Bible Ballistics: Signs or Evidence? April 13, 2014 Vol.3 #22

I’d like to share some food for thought this week. I’m terribly concerned about the direction the ‘church’ in America seems to be taking and I have a question, ‘Are we putting up signs, or being evidence?’ Passing through most towns today we see church marquees with anything from simple lettering with times and details, to flashing, digital, scrolling signs rivaling the biggest secular marquees. What is the reasoning? To advertise our church? To get people’s attention? To proclaim truth? Consider with me?

One meaning of ‘sign’ is: “a notice that is publicly displayed giving information or instructions in a written form”– Nothing wrong with that, but let’s look a little deeper. While signs can convey information about a church—time, events, people, etc., why are we spending enormous amounts of money to put up bigger, better, flashier signs than the next church? Are we becoming more and more reliant upon the methods of the world to reach our communities with the gospel, or following the scriptural mandate to ‘preach the word’?

2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” We are to preach tirelessly!

1 Cor. 2:2, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

1 Cor. 1:18, 21, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God……21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Are we using the methods of the world as a substitute for our failure to be Christ’s ‘church’ to the world? Have we, the church, denigrated the preaching of the ‘cross’ to the status of ineffective ‘foolishness’? Perhaps more eager to rely on ‘signs’ and media than the ‘power of God’? My question is, “Are we so busy putting up ‘signs’ that we have failed to proclaim Christ crucified for Sin?” Are we ‘being’ the salt and light that Jesus called us to be, living out our lives by the power of the Spirit, and sharing the truth? Or rather depending on the world’s methods? We are called to ‘walk in the Spirit’, not the flesh. Whose power are we depending on, and walking in?

Have we forgotten what Paul said in Romans 1:16-17?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Have we decided that God’s ways won’t work in our world? Are we unwilling to ‘be the evidence of the gospel’ by living holy, obedient lives and just put up lights?

Matt. 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

We are to ‘BE’ light, not put up lights; our lives to be the ‘evidence’ of the Gospel to the world.

We are to be salt—

which preserves and flavors!!

We are to be light—

which dispels the darkness.

Have we passed the buck, so to speak, and decided to live our lives our own way and put up bigger and brighter ‘signs’ rather than yielding our lives to the risen Lord—and ‘BEING’ light?. Are we profaning God’s Word, His house, and His message by abandoning the power of the Gospel and settling for the world’s ‘advertising strategies’?

Oh, God forgive us.

Oh, Lord open our eyes.

Are we more concerned about

bringing ‘comfort’

than ‘conviction’?

In our zeal to appeal, have we abandoned God’s truth and power? Jesus quotes form Isaiah 56:7 in

Mark 11:17, “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus never established, or called us to imitate the world but

to ‘preach’ the gospel boldly,

and confidently depend on God for the results.

Our Gospel –

Jesus death,

burial

and resurrection

‘for our sins’—

the only hope for the world.

As Jesus said in John 14:6b, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

There is only one way—Jesus.

We have only one message—Jesus.

Are we willing to preach Christ crucified without compromise—

To live for Him and be salt and light to the dark world—

To be the ‘evidence’ of the life-changing power of the Cross,

not just to getting used to the ‘dark’. How are we to do this?

We who belong to Jesus are the Temple of God through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Are we reflecting the character of God, or just putting up lights? Are we displaying Jesus to the world? Is our life ‘evidence’ of the transforming power of the cross? May we ever be.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”  

Think on it—

are you putting up signs,

or being evidence?

Being a ‘den of thieves’

or the “house of prayer”?

The ‘house of prayer’ not simply being the place where prayers are wont to be made, but a place where the presence of God is sought, praised and obeyed.

Being light

not just putting up lights….

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #50   Nothing Between????

I’ve had an old song going through my heart and mind for the last week or so and just felt compelled to share it with you in today’s article. It’s amazing to me that God allows us to recall things, seemingly forgotten.  God is always at work around us, and our task is to be sure the line is open to see HIM and hear HIS voice— To have ‘Nothing Between’.

Isaiah 59:1-4,  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”

We must guard our hearts from evil of every sort, because ‘our sin’ separates us from ‘our God’, and hides ‘His face’ from us. It creates a barrier between, and John 15:5b tells us, “for without me ye can do nothing”—nothing. And sin will hide HIM from our view. We must ‘abide’ in HIM and ‘lay aside the sin which so easily besets us’ and keep ‘looking unto Jesus….’, (Heb. 12:1+) –having ‘Nothing Between’–The song I’ve been humming and singing all week. I’d like to close this article with the words of this great old hymn, and simply ask, “what’s between” your soul and the Savior? Is there ‘something’ you need to take care of today? Make it right today—repent and return and He will restore—He said so. (See 1 John 1:9)

1. Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

             Refrain:
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing          preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.           

2. Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.
3. Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved, there’s nothing between.
4. Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.**

By Charles A. Tindley, 1905

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #48   Bound Up in Him????

