Category Archives: Abiding IN Jesus or the World?

Lies People Believe??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #135

24 Sunday Sep 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Behold the Lamb of God, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, God Knows, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, God's love, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Lies That Defeat Us, Life or Death?, Satan, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God

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 Lies People Believe???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #135

As I look around me, it seems that on every hand people are drowning in the lies of the enemy of our souls—Satan the great deceiver.  Who said so?  God’s Word says so, and if we don’t acquaint ourselves with what God has said in His Word, we are likely to fall for those lies ourselves.  Our young people have no hope, they don’t know who or what they are because the world is lying to them, and even professing Christians seem to be falling for and failing to recognize those very lies!  God’s Word isn’t outdated, or false, or unreliable—it is the VERY WORD OF GOD, and without it we have no hope at all—but God’s Word is true in every “jot and tittle” as Jesus said!  Whom will you believe?

“And the great dragon was cast out,

that old serpent,

called the Devil,

and Satan,

which deceiveth the whole world:

he was cast out into the earth,

and his angels were cast out with him.”  Revelation 12:9

There is a day coming when God will cast Satan and his angels down to the earth—an awful day of judgment for them, as well as for the inhabitants of earth.  I won’t get into the debate of the time of this event, but I will put it simply, they were cast out of any heavenly access.

“And there was war in heaven:

Michael and his angels

fought against the dragon;

and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not;

neither was their place found any more

in heaven.”  Revelation 12:7-8

The account described here, in my opinion, can’t have taken place before the ‘beginning’ and there is scriptural evidence that we will consider, simply for clarity.  If this event preceded the things that are recorded in scripture, then there would be no record of Satan encountering God in His heaven, but there are several places in scripture where this is referred to, and I want us to just let scripture say what scripture says (and I would encourage you to read Job 1 & 2 for the whole picture.).  In this particular context, the “sons of God” refers to angelic beings, not men!

“Now there was a day when the sons of God

came to present themselves before the LORD,

and Satan came also among them.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Whence comest thou?

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said,

From going to and fro in the earth,

and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Hast thou considered my servant Job,

that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man,

one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said,

Doth Job fear God for nought?”  Job 1:6-9

And chapter 2 of Job reiterates Satan’s presence before God, and keep in mind this is after his encounter of chapter 1.

“Again there was a day when the sons of God

came to present themselves before the LORD,

and Satan came also among them

to present himself before the LORD.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan,

From whence comest thou?

And Satan answered the LORD, and said,

From going to and fro in the earth,

and from walking up and down in it.

3 And the LORD said unto Satan,

Hast thou considered my servant Job,

that there is none like him in the earth,

a perfect and an upright man,

one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

and still he holdeth fast his integrity,

although thou movedst me against him,

to destroy him without cause.

4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said,

Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath

will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thine hand now,

and touch his bone and his flesh,

and he will curse thee to thy face.”  Job 2:1-5

Those of us who are familiar with scripture know that God brought Job through a bevy of troubles, with a few so-called friends who accused Job of every failure under the sun, yet Job maintained his integrity before God; and in the end God honored Job’s faith in Him and restored him completely.  The enemy was a liar then and he’s a liar now, he accused Job causelessly, for he is the enemy of God’s own, and he is still the ENEMY!  How did Jesus, our Lord respond to him? (See Job 13:15)

“And when the tempter came to him, he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city,

and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him,

If thou be the Son of God,

cast thyself down:

for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge

concerning thee:

and in their hands

they shall bear thee up,

lest at any time thou dash thy foot

against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him,

It is written again,

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain,

and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,

and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him,

All these things will I give thee,

if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him,

Get thee hence, Satan:

for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him,

and, behold,

angels came and ministered unto him.”  Matthew 4:3-11

If you’ll notice Jesus didn’t debate with the enemy—and we don’t have to either; Jesus answered the enemy’s attacks, temptations, and slanders with only one thing: The Word of GOD!!!  That is our best defense against the “wiles of the devil”.  The Word of God and the Armor of God are our greatest resources, but we must open The Word to avail ourselves of them!

Oh, how my heart aches for the lies that have broken families, sent our young people into the throes of suicide, sexual perversion, confusion, and rejection of God’s design for male and female, marriage, and the home!  Sadly many of our young people are taking these wrong roads following parents who have fallen for the same lies.  When will we realize the cost of abandoning God’s Word, God’s Ways, and God’s standard!  And even sadder still is the fact that even the church has, in many cases, abandoned the Word of The Savior and Lord whom they claim to follow.  If we truly belong to Jesus, we are called to “take up his (your own) cross daily and follow me”!  It’s the way to victory in Jesus—the only way!  As I’ve often said, “say’n so doesn’t make it so”!  James addresses this issue with great wisdom and truth—will we take heed?

