Bible Ballistics: Going to, or Being the Church? Vol. 5 #01

I heard a great message this morning about something that is very dear to my heart—the church. It reminded me of something that I believe and teach often; that ‘going to church doesn’t make you a Christian’, any more than ‘standing in a garage, makes you an automobile’!!! Many are often distracted and deceived about what makes us right with God. We are called to ‘be’ the church within and without of the fellowship of believers. Jesus told a religious leader in John 3 that ‘being’ born again was more important than his ‘religious’ standing amongst other religious people.

What is it that makes us right with God? What I do or what I be (not good grammar but a good example)?

John 3:3-7, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Jesus declared to Nicodemus three times that a person MUST be ‘born again’. Not ‘do’ a new birth, but ‘BE’ born again. How?

John 1:11-13, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

We are made right with God by being given God’s power to ‘become the sons of God’ by believing in Jesus, His atoning death, burial and resurrection for my sin!!! When we turn to Jesus in repentance (admitting that our way won’t save us) and faith (believing HIS blood will save us) we are ‘born again’ by God. Not by blood (who we come from), not by strength of will (me doing enough to make it so), and not of anyone else’s willing it to be so (by power, money, influence or any other fleshly means). So, it is completely a supernatural work of God that makes me ‘become’ a son/daughter of God.

Therefore it’s not what I do, but who I ‘BE’ (not good grammar but you get the point) in Jesus that makes me right with God and a part of HIS kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 also says, “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.”

Let’s consider a couple of points here; we are to remember that our victory (in anything) is ‘through our Lord Jesus Christ’—not in or of ourselves– not by good works, fame, fortune or worldly power.   It’s from our God, through the blood of Jesus and applied to us individually by the work of the Holy Spirit. We’re not asked to ‘do’ steadfast, but to ‘BE’ “steadfast, unmoveable… abounding in the work of the Lord…” In the Lord—not of ourselves.

Philippians 2:12-14 gives us a little twist to this principle. While these verses call us to work, they don’t call us to work on our own.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:”

How am I to ‘work out’ my own salvation, and ‘do all things’ without complaint? By understanding that God is ‘doing’ the work, that I’m not earning salvation but seeing God working IN me and revealing HIS work to the world. We can see this same idea in a passage most are familiar with.  Ephesians 2:8-9  tells us that our salvation is by grace through faith, but many don’t go on to read verse 10. Let’s look at verses 8-10:

“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.”

Spiritual birth makes me become ‘his workmanship’. Created in Jesus and now we–

ARE His workmanship–

IN Christ Jesus—

UNTO good works—

TO walk in HIS good works.

Our works — the evidence to the world of what God has done, and is doing inside of us. We are to ‘be the church’ to the world, NOT just ‘go to church’ to make ‘brownie points’ with God.

So, are you just ‘going’ to church? Or are you ‘being’ the church? Only you can answer that question. My prayer is that God will reveal Himself to you, and yourself to you, that you may truly know the answer to these questions.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #109  i Thank GOD and YOU!!!

I pray you are having a blessed fall—times to enjoy cooler temperatures, lovely foliage, great outdoor activities. We are certainly enjoying them here in Oklahoma.

This is the second year that I have participated in the ‘Month of Thanks’, posting something each day during the month of November for which I am grateful. I’d like to invite you to do the same, whether you’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email or even none of the above. Take time each day during the rest of this month to thank God for something specific in your life. Gratitude is a depression buster!!

Psalm 95:1-6,

 “O come, let us sing unto the Lord:

 let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

 and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3 For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth:

the strength of the hills is his also.

5 The sea is his, and he made it:

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down:

let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

 Come

 Worship

 Bow Down

Kneel

“before the Lord our maker”!!!

Take some time to cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude”. It will change your perspective!!!

**Today I thank God for the privilege of writing Bible Ballistics, and I thank God for YOU. Each of you has touched my life and our prayer here at the Brittain household is that God has touched you through this ministry that God has given us.**

Bible Ballistics: BBs #108 When God’s People Pray!!!

