Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #67     Sweet or Sour Words????

1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Saul had been on a mission for ‘God’, with specific instructions. Yet, his return in apparent victory revealed that he had failed to obey God’s instructions. He had taken liberty with God’s word to him. When called on this by Samuel the prophet, he feigned the excuse that he had returned with the livestock as a sacrifice for God. Samuel’s answer is still true today,

‘to obey is better than sacrifice’.

I’ve been pricked in my heart of late and I’m going to hit a subject that I have covered before. Are we really ‘serving’ God when we use Facebook and other ‘social’ media and put lovely sentiments acknowledging God, yet post and allow posts to be seen on our pages that include the ugliest of words and/or ideas?

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

In Matthew 12:26 Jesus himself says this,

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Our words are important, whether spoken or written.

So???? Here’s our shot for today!!!! Watch your words.

Remember that ‘to obey is better than sacrifice’.

God wants our lives to reflect Him,

not with just pretty posts and accolades,

but to guard and know Jesus’ call in Luke 6:46,

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

So? Keep looking up!!! Take notice of the things around you and know that,

“….. those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Matt. 15:18

What’s on your ‘public space’?

What’s in your heart?

It will come out—

words,

writings,

or tolerance of the crude things of the world.

Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

Bible Ballistics: The Restoring Shepherd??? Vol 4 #5

Last week we talked about the ‘Good Shepherd’, and what our ‘Good Shepherd’ has done, is doing and will do for us. I’d like to continue in that thought, considering the ‘Restoring Shepherd’; the shepherd who restores the wandering, weak, confused and broken to useful service.

Luke 22:31-32 records the response that Jesus gave to Peter upon his declaration that he would go to death for Him. Here Jesus predicted Peter’s failure and ‘restoration’.

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.”

Here on the last night with his Savior, Peter declares his unshakeable faith while Jesus warned that he would stumble, publicly and blatantly. The shepherd warned Peter that he was not invincible, as most of us think we are. This great, ‘Good Shepherd’ was warning and preparing Peter for what lay ahead. But He also shared the two things that I want to focus on today; that Peter would be ‘converted’ and that when he was, he should then ‘strengthen’ others.

The word ‘converted’ here, means, “to turn, to turn towards or return”. Not that Peter would “loose” his salvation but that he would ‘turn away’, but Jesus would ‘turn’ him back, would ‘convert’, or restore him. Not back to salvation, but back to useful service and in his restoration, Jesus gave him a task—to ‘strengthen’ his brethren. The restored are to strengthen others in need.

Strengthen means, “to set fast, (lit) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, to confirm, …. to stablish, strengthen, to steadfastly set”. Peter was to establish his brethren resolutely in a certain direction—following the risen Lord, because he himself would be restored and established when he saw his weakness and Christ’s strength– which he would experience powerfully at Pentecost. But how did this restoration take place?   Luke 22:62 reveals Peter’s bitter tears of regret, and I think repentance. But Jesus died before He could tell Him how sorry he was to have failed HIM.

“And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 reveals this kind of sorrow, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Not just sorry for being caught but ‘godly sorrow’, which leads one to repentance.

In John 21 we are given the account of this “Restoring Shepherd”. After the resurrection of Jesus and their seeing the risen Lord, several of the disciples went fishing. There the Lord appeared to them and made them breakfast at the lakeshore. After breakfast, we see Jesus speak personally to Peter. In this encounter, Jesus spoke in such a way that brought healing and restoration.

John 21:15-19, “ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

I wish we had time to search the depths of this marvelous message, but suffice for now, to take from it a bit of solid assurance in our ‘Restoring Shepherd’ and His tender care. Just as God restored Elijah to strength after he fled from Jezebel, Jesus brings clear assurance to Peter that HE, in fact, did indeed ‘know all’, and HE was not finished with Peter. Just as Peter denied his Lord three times, Jesus asked him three times of his love—three times HE asked—three times Peter declared his love for the Lord. In this last response Peter, I think, understood that Jesus did indeed know and still loved him. While Peter wept on that staggeringly frightening night of the Lord’s ‘passion’, he now has faced this denied Lord and felt the ‘restoring’ hand of his ‘Good Shepherd’.