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not

the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 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.” James 1:19-26

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone…

…26 For as the body without the spirit

is dead,

so faith without works

is dead also.” James 2:14-17 & 26

And I’ll close with Paul’s comments on vain faith and what the Gospel is in truth and power:  Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen again for our sin!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you

first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Have you been to the cross for YOUR sin?  I met Jesus there some 40+ years ago, when HE came to me in my own living room and said as plain as if He spoke into me ear rather than my heart, when He said, “YOU aren’t mine!”!  I argued with Jesus most of the day before a friend came and pretty much said little just listened to me come face-to-face with my own SIN and call on Jesus to save me and transform me!  I was made a new creation, and while I didn’t get it all right in the beginning, HE has grown me into what I am today—not all I ought to be, but better than I was, and HE’s still working on me!  Oh, the glory that God showers down on we who come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice!  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  I’m so glad I believed Jesus’ assessment of my heart rather than the enemy’s who kept convincing me that I did ‘church’ really well, and that was enough!  It ain’t!  Only Jesus’ blood can cleanse us from sin, and only when we see our sin and turn to HIM in repentance and faith!!!  How about you?

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

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.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

Whom will you believe?  Will you come to Jesus’ cross?  He’s waiting for you to see your own sin and come to HIS cross in repentance and faith!  He’s waiting for you, but don’t wait too long, He may return today!  Don’t be one day too late!

“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.”  Revelation 3:20

He who is “the way, the truth, and the life” loves you and died for your sin and mine.  Trust to HIS truth and save your soul today!  Don’t fall for the lies of Satan!  (see John 8:44)

Amen and Amen!!!

Noah’s Day??? Your Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #129

08 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Choices And Consequences, Following Jesus or the World?, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Lot's Day?, Noah's Day?, Your Day?

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Noah’s Day??? Your Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #129

I would like to talk about the “days of Noah/Noe” and our ‘days’; not only the ‘days’ but the effect of sin which Jesus paints so clearly for us, that we might be ready for His return–whether the rapture or what shall follow upon the earth.  Regardless of what you believe about the timing of the events of Jesus’ return, we can all agree that HE IS coming, and while the sequence of events is subject to debate, the things that we can learn from what Jesus taught is worthy of our consideration.  Let the word say what it says, and may we base our opinions on God’s Word not simply the opinions of others!  Let’s make our choices based upon The Word of God, not the popularity of people, places, and personalities.  Let’s dig into some passages of Jesus’ teaching on His way to the cross–before He left this world.

“And as it was in the days of Noe,

so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat,

they drank,

they married wives,

they were given in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

and the flood came,

and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;

they did eat,

they drank,

they bought,

they sold,

they planted,

they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom

it rained fire and brimstone from heaven,

and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be

in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”  Luke 17:26-30

Luke records this account of Jesus’ warning to the people that they might take heed and understand that evil times are just that–evil, and that judgment will come! (See Galatians 6:7 about “reaping what we sow…”)!  It is important that we don’t miss the significance of what Jesus is saying, as we too live in an evil day.  (Don’t miss Paul’s instructions in Ephesians 6:10-18 about having our armor on!). So what is Jesus telling us?  I think the exact thing that Peter proclaimed to the scattered believers–evil will not always prevail, sin will be judged, as it has been in the past, for God IS sovereign!

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned,

but cast them down to hell,

and delivered them into chains of darkness,

to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world,

but saved Noah

the eighth person,

a preacher of righteousness,

bringing in the flood

upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha

 into ashes

condemned them with an overthrow,

making them an ensample

unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot,

vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man

dwelling among them,

in seeing and hearing,

vexed his righteous soul from day to day

with their unlawful deeds😉

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly

out of temptations,

and to reserve the unjust

unto the day of judgment

to be punished:” 2 Peter 2:4-9

Peter reiterated the truths that Jesus spoke and warned the people to stand fast knowing that God will take care of the evil –in HIS time!  But are we standing fast, are we living ‘righteous’ lives before this sinful world?  Noah preached righteousness and I’m sure endured the ridicule of the people around him; and we will encounter the same response from some around us; or we can be like Lot and be righteous before our God but have said so little that when the warning came of the coming judgment, his own family laughed at him and received the judgment of God, his wife was turned to a pillar of salt for looking back (in regret for having to leave Sodom), and his two daughters who did leave committed acts of incest in their perverted world view!  (See what Jesus said about persecution!  John 15:19-21)