Proverbs 21:1-3 says, “The king‘s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

While we thank God for the privilege of living in a free country, and having the privilege of voting, we also need to remember that God is in charge! For too many years our country has walked it’s own way in rejection of God’s ways, His Word and more and more lately, rejection of HIS people who speak the truth. But our confidence can rest in the total sovereignty of our GOD!!! We can rest in the fact that God is in control. As Evangelist David Ring often says, “God never says ‘oops’!!!” Gotta love it. Our God is never surprised!!!

The prophet Daniel knew his God, understood His character and because of that, he could remain dependent, faithful and true to God, even in life-threatening circumstances. When God is our source and our confidence, we can be good stewards in all things, including our citizenship. After all, Daniel was a captive in a pagan land, but didn’t loose heart or give up on God. Instead he and his friends prayed for deliverance—and God answered. Here’s Daniel’s response to God’s provision in that situation:

Daniel 2:20-23, “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.”

Wow!!! A prayer of gratitude that rehearses the character and faithfulness of God. What a good thing to learn–that our prayers and praises are always an opportunity to rehearse God’s character and faithfulness. We take snapshots of our children and grandchildren to remember the things they’ve done and how they have grown and blessed our hearts. What better thing to do, as we experience the provision of our God, than to take the same idea and record God’s blessings to remind ourselves of His character and His faithfulness to us personally.

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Spend some time today thanking God for what HE has done in your life, and make a ‘Happy List” of how and when He has blessed you and keep it in a place where you can read it and add to it again and again, especially on those days when discouragement creeps in. Praising God is a great cure for discouragement, and reminding ourselves of all He has done for us is a good jump-start to praise. Blessings on your efforts.

Bible Ballistics: Truth or Consequences??? Vol. 4 #26

If you’ve noticed this week, truth is up for debate! From celebrities questioning the motives and beliefs of ‘Bible believing Christians’, and telling us we are ‘sinners’ if we don’t accept immorality and perversion. After all people can love whomever they please (see the BBs for Wed. & Fri.); a religious leader declares that the ‘big bang theory’ and the ‘theory of evolution’ are fact, and we don’t need to trust that God created everything from nothing—after all that would mean God could do anything—and that’s just too much to expect from God (even though He declared Himself to be creator as Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Lastly, this week our political head declares that we “can’t have” moms or dads staying home and out of the work force to care for their own families, instead of being ‘productive’ citizens in the outside workforce! Oh really?

Well I don’t know about you, but I’ve already voted. I may not be in charge or have great power or influence, but I can be a good steward of the freedoms that we still have. Please go vote your beliefs and conscience as elections are upon us here in the U.S. Those of you outside of the U.S., be a good, productive, honorable and responsible Christian citizen in whatever ways are available to you. So what does this have to do with our title, “Truth or Consequences”? Well, a lot I think.

John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Governments may guard and protect freedom, but only God gives real freedom—IN JESUS!!! (Remember John 14:6—Only One Way)

John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.“

God’s truth is ‘revealed’ not acquired from the world, and when we receive Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit who imparts new birth and truth to us, as well as God’s love!!! And we are to study to ‘show yourselves approved unto God’. (See Rom. 5:1-5 & 2 Timothy 2:15)

1 Timothy 2 :1-6, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

We are to pray for our government leaders, that we might live peaceable lives and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. And as Paul mentions above, God wants, “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth….”. And Peter refers to this same principle in 2 Peter 3:9,

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

We are to live godly lives and be submissive to the government authorities over us, so that we may proclaim the good news of Jesus freely. (See Romans 13:1-7). But by the same token we are never, I repeat NEVER, to compromise the truth to ‘get along’. We are to pray for rulers to make godly decisions, but we are never called to approve of evil, or support it in any way. When we have the freedom to be a part of the solution we are to be diligent to ‘withstand in the evil day”. (See Ephesians 6:10-18)

The disciples/apostles of our Lord faced this dilemma in the days shortly after the coming of the Holy Spirit. They were preaching truth about Jesus, doing miracles and sharing the gospel publicly; because of that they were called into account before the ‘powers that be’. They were commanded to NOT preach in Jesus’ name, so let’s look at the recorded account and take note of their response—not with disrespect, rude or crude behavior, but simply and respectfully proclaiming their commitment to God.

