Bible Ballistics: Super Groundhog? February 2, 2014 Vol.3 No.12

Well, as most of you that are local Oklahoman’s know, we are snowed in and I’m loving it.  Answered prayer for moisture from our Awesome God and a beauty that only our creator God can make.  It’s been lovely and I hope that you are having a great day wherever you live.

As I was up early this morning watching the pre-dawn sleet falling for about an hour, and then the lovely snow that fell until afternoon, I was thinking about the nations focus on the Superbowl and Puxatawney Phil.  A nation consumed with sports and ‘mother nature’, while at the same time rejecting the Creator God of the universe.  Seems a bit oxymoronic, like part of Romans 1:25 have we, “worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator “.  Have we really considered what’s going on around us, maybe even in our own hearts?

We are a nation that has walked the way of Romans 1:21-23,

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” 

I don’t mean to be abrupt, but think it through with me.  We don’t look to God (as a nation), we don’t acknowledge him in our day-to-day issues, we don’t ask for His provision.  Instead we look to a ‘ground hog’ to tell us what the weather is going to be, or we depend on a weather man who credits or blames ‘mother nature’, never realizing that the weather is in the hands of the God of the universe—not the government or the weatherman.  It’s amazing that we are so miss-focused.

I believe we are, as Paul says in Romans 1, a people who

‘knew God’ (about Him) and yet ‘glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.’

We have abandoned the truth for a lie—

We have exchanged the Creator of all things, for our own wisdom—

We have become ungrateful for God’s provision not even acknowledging His hand—

We have become vain in our own ways rather than dependent on HIM.

And God declares that the result of our choices is a ‘darkened’ heart.

 Hearts that are dark,

having rejected the light.

Jesus himself referred to this in John 3:18-20,

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” 

Jesus equates darkness with evil, and evil deeds to those who refuse to accept and believe in HIM.  Just as he tells us in several other places that:

 ‘by their fruits ye shall know them’, and

 ‘ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins’.

So what is to be our response?  I believe that scripture is clear, but are we hearing it?  Or are we, as a song says, ‘not trying to change any hearts, we’re just getting used to the dark’?  Am I getting used to the dark?  Are you?  It’s so pervasive around us; it’s hard sometimes to even recognize it.  Are we so desensitized that we are oblivious to the evil around us?  I’d like to share one other passage, make a few comments and let you think about these things today and throughout this week.

2 Timothy 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

1—We are in the ‘last days’ (the last days began when Jesus came, became our sacrifice and ascended to the Father until His triumphant RETURN—which I believe is soon.)

2—The perilous times are upon us—ready or not they are HERE, NOW.

3—Men (and women, all mankind) shall be (are right now):

       LOVERS of SELF

              COVETEOUS

                      BOASTERS

                             PROUD

                                    BLASPHEMERS

       DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS

              UNTHANKFUL

                      UNHOLY

WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION (not caring for their own families)

       TRUCEBREAKERS

       FALSE ACCUSERS (LIARS)

              INCONTINENT (without self control)

                      FIERCE

                             DESPISERS OF THOSE WHO ARE GOOD

                                    TRAITORS

       HEADY (puffed up, usually about themselves)

              HIGHMINDED (simply put, conceited, self-exalted)

                      LOVING PLEASURES, NOT GOD

HAVING A FORM OF ‘GODLINESS’  (but without God’s power—hypocrites).

Conclusion: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.

The choice is yours—Life or Destruction?

Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”    (Not because it’s not visible but they don’t want it).

Think on these things—they are of eternal import.

To the ‘Ladies’—But you guys can read it too!!!

How I miss the times when ‘ladies’ behaved like ‘ladies’.  A time when our ‘speech’, whether spoken or written was pure, and free from vulgarities, coarse language and cursing.  The time when men, even those who did use fowl language, didn’t speak those things in the presence of women and children.  A time much longed for, when people respected the need for civility, as well as uprightness and respectfulness in word and deed.