Well, if you haven’t noticed, we live in a world that is going head-long down the “broad way” that leads to ‘destruction’ in pursuit of the wickedness of Sodom. But don’t miss what else Jesus is pointing out, not just their sexual sin, but their heedlessness to any coming judgment. Notice that Jesus doesn’t list their sins (like we would have), instead He emphasizes their heedlessness to what was going on, what might be coming, and the fact that there is a God who sees, and only the Cross can deliver!  They were living their lives like there was “no tomorrow” –where are you?  Where are those you love?  Do they have any confidence in your faith, or do they see a life that has said nothing about Jesus–heaven–sin–death–hell–God’s coming judgment?  It’s real! It’s important! It’s urgent! It’s essential to their future!  We must care enough to speak!  Jesus said that the last days would be just like the past, only worse, for His return and judgment is eminent!  What are you doing about it?  Are you ready?  Do your loved ones ignore your efforts to reach them?  We must faithfully share truth with those around us, even when they won’t receive it–that’s God’s job!  Our job, and privilege is to be continually “speaking the truth in love” as we have opportunity.  Let’s check out Matthew’s account, and I’ll make a brief commentary on what he says.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour

knoweth no man,

no, not the angels of heaven,

but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were,

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood.

they were eating and drinking,

marrying

and giving in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not

until the flood came,

and took them all away;

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then

shall two be in the field;

the one shall be taken,

and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill;

the one shall be taken,

and the other left.

42 Watch therefore:

for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”                      Matthew 24:35-42

We’ll do this a bit backwards, for verse 42 is the key: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”!  Jesus IS coming, and while we don’t know the day or the hour, we are to be ready at every turn!  And while the message about the flood is the same, there is a piece of information that just jumps out at us if we will but take heed, for if we neglect the truth there is a consequence, and the people of Noah’s day refused the truth:

“knew not

until the flood came,

and took them all away”!

There will be a dividing between the just and the unjust; and only those who are in Jesus have HIS righteousness and can be declared just.  (See Romans 5:1-11, read the entire chapter)

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

Paul gives us another message that is hard to hear, and for many hard to accept, but there is a time coming that those who are ingenuous, false, and heretical will receive their just dues.  If we reject the opportunity to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior in repentance and faith, there will come a time when there will be no more opportunity!  Not what many want to hear, but truth none the less.  (I encourage you to read all of 2 Thessalonians!)

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

whom the Lord shall consume

with the spirit of his mouth,

and shall destroy

with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming

is after the working of Satan

with all power

and signs

and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness in them that perish;

because they received not the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause

God shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”                              2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

So, my question for you is simple, do you belong to Jesus? Where are you living in “your day”; in and with the evil around us, or standing in righteousness, vexed but separate from the sin that abounds?  Have you taken a stand for righteousness or are you entrenched in the destructive clutches of the sin that abounds in our world?  Are you grieved over the sin around you, or totally complacent and comfortable with it?  Will your loved ones laugh when you try to share truth with them because you’ve been keeping it hidden?  Are you trying to fit in, or stand up and out for Jesus?  Only you can answer these questions!  Jesus is coming, sooner that we may think, are you ready?  Are you praying for and reaching out to those who don’t know HIM with HIS truth, as you have opportunity?  Let’s lift JESUS up today in your/my world, regardless of the cost! Jesus paid the price for me with HIS own blood.  How about your world?  How about YOU?  Praying for you all!

“My little children,

let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed

and in truth.”  1 John 3:18

Amen and Amen!!!

My Days Are IN HIS HAND!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #120

11 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Encouragement, Eternal Consequences, Examine Myself?, Failure Isn't Fatal, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS

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My Days Are IN HIS HAND!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #120

Just some encouragement and thought-provoking challenges from God’s Word.  While the days are long and hot where we live, God is ever faithful and HE stands faithful and true in hot or cold, in the ups and downs, in prosperity or poverty, in sorrow or in joy, JESUS IS all we need.

