Category Archives: Abiding IN Jesus or the World?

When’s Your Appointment??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #363

11 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Eyes that see not, Faith or Entertainment?, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Just As I Am?, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Reaping & Sowing, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Reflecting HIS glory, Sovereignty, Sowing and Reaping, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When’s Your Appointment???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #363

“And as it is appointed

unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered

to bear the sins of many;

and unto them that look for him

shall he appear the second time

without sin unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27

As we look around us at the tragedies going on all over the world, and of late right here at home in the US, it should call us to “consider your ways”! (See Haggai 1:5 & 7). Are we looking to the cross?  Are we blaming God?  Are we questioning God’s sovereign control?  Are we trying to stand in God’s place and judge why these things are happening?  Or are we examining our own heart and life to see if we belong to Jesus; to see if we are pursuing God’s way, God’s Word and God’s Son, Jesus for our salvation by repenting of “my” sin and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary atoning sacrifice to save us!  The sacrifice of the sinless, perfect Lamb of God who came to “taketh away the sin of the world”!  Over and over scripture is replete with the truth of the Gospel—and Jesus is that Gospel, by His blood.  I simply want to spend this time with you, asking you to consider your ways and discern if you are ready to stand before God?  Have you made that life-changing commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have you made Jesus the king and center of your life, or have you simply gone your own way and tried to tack Jesus on to everything else that you want to have in your life?

It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test?  The test of real faith is found in scripture; not a church roll, not religion, not baptism, not in good works!  I pray that you will join me today as we peruse scripture for truth.

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”  2 Corinthians 13:5

Scripture tells us why Jesus came!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

And the Apostle John records these things for us.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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.”  John 1:10-13

Jesus himself, spoke truth to Nicodemus, a religious leader who like many today, had no clue of the truth of the Gospel!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God…

…. 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  Portions of John 3:3-7

Jesus made it clear that we only come to Him by the work of God’s Holy Spirit to convict and draw us to the cross.

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:44

Have you heard the voice of God calling you?  Have you put off responding to God’s call?  Have you ignored or rejected the call of God, because you wanted to do it your way and not God’s?  Are you counting on your way to lead you to heaven?  When we hear the call of God and respond by faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “my sin”, we can be born again into the kingdom of God, and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Can we really do that?  Scripture says we must—it’s the proof that we belong to Jesus; it’s not your name on a church roll, good works, or any other work apart from the completed work of Jesus on the cross; and the indwelling Holy Spirit is the evidence of our spiritual parentage.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

God said it through the Apostle Paul, I didn’t!  Just speaking truth!  What will you do with it.  And a reminder that there is a day coming when we will stand and be judged for our choices—for God or against Him.  Some of the scriptures most impactful passages state this clearly.  You decide—it is your choice!  But choose wisely, remember, there is a test!

“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

We are only able to stand by the blood of the Lamb which, “cleanseth us from all sin” (See 1 John 1:7)!  The Apostle John was also given the truth of these things in the Revelation!  Please take heart, for I pray that you will receive truth from God’s Word, and the convicting power of The Holy Spirit.  To use an old adage, “You can be born once and you will die twice, or you can be born twice and die only once!”

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

Why?  Because we either believe in Jesus and accept the gift of HIS righteousness, or we go about to establish our own righteousness!  In other words you can pay for your own sin, but the price for that is Hell!

“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

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus paid it all!  Are you trusting in His sacrifice for you?  Or are you going your own way?  You have an appointment coming?  Will you be prepared?  I pray that you will come to Jesus while there is time, when you hear the voice of the Master!  It’s all about Jesus and what you do with Him!  Ready or not, here He comes!!!

“This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

Amen and Amen!!!

In Our Own Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #359

23 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Lead them to Jesus., Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Making a difference, Marginalizing God, Righteousness, Righteousness exalts a nation, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's following you?, Who's in your heart?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Who's Your Father?, Whom are you trusting?, Whose Sheep are You?, Witness, Your Momma Ain't Enough

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In Our Own Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #359

 

I was reading in Judges this morning, it’s a great book, but one most people kind of skim over, but it is full of lessons that are so apropos for us today.  I had planned on writing on another subject but feel clearly lead to share just a few things from this book of Judges.  First of all the name of the book often leads people to think is a book of legality, but rather it’s a record of a willful people and those whom God raised up to not only “judge” the sin of the people, but to deliver them as the judge led them back to God, usually in a great feat of physical deliverance.  I can’t think of a time in our history when we lived in such a time of willful disregard for God, deliberate disobedience to God’s Word, and not only disobedience, but a complete mindset on doing it “our way”—what’s right “in our own eyes”!  This is the thread that goes throughout the book of Judges.