I speak to the women, the girls, the teens—to all females.  I encourage us to consider our speech, to remember what Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20,

“18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man (or woman). 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man (or woman): but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man (or woman).”

I call us all, but especially us ladies—mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, all women– to check out our hearts and let the holy and pure dwell in our hearts and minds and affect that which comes out of our mouths (or our keyboards).   It’s kind of like they say about computers—trash in=trash out.  What’s in your heart?  God and His Word, or the world?  What’s inside, will come out!!!!!

May we be a catalyst in our world for ‘courteous’ and ‘holy’ speech to replace ‘vulgarity’ and ‘coarse language’.  Let’s make a positive difference in our world, rather than be those who are led to act like the world with an ‘un-lady-like’ vocabulary.  It does make a difference!!! Like it or not we are known and judged by our words—both what we say and what we write, whether in public media, or in private.  And I’d like to say, if you have to ‘apologize for the language’ before you write or speak it, then don’t use it—don’t speak it, or print it.  If it requires an apology it probably doesn’t need to be repeated.

May we each look deep within our hearts and ask God to show us the inappropriate and vulgar things that need to be eliminated and replaced in our hearts, our lives, and our language.  From an old woman who loves God and loves you, please consider the affect you are having on your own life, on those you love, and the world.   Be a ‘LADY’ not just a female—a godly Lady.

Bible Ballistics: Q & A Time.  January 26, 2014 Vol.3 No.11

Well, it’s our Question and Answer time again.  I have chosen two questions for this week; one a question about a Bible word, and the other about a Biblical doctrine. 

Our first question comes from Chad, he asks, “Who were the Nicolaitanes?” Referring to those mentioned in Revelation 2:1-7, 12-17.  I’ll only list a portion of these passages (for time and space constraints), and then offer an answer.

Revelation 2:6, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”

And Revelation 2:15, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.” 

These verses were to two of the seven churches that Jesus addresses directly in the book of the Revelation.  In both, Jesus declares that HE hates the deeds and doctrine of the ‘Nicolaitanes’.  Not something we’d want to be a part of, but who and what were the ‘Nicolaitanes’?  There is no direct scriptural answer to this question, and though scripture itself does not identify these people, I’d like to offer my simple answer.  Theories abound, but in Greek, the word literally means, to “be a victor over the people”, from two Greek words Nike (victory) and Laos (people).  While it could refer to a specific person and his followers, as some suggest, I prefer the simpler approach.  It seems the church was being influenced by those promoting an “exalted” class of Christians.  Throughout scripture Jesus calls us to practice ‘servanthood’, not ‘lordship’.  He calls HIS followers to a different standard, the standard of humble service.

Jesus called for His followers to meet the needs of others with humble service and example, not to divide themselves into segments of a superior “clergy” and an inferior “laity”.  Jesus said it clearly:

Mark 10:42-43, “ But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:”

Luke 22:25-26, “ And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”

Jesus pointed out the contrast– ‘lord it over’, ‘rule’, ‘exercise authority’, OR (as His children) to be ‘servants’ to one another and the world.  So, to me the simplest answer is the best answer.  The  ‘Nicolaitanes’ are those who promote segmentation and division in the church according to some innate, special or imparted gift, a right or authority to ‘rule’ over the ‘laity’ of the church.  Jesus said He hates this.  One of the greatest pictures of ‘servanthood’ is in Philippians 2:5-8,

“5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

Are we serving?  

The second question is part of a question, which I’d like to address today (and address the rest later), from Jarred. “I’ve run into some Muslim people who believe in Jesus but don’t believe that Jesus IS God.  How do I counter this?”  This answer goes beyond just one group not accepting the ‘deity’ (being God) of Jesus, unbelievers of many persuasions and some of the so-call “Christian cults” deny that Jesus is God.  We counter this the same way for all of them, with scripture.  Scripture clearly deals with this, and the absolute necessity of accepting and believing in the ‘deity’ of Christ to be saved.  This is one of the fundamentals of our faith that we CANNOT waver on. Let’s begin with the gospel of John:

Portions of John 8:19-27, “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also……. 21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come…. 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. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.” 