As some of you already know several of my children went through Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of MS., and some lost everything, yet they survived to press on.  The storm was in early September, and we went down in March of the next hear to visit; when we went to church with my eldest son it was an amazing experience for me, as we went to this small church where over ten of the families (it was a smallish church) lost everything in the ‘surge’ which meant their insurance didn’t pay anything!  Yet, when we sat in the service there was a spirit of hope, confidence, and joy of The Lord.  When I sang in one of the services, I shared a word with our friends there and told them what I saw; this church who had lost so much (their sanctuary had around ten feet of water in it) and so many had lost basically all they had, yet what I saw was a spirit of joy and generosity that warmed and encouraged my heart beyond measure–all because they had found out that when JESUS is all you have, JESUS IS ENOUGH!  As my friend Bro. Scott says, Glory, Glory, Glory!

“If a man die,

shall he live again?

all the days of my appointed time will I wait,

till my change come.”  Job 14:14

“For I know

that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand at the latter day

upon the earth:” Job 19:25

You see my friends–JESUS IS enough!  And I praise HIM for HIS presence, power and purposes working in my life; and while yes, I have failed in big ways, my GOD is a great God, who paid for my sin, failures, and incompetence at Calvary, and HE IS IN me—oh yes, Glory, Glory, Glory!!!  His precious Holy Spirit walks with HIS OWN all the way, each and every day!!!

So, my friend, wherever you are today, God hasn’t moved–HE is there, here, and everywhere in between, and HIS outstretched arms are open wide for you. He hasn’t moved, but perhaps you have!  Look up, walk forward, and trust The ONE who loves you.

“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.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Even if you don’t know JESUS, HE loves you, and HE is calling you to Himself today!  Won’t you answer HIS call and run into the arms that bear the nail prints from my sin and yours!  HE loves YOU!  And if you know HIM and have stumbled, those same arms are outstretched for you!!!  May a blessed day be yours!

“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.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

A Bible Or A Phone??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #118

07 Monday Aug 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Believe IN Jesus, Bibe Study, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Delight of my heart, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Holey, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Phone or Bible?, Tech?, The Word

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A Bible Or A Phone??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #118

Sounds like a conversation that I have with my son on occasion, especially when I go to his church while we are visiting; when the pastor gives the scripture and opens his Bible, I open mine–my son, on the other hand opens up his phone and we have this oft repeated conversation about “that is not a Bible”, and he just smiles, and goes on finding the scripture in his Bible App!  Well, I want to play off of that just a bit this morning, for we live in a “techy” culture, and for an old grandma, I’m pretty ‘techy’ myself–I do love the ‘techy’ stuff and while it often challenges me, I mostly enjoy the intrigue of new apps, downloads and ‘tips’!  I do have a Bible app that I use for quick answers if I’m out and about, but I am totally ‘old-school’ when it comes to Bible reading and Bible study!  I like the feel of pages turning, and I can mark my Bible and it sticks with me better, and yes, I do mark in my Bible, not only notes and cross-references (I’ve been doing my own cross-references for about 30 years and it’s a great learning tool.  When I am reading or studying and read a verse or a passage that seems to go with something else I’ve studied, I go to that passage and cross-reference each to the other.  You’d be surprised at how that helps you remember things that go together!) but observations and insights that come as I’m reading or studying a passage!  I take my notes on paper and write my teaching outlines on paper; I know how much of a page I can fill to teach for an hour.  It’s how I roll, as they say!

But my point for this post is that we need to be careful (especially people like me who are a bit over the top on things!) of our focus.  I have recently removed myself from social media, except for the Bible Ballistics’ postings, for it was consuming too much of my time and energy and I was just too prone to aggravation over so much of what I saw and/or read, even from people I know and love!  You might call it ‘intake overload’!  So, my challenge for each of us today is to consider ‘where does my time go’?  How much time do I spend with Jesus, in the Bible, in personal intercession for others, in pursuing God and a holy lifestyle?  How much time do I spend (for me it was a matter of ‘wasting’ time!) with social media, television, movies, books other than God’s Word, frivolous activities that can mislead or cause others to stumble or fall?  How much time am I devoting to godly pursuits?  When was the last time you “called” someone instead of sending a ‘text’ or an email?  Human voice and touch are still superior to technology!  Let’s see what God says.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness,

and sin not;

for some have not the knowledge of God:

I speak this to your shame.” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Or as the NASB puts it:

“Do not be deceived:

Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Paul is warning believers that we must guard our hearts, our minds, and our associations; the things we spend time with will affect our behavior.  I learned this years ago in a real and ‘in-your-face’ kind of way.  I was young and away from home and I love mystery books, movies and shows so I was reading Perry Mason mysteries and I found another series by Erle Stanley Gardner about a detective and his lady boss, who had a filthy mouth.  Well, my parents didn’t use bad language and we didn’t associate with many people who did, but this lady detective had a vulgar mouth, and while I didn’t curse then, still don’t, I found myself thinking of those words and phrases when something would go wrong!  Finally, I realized that I was putting those ‘words into’ my heart and mind, and they were trying to come ‘out’!  So, I made the choice to put those books away, and haven’t read them again.  Why, might you ask; if you enjoyed them?  Because just as Paul warned the Corinthian believers, I was allowing “bad company” to “corrupt my good morals”!

