather lengthy passage, but one that reminds us of what God is doing not only for us, but also through us–our circumstances, our trials and our victories! God is working in “all” things in our lives, conforming us to the image of His Son (See Romans 8:28-29), and He is also using our lives—with all our failures, trials and successes—to increase the kingdom of God and bring others to Jesus. What a privilege and an honor—although sometimes when we’re in the middle of the hurricane, it’s hard to see the “SON” or the “Sun”, but we must keep looking to the one who holds us in HIS hand. I trust Him, and I invite you to trust Him too!!! He NEVER fails, even when we’re unsure of what HE IS doing. Just trust HIM—today!

“Blessed be God,

even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies,

and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us

in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort them

which are in any trouble,

by the comfort

wherewith we ourselves are comforted

of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation

also aboundeth by Christ.

6 And whether we be afflicted,

it is for your consolation

and salvation,

which is effectual

in the enduring of the same sufferings

which we also suffer:

or whether we be comforted,

it is for your consolation

and salvation.

7 And our hope of you is stedfast,

knowing,

that as ye are partakers of the sufferings,

so shall ye be also of the consolation.

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant

of our trouble

which came to us in Asia,

that we were pressed out of measure,

above strength,

insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves,

that we should not trust in ourselves,

but in God which raiseth the dead:

10 Who delivered us

from so great a death,

and doth deliver:

in whom we trust

that he will yet deliver us;

11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us,

that for the gift bestowed upon us

by the means of many persons

thanks may be given by many

on our behalf.

12 For our rejoicing is this,

the testimony of our conscience,

that in simplicity

and godly sincerity,

not with fleshly wisdom,

but by the grace of God,

we have had our conversation

in the world,

and more abundantly to you-ward.”     2 Corinthians 1: 3-12

So wherever you are, God is there. Look up, walk forward and press on with Jesus. HE NEVER FAILS! That is my hope and confidence! Always!!!

“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

Bible Ballistics: BBs #262   All Because He Lives!!!

The Apostle John wrote much of the New Testament. He was led to write the Gospel of John, 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd John, and the culminating work of the entire book—THE Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s important to note that “The Revelation” is not the “revelationS”, for the subject of the book, the prime and over-riding purpose in its entirety is ALL about JESUS, and His coming in glory. And He is coming in glory to accomplish His purpose and judge those who have stood against HIM. It’s all about Jesus—past, present and future!!! And, interestingly, all of scripture is about Jesus—from Genesis (which literally means the book of beginnings) to the culmination of all history in The Book of The Revelation. It’s all been written to reveal God and His plan of salvation—Jesus, and He is alive!!!

I’d like us to look at John’s message to believers in his first letter, and it’s message, which we should to take to heart today. We are watching scenes of God’s plan for the ages unfold before us, yet many are un-expectant and unprepared for the troubles that are coming in these last days. And things could become very intense, and difficult for genuine “Bible believing” Christians; those of us who take God at His Word, and hold to a biblical standard of life, faith, practice, and morality. Perilous times are here! Now!

“Marvel not, my brethren,

if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed

from death

unto life,

because we love the brethren.

He that loveth not his brother

abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother

is a murderer:

and ye know that no murderer

hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God,

because he laid down his life for us:

and we ought to lay down our lives

for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world’s good,

and seeth his brother have need,

and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him,

how dwelleth the love of God

in him?

18 My little children,

let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed

and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth,

and shall assure our hearts before him.”    1 John 3:13-19

What is John telling us? I think it is simple to receive (though not always easy to live out!) yet we must not only hear what he is saying but also apply it to our “living” each and every day. How do we do that? Only by walking and living in the Holy Spirit’s power and direction in our hearts and lives every moment of every day.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…….. 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 & 25-26

Paul, along with John, calls us to walk in the Spirit, “if” we live in the Spirit; that is, if we have been born again of that very Spirit of God. And we can know that we are HIS by the “love” (from the Spirit) that is displayed in our lives, because it is only the love of God that can produce that kind of living. It is the ‘love from God’, which we receive when we are born of the Spirit, saved from our sin by the blood of the Lamb, forgiven, redeemed and transformed!

“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.”    Romans 5:1-5

Oh, the beauty of the intertwining of scripture!!! John tells us that the “love of God” exhibited in us, is the evidence of true salvation. And that evidence will provoke the world to hate us, just at it did our Lord and Master, Jesus! But through all of the trials, persecutions, difficulties and hatred, Jesus and His Father are working through us to glorify Himself, to grow our faith and usefulness and display HIS love for others through our love for them. And only by HIS Spirit can we do these things. For HE lives in HIS own, and because HE IS ALIVE we can know HIM and share His Love with the world. “ALL BECAUSE HE LIVES”!!!