Bible Ballistics: Prayer? January 19, 2014 Vol.3 No.10

It’s been a long week, a week of trials, sorrow, grief and pain, but at the same time a week when God has made Himself real and powerful in my own heart.  One of those times when through the clouds, God came near.  I’d like to do something a bit different today.  I’d like us to look at two of Paul’s prayers for his ‘believing’ friends in two churches, the Churches at Ephesus and Colossae.  I’d like to just emphasize the flow of these prayers and walk through them with minimal commentary.  Please hear Paul’s heart and mine for YOU and me.

Ephesians 3:16-21, “16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,

to be strengthened

with might

by his Spirit

in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

that ye,

being rooted

and grounded

in love,

18 May be able to comprehend

 with all saints

what is the breadth,

 and length,

and depth,

and height;

19 And to know

the love of Christ,

which passeth knowledge,

that ye might be

filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able

to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we ask

or think,

according to the power

that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

That Christ may ‘dwell’ (be at home in our hearts) in us by faith.  That we may be: rooted, grounded, comprehending of God’s abundant provision to and for us.  That we might KNOW the unsurpassed LOVE of God IN Christ Jesus, and be empowered to be a  ‘glory in the church (HIS church) BY Christ Jesus’.  Forever!!!  AMEN-so be it- this is my prayer for each of us!!!

Colossians 1:9-17, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to 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;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet 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:

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.”

My prayer also—that we will be: filled, obedient, walking worthy, being fruitful, strengthened by HIM, patient, longsuffering (putting up with it), joyful and grateful.  That we are saved, delivered, translated and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, which ‘forgives’ and ‘cleanses’ us for His use and glory.  All this from the creator of all things.  Amen and Amen.  May these things speak to you as they have to me?

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #27  Help Part 2

As we continue our thoughts on Psalm 121, I am reminded through tear-filled eyes, how grateful I am for the God who is my help.  That the God who is ‘my help’ never fails, even when I do.  That HE will provide when I’m broken, hurt and weeping.  That HE knows the tears and the fears and can calm both.  That HE said all things DO  ‘work together for good’, to those who love God and belong to HIM.  Have you called on HIM to be ‘YOUR’ God through Jesus?

Let’s continue our look at Psalm 121:4-8

“4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep”. 

My God-the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-is always there.  I don’t have to check His ‘business hours’ to see if He is available.  I can ‘pray without ceasing’, day or night and know that He hears and cares.

“5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.” 

My God keeps me safe in His hand.  He is my shade, my place of rest and comfort when I’m hurting—like right now!!!

“6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.”

My God keeps me from harm (not from experience, see Romans 5:1-9)—from the elements, from life, from the ‘fiery darts’ that come at me, even when they come from unexpected places, and cause excruciating pain.

“7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” 

My God preserves me for HIS purposes. As Paul said to the Philippians, “…He which hath begun a good work in you will complete it….”  Phil 2:6.

“8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore”.

My God never gives up on or quits working in and through HIS OWN.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day.  God’s got you covered!!

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”   #26

What do we do when we’re walking in obedience to Jesus and everything seems to fall apart?  Many are struggling with unexpected trials, crises and family turmoil.  Things that make us question, doubt and sometimes cry out in total desperation; “Help????”  “What’s going on?????”

We’ve all been there at one time or another.  What do we do when the pressure comes?  In these times we must depend on what we ‘KNOW’, not what we ‘feel’.  Where is relief to be found?  The Psalms are replete with questions about crisis, and cries of desperation.  Let’s look at one such passage, Psalm 121:1-3 today, and we’ll finish the Psalm on Friday.

‘1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.’ 

We must keep our eyes looking heavenward to God.  Some put a question mark here and then take the rest of the Psalm as the answer.  Either way our only real help isn’t available in this ‘world’.

‘2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.’ 

The God who created us knows how to help, and will lead us in/through all things, especially our trials, if we’ll but look to Him.

1 Cor. 10:13b,  (God)“will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God will provide!!

‘3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.’ 

Remember, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord….”, Psalm 37:24. God has us in HIS hands!  We can trust Him—even when we don’t understand what is going on.

So???  Here’s our shot for the day!!  Trouble?  Look up—call on God?

So???  Jesus is working “all things…for good..to them that love God…”.

So love God,

trust God and

press on in faith.