This lesson came crashing back into my heart and mind after finding so much foul language and vulgar talk on social media.  I hate seeing “those words” and it is becoming more and more prevalent, even from the mouths (or typing) of people of normally good morals.  If it was wrong “then” it’s still wrong “now”!  It seems some don’t even realize they are speaking like the world, it’s time to consider a change!  God calls us to holiness and not worldly vulgarity, or lewdness–but it is all around us!

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

God calls us to live holy lives “in all manner of conversation”, referring to our lifestyle not just our speech!  How sad it makes me when I hear people using vulgar expressions, much less the plain, outright ‘down and dirty’ language.  Our language is to reflect our love of and devotion to God, His Word, and HIS ways!

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how ye ought to answer

every man.”  Colossians 4:5-6

In bringing all this together, I pray that we will recognize that technology, social media, television, radio…whatever the device… can be used for good, where possible, and avoided when it is using you to promote and pass along evil!  Are you using the technology, or is it using you?  Are you setting priorities that are godly and for your good as well as the good of those around you?  Is your influence pointing others to Jesus or hell?  Have we made God’s Word a priority? Prayer?  Intercession?  Church attendance (in a Bible believing, Bible preaching church–and they are becoming harder to find, as Satan’s influence is pervading even the church) and not just attendance but participation.  Are your priorities leading others to the cross or to hell?  And regardless of how we justify it or excuse our behavior, language, or actions, there are little feet, eyes and ears coming along behind us; and may we all remember that they are paying attention to what we “do” more than what we “say” we believe!

Jesus/God has given us the call to follow HIM in all our ways, and the best “way” to do that is to be filled with HIS Spirit and HIS Word!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…

…. 24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16 & 24-26

 Finally Paul’s great call to his son-in-the-ministry, as well as a call to each of us–to set God’s Word as a priority!  Are you using your phone more than God’s Word?  Check it out! Are you “vainly babbling” or standing “unashamed” before your Lord?

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.

16 But shun

Profane

and vain babblings:

for they will increase

unto more ungodliness.”  2 Timothy 2:15-16

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving,

and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things

which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise unto salvation

through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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,

throughly furnished unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:12-17.

Amen and Amen!!!

Increase My Faith??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #109

17 Monday Jul 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Are you ready?, Faith, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Increase my faith?, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Increase My Faith??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #109

Are you ready to meet Jesus?  That’s the most important question of life; are you/I prepared to meet God The Father, Jesus The Son who died for our sin (if you have come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice; if not then you will be found guilty of your own sin, without any payment except your own life in hell, all because you have trampled underfoot the blood that Jesus shed for YOU!).  What does all this have to do with faith?

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen…

…6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:1 & 6

Amazing! “Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please” God!  Who are you pleasing?  Do you believe?

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Praise God, He’s still in the soul-saving business and if you will but trust HIM today and bow before the King of Kings for salvation now, you won’t have to face HIM later as your judge (with no option for grace or salvation!)!

“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.” Philippians 2:8-11

So, you see, my friends, the question isn’t will you bow; rather, the question is when will you bow?  Will you bow before Jesus now in repentance and faith in His shed blood to save you and forgive your sin; or will you stand before HIM as your judge and join the devil in Hell/The Lake of Fire?  (See Revelation 20)

But what does all of this have to do with ‘increasing my faith’?  Well, it’s pretty simple, if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior–the Redeemer of your soul–then you have no faith to increase; yet even those who know Jesus often misunderstand what it means to “increase my faith”?  Let me begin by telling you what it’s not:  it’s not ‘name it claim it’; it’s not believing enough to get what you want from God; it’s not trying to twist God and bargain to gain what you want!  Faith is shrouded in prayer–communication with God–not a sugar daddy that I beg favors from–not a heavenly slot machine, where I drop in my coin of ‘faith’, pull the handle of ‘faith-so called’, and expect God to send my ‘jackpot’; not trying to twist God’s arm (so to speak) to get my own way!  IT IS seeking God’s face, God’s will, and God’s ways.  Remember what Jesus told us about prayer?