Whether we are ‘running’ to God for deliverance, or ‘resting’ in Him when we get there, I’d like us to look at Proverbs 6 to find out how to maintain that ‘running to’ and ‘resting in’ our Lord.

Proverbs 6:16-23, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

Simply put–what to avoid and what to pursue—as God clearly tells us what HE hates and how to avoid it.

Pride,

lying,

malicious violence,

a heart set on wickedness,

and malicious mischief,

a false witness (lying against others),

and sowing discord among brethren:

A clear and concise list of behaviors to avoid, but how?

Simply put—follow the instructions!!!

Keep our parents good instruction (godly parents),

bind them upon our heart,

and tie them about our neck.

If we’ll know and follow HIS WORD, then

wherever we go they will lead our steps—

protect us when we rest in sleep,

and direct us each day

where we need to be,

when we need to be there,

doing what we ought to do,

and accepting godly reproof.

So?? Here’s our shot for the day.

God’s commands are a lamp to guide us,

His law is light,

and the reproofs (convicting us of sin and error) are THE way of life….

The choice is yours—

stay in the Word so it can transform you,

or neglect it

and be defenseless against the lies of the enemy.

Take some time this week to read Philippians 4:8, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17, Psalm 37:23. Good verses to memorize (binding them in your heart and mind!!)

 

Bible Ballistics: Debt free??   April 6, 2014 Vol.3 #21

I’ve been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately. It’s something that everyone deals with. Some wrestle with it more than others, but we all deal with it regularly.   But what is forgiveness, really? Forgiveness literally means to ‘cancel a debt’. What does ‘debt’ have to do with forgiveness? Well, in a financial sense to ‘cancel’ a debt (some amount of assets that are owed) is to ‘forgive’ that debt, it is no longer owed.

When we bring that over into the ‘personal’, or ‘emotional’ realm, it has the same meaning but with a twist. If someone harms, hurts or injures our feelings, or our person, then they incur a debt to which we hold the note. They are ‘indebted’ to us to rectify the situation: To apologize, to restore what has been taken, to resolve some intense conflict—we feel entitled to be recompensed for the injury, whether real or imagined!!! How do we/I forgive without receiving that reconciliatory gesture, whatever it may need to be. Well, that’s where ‘forgiveness’ comes in.

1 John 4:19-21, “19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

Matthew 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 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. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 23:33-34, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The basis of forgiveness is God’s love for us, “because he first loved us”. I am loved and forgiven by God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen, praise HIS name!!

Colossians 1:12-14, “ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (fit) 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:”

I am redeemed with that very blood that Jesus shed, as HE cried, “forgive them; for they know not what they do”. If Jesus can, IF He could, and yes, HE DID do that for me, what less can I practice as I encounter others and the sufferings of life?

Ephesians 4:22-32 reveals some of the things Christ expects of those who belong to Him and Paul sums it all up by reminding us that we are to ‘be ye kind’ ,‘tenderhearted’, and forgiving; in contrast to being ‘hardhearted’ and ‘cold’ toward one another, and especially those who have injured us!!!!

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Consider our own forgiveness and give in kind—through and like Jesus!!

As we look at Colossians 1, in Paul’s prayer, we see what we are to be—then do. The thing we must remember is that our ‘doing’ comes out of our ‘being’. You can’t ‘do enough’ to change your heart, but Jesus can change your heart to ‘become the sons of God’ (Jn 1:12). When I ‘be’long to Jesus then His Spirit is within me, and I have been saved by grace through faith to

‘be’ “……. his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Jesus on the inside ‘being’ will ‘be’ revealed in our ‘doing’ His work on the outside.

IN the beginning of this prayer in Col 1:9-11, Paul reminds us that we will need the knowledge of HIM to have the power to walk in forgiveness with

“all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

Why? Because people are people and they do cause us harm.

“….. pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

Patience refers to ‘abiding under’—our circumstances.

Longsuffering refers to ‘suffering long’—relating to people.

We must

forgive, and

release the debt to God

because He has called us to it and,

He will take care of the ‘debt’.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”   Romans 12:19.

I trust HIM!!! Do you?????

A question only YOU can answer.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #48   Resting??

Let’s go a step farther than running today. What do we find when we ‘run’ to God? Run, not only in those difficult times, but every day, moment by moment?

With a pulled muscle, I’ve been down and unable to walk very far unassisted, and I have experienced firsthand, the need to ‘rest’. Literally, I have had to rest in the Lord (and lean on my precious husband), as I can’t do much more than recline. I was reminded to:

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7.

‘Running’ to God, I find ‘rest’ in HIM. He IS trustworthy.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10.

I can trust to His ability to

keep,

comfort and

protect me.

In other words, I am safe there. So often when we ‘run’ to the Lord, we check in, and then check right out. God is my source and I should remain in His presence.

‘Resting’ is our privilege as well as ‘running’, and God gives us the choice to stay or go,

“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isaiah 30:15

So?   Here’s our shot for the day.

Run to,

rest in, and

remain with

the Father who cares.

Because–He cares for YOU.

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

He’s there, where are you?