The ‘I AM’ here is a reference to the covenant name of God from Exodus, when God revealed himself as the “I AM” to Moses. John’s gospel focuses on the “I AM’s”, and Jesus clearly states that we MUST believe that HE is “I AM”—God.

John 8:58, “ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” 

And John 5:18 where the people understood that Jesus was claiming to be God but rejected HIM,

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”   

Jesus IS GOD!!!

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.”

And we’ll finish up with some other passages that reveal Jesus to be ‘creator’, as we all know Genesis 1:1,

“In the beginning God created……”

Colossians 1:15-17, “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.” 

Go back and reread Philippians 2:5-11.  And remember Isaiah 7:14, which was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23,

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” 

Jesus is God, He claimed it himself. 

I hope this helps, as I believe that Scripture is often commentary enough.  Please feel free to send your questions and we’ll answer them together during this time each month. And if you’d like a private answer I’ll do my best to reply, or if you don’t want your name mentioned just let me know.  We’ll only use first names so the person who asked will know it’s their answer, but not everyone else will know who they are.                                                                                                

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #29   January 19, 2014

I hope that you are warm and snug this cold winter morning, as much of the nation is in the ‘deep freeze’. Concerns abound over power outages and fuel shortages.  We have become a people dependent on “power”— for our homes, our vehicles, which take us places speedily and in comfort (some of us remember when cars didn’t have radios, air-conditioning or power windows and doors, much less videos).

What ‘power’ are you depending on?  Electric ‘power’ to get you through? Other people’s ‘powerful’ personalities to lift you and lead you?  ‘Powerful’ vehicles to take you where you want to be?  There is a ‘power’ that will do all of those things without a plug, pump or power strip. HE IS POWER—GOD Almighty.  How do we connect to this power?

Ephesians 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Without Jesus we are walking in darkness—lost, powerless to help ourselves and unsure of where we’re going or how we’ll get there.  When we trust in Jesus sacrifice on Calvary to save us from our sin, God has “delivered us from the power of darkness”, and He puts His light within us.

Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” 

His power and confidence!!!

And Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”  (Horn refers to strength and power)

And because of what God does in our hearts we have power to live right, do right and be right with God and others—to be clean.

1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—????? Walk in the light–God’s light.  It will never go out.  HE IS POWER!!!

So?  ??????  Keep looking up!!!  Stay in HIS Word. You have the power of Jesus working in YOU to walk in His light.

 “Christ in YOU the hope of glory” (Col 1:27b)

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #28  1/22/14

After looking last week at the God who is our ‘help’, I’d like to caution us to ‘be aware’ and to ‘beware’ of what’s going on around us.  Listening to the TV recently, a news report told of another ‘pastor’ who was promoting an issue that is in direct violation of ‘God’s Word’. I’d like to remind us of what God said to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 23:1,16-18, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord…. 16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?” 

They LIE! Don’t listen!

God reminds us that not everything that quacks is a duck!!  As Jesus Himself told us in Matthew 7:15,

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” 

As I like to remind people in regard to a lot of things, ‘saying so, don’t make it so’.  There are so many voices around us, so many claiming to speak for God, to speak for Jesus.  Which ones are we to listen to?  Well, that’s a question I can answer and so can you!!!  Heed the ones that agree with God’s Word, the Bible-reject the rest.  But we MUST know what God’s Word says.  We must read and study it for OURSELVES!

So?  Here’s our shot for the day.  Find out what God says! 

So?  Read and study God’s Word and order your beliefs & living accordingly.  If others’ words speak contrary to it—reject their words—regardless of title or position.