“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.”  Matthew 6:9-10

Jesus does go on to instruct us to ask God for our physical and material needs, but greed isn’t included in this kind of praying.  One of the things I do when I rehearse this prayer is like this: “Thy kingdom come” …IN me!  “Thy will be done” …IN me! Today!  Whose will are you pursuing today?

So, what does it mean to “increase my faith”?  I can only share with you that which I have learned, and I encourage you to delve into the scriptures and verify these things, it’s amazing what we can learn when we read and study God’s Word. I believe that this “increase” doesn’t mean ‘give me more stuff’; or make me ‘healthy’, ‘wealthy’ and ‘smart’…I didn’t say ‘wise’ for when we pursue God in faith, love and committed obedience we will find wisdom and God will give it to those who ask and truly want to receive it in faith not in vain, or for selfish gain!  This increase is to grow in the expanse of what I KNOW to be TRUE about God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for they are ONE!  Jesus made that perfectly clear to His attackers.

“I and my Father are one.”  John 10:30

You and I need to pursue God/Jesus, to know HIM and to grow in our understanding of HIS character!  Job reveals much of this kind of “faith” to us–trust NOT presumption!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite

shall not come before him.”  Job 13:15-16

“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.”  Job 19:25-27

In the midst of some of the most severe suffering ever recorded, Job declared HIS faith and trust in HIS God!  When his wife told him to “curse God and die”, Job rebuked her; and when his friends (so called in my opinion) came to console him, all they could do was call him to confess his sin–for he had to have some ‘sin’ in his life, or all these bad things wouldn’t be happening to him.  We have a lot of that kind of teaching going on today, but it won’t hold ‘water’, the ‘water’ of The Word, that is!  God calls us to walk in faithful obedience seeking His face when we don’t understand and wait on HIM (See Isaiah 40:31)!  For He is often working where we can’t see!  Let’s peruse some examples of God’s work, and what increased faith looks like!

“If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:17-18

These precious young men, servants of God, as well as King Nebuchadnezzar, took their stand and refused to bow before the King’s idol.  You can go back and see in Daniel1:8 that they had committed to not “defile themselves”, and by God’s grace their faith was “increased” to be able to stand against the fire!  And while God did deliver them, they trusted HIM whether HE did or not.  In fact, what they said (in Blanche’s paraphrase) was that “our God can, but even if He doesn’t deliver us from the fire, we will be delivered into God’s presence–and out of yours, oh King”!

And the father of a demon-possessed child, asked Jesus to “help thou my unbelief”!  We need to see our need and not presume by our ‘activity’ that we can work-up our faith increase.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out,

and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.”  Mark 9:24

There were two thieves on the cross who railed on Jesus as they were all three being crucified, the two for their own sin, and Jesus for the forgiveness of sin to those who would believe.  One changed his mind, and called on Jesus in faith, not the other one.

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged

railed on him, saying,

If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying,

Dost not thou fear God,

seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly;

for we receive the due reward

of our deeds:

but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus,

Lord, remember me

when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him,

Verily I say unto thee,

To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

Small faith, greatly rewarded with salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life with Jesus!  What kind of faith do you have?   Do you need to come to Jesus as this thief and see HIM as the King of Kings, asking for HIS forgiveness and salvation?  Are you a believer who is having trouble “believing”?  Are you wrestling with issues that you can’t understand, that you don’t deserve, that you have no control over?  Jesus is the answer to all the questions that we have!  I have trusted in HIS care for close to 50 years and while I can’t say I’ve always understood, I can say that HE has never failed, and my faith is in HIM, as HE has helped my faith to increase as I know more of HIM through His Word and watching HIS work all around me.  My circumstances can’t change who HE is–they didn’t change Job’s trust, or Daniel’s, or the three young men who faced the fire, or the Apostles as they stood for truth and in many cases faced death for it.

What are you facing today?  Jesus can handle it, and you can draw closer to HIM.  Paul gives us one of the greatest passages of instruction and encouragement if you and willing to heed God’s Word.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there IS a test.  How does your faith “measure” out?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

If your faith needs increasing, just ask The Master, HE will provide, if you will but ask and receive, in humble dependence on HIM.

“If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth

is like a wave of the sea

driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man

think that he shall receive any thing

of the Lord.

8 A double minded man

is unstable in all his ways.”  James 1:5-8

 I pray that you hear HIS voice today, and let Jesus increase your faith!  HE IS The faithful provider!

Amen and Amen!!!