Peter not only encountered true acceptance and restoration but also a revelation that he would stand fast for his Lord and never deny Him again. That he would, in fact, die for his Lord. Oh, what that must have meant to Peter—that his hasty declaration of steadfast devotion that failed, was past and he would be privileged to actually faithfully stand for Jesus, unto his death for His Lord. His faithfulness would be a lesson for the world. He would ‘feed my sheep’!!!

Do you have a failure that is haunting you? Have a need that no one else knows about, but makes you feel like a failure to your Lord? Do you perhaps not even know this Lord and wonder if would accept you? Well, the good news is—this Good Shepherd– who died for the world, is reaching out to you!! Whether you need to come to Him for salvation, or you need a touch of restoring love and grace. This same Jesus is reaching out to you, as Jesus himself said in the Revelation –

Revelation 3:20-21, “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

He is waiting for you to open the door. This ‘Good Shepherd’, this ‘door of the sheep’, is waiting for YOU. He still SAVES—He still RESTORES.   Look up!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #66 In What Strength??????

1 Kings 19:8 says, “8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

This small, often overlooked verse has been on my mind of late. I think God brought it to my mind to remind me that HE is able to meet my every need. So many are wrestling and struggling with different challenges and trials. And whether they be things that we have brought upon ourselves, things that have just come up unexpectedly, or even those things that just happen, this verse holds some valuable lessons for us today.

Elijah had just experienced his greatest public triumph, on Mt. Carmel, over the 450 plus prophets of the idolatrous Jezebel. Elijah had challenged them to a contest and of course God showed Himself faithful and in amazing power revealed Himself powerfully to a rebellious people.

Elijah–with this powerful victory, then had his life threatened– and he ran. What? Elijah, fresh from victory with God, ran away. Like many of us Elijah took off in his fear. When he stopped, he sat under a tree and asked God to take his life, thinking he was the only faithful man left!!! Ever feel that way? Most of us have. What did God do?

Rebuke him? Chastise him? Ridicule him for being afraid? NONE of these!!! God saw Elijah in the wilderness, exhausted and frightened and he gave him rest, sleep, and even provided his food. God then sent him on his way to his next mission and he… “went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” Am I, are you, willing to rest in God and allow Him to provide and lead when we’re at the end of the road, the end of our rope, at that ‘fork’ in the road? Each step of the way?

So? Here’s our shot for today.

Spend some time this weekend reading 1 Kings 18-19.

Let God provide His Strength to you.

Hebrews 13:5-6, “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.”

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs # 65   Are you in????????

A funny way to start an article, with an everyday question, but what does it mean? A simple question, but there are such profound consequences ‘in’ the answer. We talk about being into golf, or into cooking, in love, in transition, in a bind, and we could list more. But I’d like us to bring our attention to ‘prepositions’.

Are you in Christ? Is Christ in YOU? Small prepositions, but oh what a difference they can make– in our lives. I would like to offer you a challenge. As you read through the New Testament this year, get a new notepad or spiral notebook, and every time you see the prepositions, ‘in’, ‘through’, ‘by’, ‘for’, etc., in connection with Jesus, take note of what you have in/with/through… Jesus. After keeping track for a while you will begin to gain a volume of confidence in what Jesus has done, and is doing for you and me!!!

A few examples to start your adventure into the seemingly ‘miniscule’ which you will see blossom into an enormous confidence in your Lord. I urge you to simply take the time to look and note as you read your Bible.

Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

2 Corinthians 5:21, “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Acts 17:28a, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being;”

John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

So. Here’s our shot for today!!!

Are YOU IN Jesus?

Is HE in YOU?

Your answer will make an eternal difference. And when you try this exercise, it will make a difference NOW—in your understanding and confidence in Jesus. Be blessed ‘IN’ Jesus!!!

Bible Ballistics: The Good Shepherd v4#4 6/1/14

Our awesome God is always at work around us and it’s such a privilege and joy when we join God in HIS work, instead of trying to come up with our own plans, and ask His blessing on them. We’re often distracted by the humdrum, the drudgery, the mundane of daily living, and forget that God is present in everything around us. Don’t let the ‘mundane’ cause you to forget that, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10b) God is with YOU!! Always!!

This week I was privileged to teach in a Vacation Bible School. I was invited to teach, and told that the focus was on the “I AMs” of the gospel of John. I love the “I AMs” of John (and of course Exodus); and as I was preparing the Lord began to show me things from a new perspective.