“In those days there was no king in Israel, but

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 21:25

While the “king” isn’t the problem, the people later used that as an excuse to ask God for a king “like everyone else had”!  Rather, the problem was a generation who knew God but apparently failed to share their love and obedience toward God with their children.  Again an amazing parallel to where we live today.

The problem wasn’t God’s faithfulness, but the people’s faithlessness; and apparently a failure of parents and grandparents who failed to pass on their faith. Perhaps taking it for granted that these children would pick it up by osmosis—theirs didn’t and neither have nor will ours.

“And the people served the LORD

all the days of Joshua,

and all the days of the elders

that outlived Joshua,

who had seen all the great works

 of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Nun,

the servant of the LORD,

died, being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance

in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim,

on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation

were gathered unto their fathers:

and there arose another generation after them,

which knew not the LORD,

nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 And the children of Israel

did evil in the sight of the LORD,

and served Baalim:

12 And they forsook the LORD God

of their fathers,

which brought them out of the land of Egypt,

and followed other gods,

of the gods of the people

that were round about them,

and bowed themselves

unto them,

and provoked the LORD to anger.

13 And they forsook the LORD,

and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”  Judges 2:7-13

Oh, how it grieves my soul that we (I relate to Paul’s claim to being the greatest sinner and failure—but praise God for grace!) have failed to point our children and grandchildren to the cross of Christ and holy living, instead of friendship with the world.  We are to be a witness to the world of the power of the cross and the blood of Jesus to save and transform lives; yet when we look just like the world, we talk just like the world, we dress just like the world, we take their style, living and especially entertainment instead of the holiness and godliness of scripture.

God gave us the greatest plan for teaching and leading the young ones to Him, if we will but heed and obey.  For simplicity and time I’m going to print portions of Deuteronomy chapter 6, and I encourage you to read the entire chapter and pray it over your life and witness to those who are following in your steps.  I pray that God will speak through His Word to those who have “ears to hear”!

“Now these are

the commandments,

the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD your God commanded

to teach you,

that ye might do them in the land whither ye go

to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,

to keep all his statutes

and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the LORD God of thy fathers

hath promised thee,

in the land that floweth

with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:” Deuteronomy 6:1-6

Point number one: we must love God ourselves, being “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God…”. (See John 1:11-14 & John 3:16-19)!  We must know Jesus through our own salvation by faith through grace, by repentance and belief in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary!  We can only share what we possess!  Let’s continue with God’s insight into parenting.  Remember children learn way more from what we “do”, than from what we “say”!  Especially if they don’t match!

“And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign

upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:6-9

If I may presume and paraphrase a bit, God, through Moses, is telling these adults that it’s their job to make ‘Jesus’ followers!  First of all—Jesus must be in “my” heart—

Then—I must diligently teach what is in my heart to my children-

How? By—talking about and walking with Jesus—

                      Sitting around, walking around, relaxing,

                             Going about—

       By—living Jesus

with what we do with our hands—

what we watch, view, and focus on with our eyes-

With Godly décor that speaks of godliness, and the beauty

Which God provides by creation—

That others (children included) will be pointed to the things of God rather than worldliness!

But it doesn’t stop there, God tells us that there is a consequence to living this way.  Let’s observe!  Obedience will provoke good questions and teachable moments with those we love most.

“Ye shall diligently keep

the commandments of the LORD your God,

and his testimonies, and his statutes,

which he hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that

which is right and good

in the sight of the LORD:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in and possess

the good land which the LORD sware

unto thy fathers,

19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee,

as the LORD hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

       before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do

all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do

all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”            Deuteronomy 6:17-25

God promised that if we would live this way before our family, there will come a time that they will ask (in our vernacular), “Why do we live this way…do these things…talk about God all the time…?” And we are to tell them why!  Not someone else’s testimony, but our testimony about what God IS doing in our lives past, present and future.  If we’ll live it, they will ask; but so many today live one way at church and another way at home.  Stop it—let’s get on the right track, obey God, and live the way HE calls us to.  Peter says it better than I can (in fact He’s quoting God too!).

“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 1:13-15

Will we heed and follow our God and look for His provision, or watch our children be flushed down the toilet of the world?  And just FYI, “conversation” here means our lifestyle, not just our words!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Carrying? Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

20 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Bow Before our God, Building up or Tearing down?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I will lift up mine eyes, Idolatry, If not now? When?, IN HIS TIME!, Iron Sharpening Iron, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Jesus Built A Bridge

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Carrying?  Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

Sometimes we are quick to criticize those who would bow down to a statue or an idol, yet we erect our own “idols and figures” that are no ‘gods’; for believe it or not there is only one God, The Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Creator and sustainer of all things, Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit, who is imparted to all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Yet the thing I want us to consider is how foolish we can be when we rely on our own wisdom, knowledge and ideas in our choices for life, success and so-called ‘happiness’!  There is only one God—three-in-one, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit, and until we assess all things by His Word, His Will and His wisdom, we are subject to find our own substitutions.  Daniel gives us one of the most precise descriptions of who and what our God is!  I pray that you will take his words to your heart and pray with the Psalmist each day.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

May we pray for God’s help and directions, for we so often fail to see how wicked our own hearts are.

“Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be

as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9  The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 I the LORD

search the heart,

I try

the reins,

even to give every man

according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”                Jeremiah 17:7-10                                                              (And for another most beautiful contrast, see Psalm 1)

Yet Daniel, a young man who had set his heart on being undefiled by the circumstances around him, found God’s faithfulness to be more than sufficient; and here is one of his prayers of thanks for answered prayer!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

 Will we choose to be a Daniel or walk in our own ways?  Isaiah gives us an amazing picture which we ought to take to heart and use to measure our lives by God’s plumbline.  I pray that this will touch your heart, and lead us all to depend on The God, who IS God, not the works of our hands, whatever that might be!

“The carpenter stretcheth out his rule;

he marketh it out with a line;

he fitteth it with planes,

and he marketh it out with the compass,       

and maketh it after the figure of a man,

according to the beauty of a man;

that it may remain in the house.

14 He heweth him down cedars,

and taketh the cypress and the oak,

which he strengtheneth for himself

among the trees of the forest:

he planteth an ash,

and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn:

for he will take thereof,

and warm himself;

yea, he kindleth it,

and baketh bread;

yea,

he maketh a god,

and worshippeth it;

he maketh it a graven image,

and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire;

with part thereof he eateth flesh;

he roasteth roast,

and is satisfied:

yea, he warmeth himself, and saith,

Aha, I am warm,

I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god,

even his graven image:

he falleth down unto it,

and worshippeth it,

and prayeth unto it,

and saith,

Deliver me;

for thou art my god.

18 They have not known

nor understood:

for he hath shut their eyes,

that they cannot see;

and their hearts,

that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth

in his heart,

neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,

I have burned part of it

in the fire;

yea, also I have baked bread

upon the coals thereof;

I have roasted flesh,

and eaten it:

and shall I make the residue thereof

an abomination?

shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” Isaiah 44:13-19

What are you depending on?  Who are you bowing down to?  What have you created for yourself?  Let’s be found faithful before our Lord!  Let’s keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus!!!

And just a comment on this passage; the reference of being “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” is not a reference to a stadium where we are being cheered on, but rather a reference to the preceding chapter of faith, the testimony of those gone before us who finished their race with honor by faith, not sight or popularity before the world.  May we not seek the applause of men but rather pursue the pleasure of The Lord Jesus in all things!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself,   

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

And remember, you only need to run your race, with your eyes on Jesus, not anyone else’s race!  We must learn to listen to the voice of our master, not the crowd.  I pray that this will be a word of help and encouragement to you.  Blessings on you today.

Amen and Amen!!!

Where Is Your Burden??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #354

06 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Advice for the journey, but He's still there., Do You See What God Sees?, Don't believe the Lies, Don't let fear of tomorrow ruin your today, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus Wept--You can too!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Jesus-Wonderful Counselor, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Where Is Your Burden???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #354

 

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD,

and he shall sustain thee:

he shall never suffer the righteous

to be moved.”  Psalm 55:22

Someone needs this word this morning—someone besides me that is!  I just wanted to remind us on this lovely Friday morning as the clouds are moving out to make way for the sunshine (at least for a little while here in Oklahoma!).  It’s been a rainy spring, and we are grateful for the rain and the cooler temps before the summer oven-like temperatures.

But the thing I want to point out is that when we think there is no hope—Jesus IS our hope!  He is faithful to His Word.  He has plans that we so often don’t see behind the clouds.  Keep your eyes on Jesus my friends, the clouds won’t be there forever, and when the SON shines, it will renew our strength, courage and by His Spirit enable us to press on and go forward.  He hasn’t moved or changed—so don’t you move away from His promises!  Yet to know His promises, we must be in His Word.  So make that a priority in your life, and don’t let circumstances distract you from the truth!  And remember Jesus IS truth—in person, in word and in the sacrifice that He made for our sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

So, my friends, choose to make Jesus your “way…truth…life”; He will never fail—never has—still won’t!  The Apostle Peter reminds us of Jesus’ faithfulness, and we can stand in Him, on His truth, able resist the enemy of our souls!  Remember, if you have been born again, we win.  And if you haven’t been born again, you can be, by repenting of your sin, and believing in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for sin at Calvary!   As Jesus said on the cross, “it is finished”, for all who will come to Him!  I implore you to keep your eyes on the prize—Jesus!  In Him, we win!!!  May we each follow Peter’s advice.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished

in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-10

Cast your care on Jesus, fixing your eyes on The Prize!

