Bible Ballistics: Give us, When???   V4#7

In our Bible Ballistics BBs on Friday we talked about living in ‘today’. We seem to have hit a pulse in this vein so I thought we’d continue in that subject again today.

We talked about the model prayer in Matthew 6, and saw that Jesus told us to ask for ‘our daily bread’, but continuing on to verse 13 we also find,

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” God is our source ‘because’ it’s all HIS.

Now obviously, ‘give us this day’ is clearly telling us to trust God for our ‘daily’ provision. Scripture also tells us that we are to ‘work’ for our sustenance; God gave man work as a gift, not a curse. God gave man work in Genesis 2:15-16 as the way to receive ‘today’.

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:” (eat from your work)

Work was not the curse of sin, because it preceded the sin of man, but the curse of ‘anguish and toil’ came into work. Work changed but God stays the same, as Genesis 3:17-19 says,

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

–The ground was cursed, and man would find sorrow in his labor, thorns and thistles would also compete with the treasured harvest, making his job more difficult. He would sweat and toil for his food, and at the end of his days, die and return to the dust, until the resurrection. But God had already provided for our ‘salvation’ and sustenance!! Our future hope in eternity with God.

Job 19:25-27, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Do you know the Redeemer? If so, you will see your ‘Redeemer’ in person!!

If we know Jesus, we will see Him face to face, yet we are to work with all our being, for God in all we do until then. While trusting to His unchanging sovereignty– that we will rise. If we have trusted Jesus, and placed our faith in His atoning death and payment for sin—we can work in HOPE.

I work today—in HOPE.

I work,

play,

serve and

share

with a complete HOPE and confidence

in the total sovereignty of God.

He is working in my life.  

It’s not just that He has a plan that I can follow or not (which He does), but that He is working every day

to make me—

to make you—

into the image of Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOW!!! (See Romans 8:28-29)

Romans 8:31-32 says, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Where are you living today?

In the grip of Satan’s lies of defeat,

or the confusion of the world’s ideas.

We must remember with Nehemiah,

‘the joy of the Lord, is your strength.”

Where is your trust? When? Each day?

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

The draw of the world is strong

and the baggage from our past,

the past of others,

and the drama all around us,

are always at work to keep our eyes on anything other than Jesus:

Ourselves,

our trials,

our failures,

the failures of others,

financial woes,

job struggles,

the list is endless,

but the Savior is the eternal victor—

so keep your eyes on HIM.

Hebrews 12:2, “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.”

This ‘author and finisher’ of YOUR faith—

He started it—

He WILL finish it.

As Paul also said in Philippians 1:6,

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good workin you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Jesus is our strength and source, and Romans 8:31 also reminds us,

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Are you on God’s side?????

Where are your eyes?

Your heart?

Your mind?

Remember you have victory in Jesus (that would make a good song!! ha ha)—You don’t have to accept the defeat that the enemy throws at you. Remember that Satan is a liar and Jesus is,

“the way, the truth and the life”…

The only way!

The victorious way!

The ‘today’ way!

Let’s strive to walk in today,

with Jesus our Lord.

My strength,

my joy,

my everything.

How? Remembering the words of Hebrews 4:15-16,

“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.”

He’s here for YOU.

Every day!

TODAY!

Leave the past there—in the past.

Today belongs to you and JESUS!!

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #70     Today, Yesterday or Tomorrow????

I was reminded recently by a friends comments, how often we live somewhere besides where we are. For those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, who are kept by the power of our God, we can trust to His grace, we can know that His timing is right. The question we all face is, ‘Will we walk in His Spirit and trust Him with our lives’?

 Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Jesus, himself, tells us we are to walk in the here and now.

Matthew 6:10-11, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.”

This simple phrase reminds us that we are to walk with Jesus ‘TODAY’. What ever is in our past, is just that, ‘Past’. What is ahead tomorrow, only our Father knows, regardless of what the government, the weatherman or the media says—only God holds tomorrow. And as a popular song says, “ I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I DO KNOW WHO holds tomorrow.”

So? Here’s our shot for today??? Remember today is just that, “this present time”. I’d like to share a short prayer I wrote some years ago, I pray this almost every day.

 “Father, YOUR will for TODAY is MINE.

                     YOUR work for TODAY is MINE.

                      YOUR pleasure for TODAY is MINE.

         Tomorrow is YOURS alone, to reveal.

              Yesterday is OURS alone; mine to release to YOU,

YOURS to weave into the image of Christ my Lord.”

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #69     Take this Test????

There is an interesting thing going on around us, especially on Facebook. Take ‘this test’ and ‘find out’ who you ought to be, where you ought to live, what you ought to look like, ….etc. Seeing all these in recent weeks, God brought a scripture to my mind, and I’d like to share it with you and make a few short comments.

James 1:22-26, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

This passage begins and ends with a warning about being deceived, because we live in a world full of deceptions. Satan is the father of lies, and he will do anything to keep your focus on ‘self’ rather than God. He uses the fascination of people with promises of knowledge revealing some new information. Counter-productive? Well, what does God say?

James reminds us ‘man-made’ solutions are futile, and always temporary. Only the Word of God, when pursued diligently, and put into our hearts, can truly change our lives and bring long-term and permanent results. God says that if we look “into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein…” we are:

not just forgetful hearers but–

       doers of the work and —

              we shall be blessed in our work….