In our classes we talked about sheep, sheepfolds, doors and water, as we talked each day. John 1:14 helped us see that Jesus is/was/will be God. Immanuel—God with us, in flesh!

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” God with us!!!!! Don’t forget HE’s here!! With YOU!! NOW!!

It was delightful to see bright little faces connect the dots, to know that regardless of what the world tells them, God has a glorious ‘truth’ and His name is Jesus. We reviewed the singularity of the gospel each day from John 14:6,

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  May we always stand fast in this truth?

Only one way to God—and His name is Jesus.

We also talked about the ‘Good Shepherd” and the sheep. We saw that Jesus is not only the door of the sheep, He is also the ‘Good Shepherd’ of the sheep, and would ‘give HIS life for the sheep’. (All who will ‘believe’ see John 3:16-21)

He not only gives his life for the sheep, but His own sheep know His voice and they come. When people claim to know the shepherd and are continually not hearing his voice, it would give cause for examination to be sure they belong to this shepherd. As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5,

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” The plumb-line is scripture not your feelings.

A sheepfold commonly had only one opening and often with no gate, so the shepherds would lie across the opening so that nothing could get in or out without their knowledge. As John 10:9-10 says,

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus is our ‘life’. He came to die that we might live. To pay our sin debt. Are you following the shepherd or the thief?

Romans 3:23 & 6:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Still one way—Jesus!!

One debt due—sin/death! Have you called on Jesus in repentance and faith or is your sin debt still due? Jesus has paid it—do you believe Him. Or have you bought the lies of the ‘thief’?

Jesus not only saves, but also speaks to and protects His own sheep, and cares for those who wander off. God seemed to bring to my mind a twofold meaning in this example. We know that Jesus saves and calls the “lost” sheep in need salvation, yet I perceive that there may be a unique principle that could speak to us.

Matthew 18:11-13, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

We know that this parable is definitely talking about those who are lost and need Jesus as Savior. But I think we can make another application from these verses, that won’t violate the integrity of the context.

A wandering sheep can be:

Of the shepherds fold—a saved person–

Saved and belonging to His fold–

Sheep wandering off from ‘the shepherd’ may not know that they are wandering—

But the shepherd knows it.

I had a profound thought from the Lord:

The shepherd didn’t send the 99 sheep to get the wandering one,

HE went himself.

He found the sheep.

He brought the sheep back.

He called for others to rejoice at what

HE had done to restore the sheep to the fold.

While we are to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”. (Gal.6:2) Sometimes we are so busy trying to be ‘amateur providences’ (doing God’s job), that we don’t pray for the ‘shepherd’ to rescue the sheep in a manner HE knows is best. We’d rather get them ourselves, try to patch up their wounds, but are frustrated when we aren’t able to fix the heart problem that keeps pulling them away—only the ‘shepherd’ can do that. We don’t like for our own to suffer for any reason, so often we step in where God is working, in ways we can’t see or understand, and get in HIS way. Trust the shepherd!!

As we bear one another’s burdens, we are, at the same time, to learn to bear our own burdens with God’s power–.

Galatians 6:4-5,”But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.” We can’t care for others if we haven’t learned to trust God to care for us!!!

We are to care for, and walk along side the pained and hurting, but when one wanders off to the wilderness we are to call for the shepherds provision and deliverance. We are also to develop spiritual strength and perseverance by bearing our ‘own burden’, that we might be able to minister to the wandering, while seeking God’s direction as to our level of involvement. Remember,

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Personal!! To trust MY shepherd to lead me rightly!!

We often miss what God is doing in our lives, because we don’t realize that the ‘good shepherd’ disciplines/trains His own sheep. When we learn to trust HIS care ourselves, we begin to develop a tender and intimate relationship with our shepherd and know the sufficiency of Psalm 23:1.

Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “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.”

In closing, John 21 shares Jesus instructions Peter, to ‘tend’ and ‘feed’ ‘HIS sheep’. (see John 21:15-19) How often do we ask God to save and bring new sheep into our churches, when we aren’t taking care of the sheep He has already placed in our midst? Jesus said,

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2

Are you listening to your shepherd? ‘Speak to my heart Lord Jesus’. Even so come!!