Amen and Amen!!!

Gift/Fruit–Gifts/Fruits??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #347

18 Sunday May 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit., Good Citizens, Good Neighbor, Good Samaritan?, Good Stewards, Holy Living, How much goodness is enough?, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Warfare, Springs of Living Water, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Love of God, The Name of Jesus?, The Only Name That Matters

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gift/Fruit—Gifts/Fruits???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #347

You may have noticed that I haven’t been writing much of late, but it has been a bit crazy in our circle with family issues, illness and the issues of just living life.  But hopefully we’re on the road back to normal—whatever that is!!  I’m sure you understand that; so I thought I’d look at something that we all need to be reminded of, and that is God’s gift to us and His gifts to us, and there is a difference.  I want to spend a little time today considering the difference and where you and I stand in regard to the gift and the gifts.  What have you done with each!  Let’s begin with the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well.

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

If thou knewest the gift of God,

and who it is that saith to thee,

Give me to drink;

thou wouldest have asked of him,

and he would have given thee

living water.”  John 4:10

If you recall much about biblical history, the Samaritans weren’t very well-liked, in fact most Jewish people would go far out of their way to avoid Samaria at all costs; in fact there’s an often-unnoticed misnomer in one of Jesus’ parables, the one we call the “Good” Samaritan; but no one listening to Jesus’ teach would have applied the term “good” to any Samaritan!  Yet, here is Jesus talking face to face to not only a Samaritan, but a Samaritan woman, an immoral woman at that!  But Jesus already knew her need, and He found her worthy of being the first one recorded to whom He revealed His true nature!  He identifies Himself as “the gift of God”, the one who could give “living water” which He went on in verse 14 to declare to her that, “the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”!  This woman of ill repute and of Samaritan heritage found Jesus to be whom He professed to be, and not only believed what He spoke to her, but then proclaimed that truth to those in her village.  And just as Jesus was the gift to this woman and the others who came to believe in Him before the cross, He is still ready to save and give eternal life to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary atoning sacrifice!  Paul reminds us over and over of this truth of the “gift of God”!

“But not as the offence,

so also is the free gift.

For if through the offence of one

many be dead,

much more the grace of God,

and the gift by grace,

which is by one man,

Jesus Christ,

hath abounded unto many.”  Romans 5:15

And some of the most familiar verses that I use continually:

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

 In other words, there is nothing we can do to be worthy to come into God’s presence—but God, through Jesus, made a way!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

And another of those familiar passages reminds us that salvation is God’s gift to all who will come to Him in faith and repentance.  Have you come?  God’s grace gift is still Jesus!

“That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:7-10

Jesus is the gift of God to us for salvation and eternal life with God; and not only is Jesus “the gift”, but when He saves us, He imparts individual, particular spiritual gifts to each one by The Holy Spirit which Jesus imparts to His own; and these gifts are in God’s purpose for us to minister to those in God’s family and be a witness to those who need Jesus.  What are you doing with your gift/gifts?

“As every man hath received the gift,

even so minister the same one to another,

as good stewards

of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak,

let him speak as the oracles of God;

if any man minister,

let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:

that God in all things may be glorified

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be praise and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 4:10-11

God gifts us for His work, His service and His glory; what are you doing with your gifts?  Won’t you seek Jesus’ face and pursue the work that He has gifted you to do.  You’ll never regret doing that which God has called you to!  Remember that God doesn’t call the “equipped”, rather He “equips” the called.  If you are called, be true to your calling, and Him who called you!

“But unto every one of us is given grace

according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith,

When he ascended up on high,

he led captivity captive,

and gave gifts unto men…

… 11 And he gave

some, apostles;

and some, prophets;

and some, evangelists;

and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints,

for the work of the ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind

of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted by that

which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying of itself in love.”                   Portions of Ephesians 4:7-16

And on a last note in closing, there is also the “fruit of the Spirit”—and note, that is “fruit” (singular) not “fruitS” (plural).  This is God’s work of conforming us into the “image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29) as God’s Spirit transforms us day by day in each of these areas of life!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

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.”  Galatians 5:22-25

When we walk in The Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord, we will reflect His nature, character and righteousness—our behavior reveals what is in our heart.  Yes, we all have moments of weakness or failure, but it is not to be our continual way!  Jesus places His Holy Spirit within us to work in us the glory of God.  Paul gives us a challenge to this kind of living, so in closing I share one of my favorite passages.

“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

May you know the “gift of God” Jesus, as your Lord and Savior, and may you then recognize His touch of grace in your life and exercise the spiritual “gifts” that He will bestow upon you! And because of this, we can boldly come to our Lord when we are in need!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

Amen and Amen!!!