So? Here’s our shot for today.

Look to God’s Word in everything!!!

Depend on God

not the world,

not social media,

not Hollywood

nor yourself.

Why?

Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Try this – it lives out !!!

 

Bible Ballistics: Who’s Father???   Vol 4 #6

I extend a Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there, as well as to all you prospective dads. I pray that you’ve had a great day. I’d like to take a bit of a ‘right’ turn today, as we think about ‘Fathers’. We all had a biological father, some who remained in our lives, some have adoptive fathers who stepped up to the plate and became a father. Some of you have fathers who were there but not there—you know the one’s who were so focused on other things that you were never really a part of their lives. Some have, sadly but true, had abusive or negligent fathers, who did not ‘father’ them in one way or another.

So what’s the big deal about ‘Father’s Day’? Some are now even trying to change it to “Family Day”, to accommodate the politically correct ‘alternative’ family that has ‘two dads’ or ‘two moms’ or any other shape or form. Sorry folks, as we’ve said before, God established what a family is and it’s clear—

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2: 23-24

Jesus also confirmed and identified the speaker of verse 24 above, as God the ‘Father’. Matthew 19:4-6,

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” God established marriage—

He made them male and female—

He said for this cause=marriage—

the man was to leave his own mother and father—

the man was to cleave to his wife=the woman—

and to become ‘one flesh’.

He then tells us that what GOD has ‘joined together’—

man is not to separate.

NO,

not by divorce,

not by cohabiting instead of marrying,

not by redefining marriage,

not by ignoring marriage

nor making politically correct ‘alternative’ lifestyles.

Marriage is not a ‘lifestyle’ but a God established covenant relationship, between a man and a woman only, to last for a lifetime. We can’t improve on God—

only pervert and

destroy the foundation of all society.

What does all this have to do with ‘Father’s Day’? A lot I think. There’s a lot that we can learn

about ‘Fathers’ from God’s word.

About man and about God.

Beginning with instructions to fathers—

especially godly,

saved,

believing fathers.

Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” We can only share what we already have.

Colossians 3:21 adds an insight, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

Fathers are to encourage not discourage.

To build up not tear down.

Hebrews 12 talks about this “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12:9-13.

The word for ‘chastise’ is a Greek word that means, ‘child training’. It includes correction or discipline, but it also includes all that is required to ‘train’ and grow a child into a useful, productive and God-honoring adult. Fathers are to ‘train’ and discipline their children with the goal of ‘righteousness’ in mind.

To lift up the weakness of our children, (and others)

to make paths that are straight for them-(for all)

to bring them to ‘healing’ or maturity. (In all)

That they might know and follow God.

The author of Hebrews makes a comparison that takes us to the other twist on Father’s Day that I’d like to point out.

That God is our Father,

both by creative right

and by adoptive relationship in salvation

through Jesus Christ.

This holy, heavenly Father who cares for us, brings all discipline and correction into our life to make us holy, and we could talk about those verses that support this (Rom 8:28-29, Rom 8:31, Phil 1:6 and many more) but I’d like us to look at another familiar passage in our pursuit of understanding.

Matthew 6:9-10, &13b, is part of what we call the “Lord’s Prayer”, although it’s what He gave us as the ‘model’ prayer, (for His prayer is found in John 17–but that’s a topic for another day).

“9 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….For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen..”

Why this portion? Because our focus today is on God, not the rest of the prayer. Just a few quick observations for you to ponder on this ‘”Father’s Day”—

God is our Father in heaven—we are to look up, always.

God’s name is holy/hallowed—we are to revere and honor Him, not misuse or blaspheme His name, or take it lightly.

God’s kingdom coming is to be our desire—not our ‘kingdom’ laid out for HIS approval.

We are to pray for and seek HIS kingdom.

God’s will be done –here on earth as it is in heaven—

not our will be done and God you approve it…

Not my desires first and God gets the ‘leftovers’.

WHY? Because –He is creator of all

All is HIS kingdom

All is in HIS power

(He’s graciously given us a measure of power now—are you abusing your God-given power?)

All is to be to HIS GLORY!!

If I claim HIS name I am to be working to please and glorify the one I claim to Love.

Food for thought on this Father’s Day.

Are we honoring our heavenly Father?

Forever?

Amen?

Blessings on your day.

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #68     Friday the WHAT????

Today there is a lot of ‘hoopla’ over the fact that today is June 13, and Friday. Well, we as believers should not succumb to the ‘superstitious’ fears that go along with ‘days, mirrors, ladders, cats’ and such. We must remember that we serve the almighty, sovereign (being in total control), God of the universe. He made the days, all of them!!! So what are we to do? Simple!!

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Glad for each and every day that God brings us to. How can we know that? As the children’s song says, ‘the Bible tells me so’. Let’s look!

Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Here with God—there with God!!

Psalm 39:4, “Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.” God’s wisdom to appreciate our days in HIM!!

Isaiah 38:20, “The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.” Him in us and us in HIM..

Jeremiah 31:33b, “…. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” His Spirit in us—us in HIM!

So? Here’s our shot for today!!!

Your days belong to God—

don’t let ‘superstitions’ rule your days.

Let GOD rule,

rejoice and “be glad in it”.

Our God reigns.

Look up– He is coming soon!!!