Bible Ballistics: The Call? January 12, 2014 Vol.3 No.9

I’m sure you’re wondering about our title today, ‘The Call’.  What kind of call are we referring to?  A phone call? Maybe.  A bird call? A duck call? No, but sometimes we try to ‘duck’ out from the call we have from God.  We’ll look at part of Philippians 2 as we consider this ‘call’.  Paul’s letter to the Philippians was a letter to relatively new converts at Philippi.  Those with whom Paul had spent a good deal of time, the place where Paul wound up in a Philippian jail because of preaching the gospel.  He writes this letter as a challenge and encouragement, and includes some of the most deep and enlightening truths about God’s call on us and how we are respond.

Philippians 2:1-11, “ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 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. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

A lengthy passage, but one we can walk through and hopefully gain an understanding of the call, and how to answer that call. Paul ends chapter one by calling them to endure the persecution they are experiencing because of Christ and goes on in chapter 2 to remind them of where their confidence should be—in Christ.  What do we have in, and through Christ according to this passage? Let’s just walk through it and see.

Part of our confidence can be in the profitability of scripture, remember 2 Timothy 3:15-16,

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”   

All scripture—

inspired by God—

profitable for knowledge—

revealing wrong–

correcting wrong–

and instructing us in righteousness.

All so that we may by—perfect (mature)—prepared by God  to do good works.

Our confidence is in

what God has done in saving us,

what God is doing in growing us and

what God will do in using us for the glory of HIS kingdom,

until He returns or calls us to Himself.  Our call—is God’s call, and we can be as confident as Paul is in Phil 1:6, that what ‘GOD’ begins, HE will complete.  We didn’t, don’t and can’t save ourselves, but it is the work of God in us,

John 1:12-13, “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.” 

Therefore, according to Philippians 2, in Christ we have:

a consolation in Christ Jesus

the comfort of His love

the fellowship of HIS Spirit

and His compassion and mercy to share.

Because we have these things we can:

bring joy to others when we obey

be like-minded (in Christ Jesus)

have and express —Christ’s love

—like-mindedness in Christ

—accord (oneness not the car)!!

We are not to:

cause strife —but be lowly in manner (humble)

be vain and selfish—but put others first.

That’s a pretty tall order all by itself.  How are we to do these things?  Well, dear one, I’m glad you asked.  Paul goes on to give us on of the most profound answers in all of scripture as to how we can live the ‘Christian’ life.  Jesus, our Lord, our Savior, our example, is set before us here.  (also see 1 Peter 2:21-25)

The call:

‘let this mind be in you’—which mind?

‘which was also in Christ Jesus’—.

Who–

Was God (John 1:1-4)

Was ‘equal with God’ (John 1:1)

Became man (John 1:14)

Took the ‘form of a servant’ (Matt 20:28)

As a man he ‘humbled HIMSELF… unto death‘—

‘Death on the cross‘

For you and me (see Ro. 8:3 & 1 Cor. 15:3)

‘Wherefore’—and because HE did that GOD:

Has highly exalted HIM—

‘Given HIM a name… ABOVE every name‘—

SO THAT at that NAME—JESUS

‘Every knee should bow’— (all will bow)

Of things ‘in heaven’

Of things ‘in the earth’

Of things ‘under the earth’

‘Every tongue should confess...’— (all will confess)

That’s every tongue–

‘THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD‘

‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.’       

Not to be abrupt, but enough said.  Think on it, ponder it, and see if you have answered the ‘call’?  Have you ‘bowed’? Have you confessed HIM? The question isn’t if, but when?

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”   #25

I pray that you’re having a blessed week.  I have been struggling during these weeks with something that I’d like to share today. ‘Holiness’ in us, in our lives, in our world.

Matthew 5:13-14 says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted…….. 14 Ye are the light of the world…….” 

We are called to be SALT and LIGHT. Salt and light— preserving righteousness and shining the light of Jesus to the world.   It grieves my heart to hear and see all the crude, rude and questionable language around me, but when I hear it, and see it written all over the internet by my brothers and sisters who claim the name of Jesus I am overwhelmed. What compels us to behave as crudely in our language as the world?  Can that same vulgar language, references to body parts, body functions, and immorality, bring any glory to our Lord.  Are we being salt or light to the world around us?  Where is the ‘difference’, the holiness? The Jesus?

Ephesians 1:4, “….According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

“Holy and without blame”

 before the world?

 Before GOD?

Does my language bring glory or shame to my Jesus?  Are my actions every day those which honor Jesus?  Oh, I want to be found faithful.  Obedience is the evidence that I love Him.

Are my words ‘holy’ or ‘harmful’?

 John 14:15, “If ye love me keep my commandments.”

How about YOU?

So???  Here’s our shot for the day!!  To be ‘Holy’ in word and deed– a glory to the Lord I claim to love and serve?

So???  Jesus is coming soon. Oh, to be found blameless before HIM?