Acts 4:16-21, “Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.”

They took a stand for conscience sake! They spoke truth in power & love! And God was glorified! What about me?  You?

Lastly, I’d like to share some examples of steadfastness with which many of us are familiar, that they may help us understand what true ‘godliness’ looks like in the public arena. Here we have three men who had high government positions, yet when called to violate their conscience and true devotion to their God, they stood firm and spoke truth. They spoke it with courage and power, not in an air of disrespect or arrogance. They responded with humble confidence in their God. Who are you serving? How are you serving when conflict arises? Are others seeing Jesus in us? Are we courageous enough to speak truth when no one wants to hear it? Truth? And consequence?

Daniel 3:16-19, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” Truth brought a furnace to them!!!

Yet God honored their faithful, humble obedience. But remember they had declared to Nebuchadnezzar, that even if God didn’t deliver them in a visible manner, they would still trust and serve Him. Much like Job’s declaration.

Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

So my friends, are we willing to live with integrity before God? Before others? Are we willing to live the “truth” regardless of the consequences? Or are we letting the “consequences” determine our view of “truth”?

“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: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:14-16

You decide!!! It’s your call. Truth? And Consequences?

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Bible Ballistics: BBs #107 In The Beginning God???

This seems to be a red-letter week. One celebrity comes out and says we ‘Bible believing’ Christians are sinning if we don’t accept moral perversion because we are ‘judging’ others. Now, a religious leader has proclaimed that the ‘THEORY of evolution’ and ‘the big bang THEORY’ are fact, and that “When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” 

As I said in Wednesday’s article, God will pass judgment on all who reject HIS Word and His moral standard. We are however to live the love of Jesus to the world while speaking the truth about sin and redemption and HIS Word—because,

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Hebrews 13:8-9. God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—never changes!!! Neither does HIS Word!!!

By the same token, if God’s own account of creation in Genesis 1 is not true then we all need to go do something more profitable with our time and energies. There is nothing in true science or math that can demonstrate that order comes out of disorder. God CAN DO ANYTHING He desires to do. While “there are things God won’t do because of His character”, to say that God couldn’t “do everything” is to deny the total sovereignty and omnipotence of Almighty God who spoke all into existence that exists. I don’t believe God is some giant ‘magician’ in the sky, a cosmic slot machine that can be manipulated—but HE IS the Almighty God of ALL Creation!!! He said so!!!

John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Not His beginning, but ours, for HE MADE IT ALL.

Colossians 1:14-17, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Hebrews 1:1-3, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:”

Genesis 1 clearly says that ‘In the beginning God created’.

He created by simply speaking things into existence.

He created all things in an orderly fashion to provide a place for man.

He created in six days all that was created, and rested on the 7^th day—not 7 billion years later!!!

If evolution was involved then we must accept that there wouldn’t have been a ‘literal’ Adam and Eve. And if there was no ‘literal’ Adam and Eve, then there was

no Eden,

no sin,

no curse and

no need for a redeemer.

So you must decide what you believer. Get into the word and see what it says for yourself.

God’s account is true—HE cannot lie. The New Testament specifically confirms the Old in many places but we’ll just consider a few:

1 Corinthians 15:45, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” Jesus being the ‘last Adam’!!!

Titus 1:2-3, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”

Is anything too difficult for God? God Himself says no!! And in closing, I’d like to share a few passages for you to ponder in these times of conflict and confusion.

Genesis 18:13-14, “And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Jeremiah 32:17, 27, “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:….. 27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

1 Kings 18:36-38, “And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

It’s all true or none true.

 The decision is one of eternal consequence.

 Consider carefully.

I love and pray for you all.