Category Archives: Abiding IN Jesus or the World?

Is Small Insignificant??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 22

19 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God Knows, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, God's measure isn't ours, God's ways are not our ways, Is Small Insignificant?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 22   Is Small Insignificant???

 

We live in a world of “king size” it. Extra large please?  Cups so big they won’t fit in the ‘cup’ holder?  Double, triple and even bigger burgers.  Houses that parallel castles, and cars that are more like a greyhound bus than a family car!  Yet, what has all this brought us to?  I think, in part, the inability to discern between the small in size and the insignificant in reality.  Let’s consider some small things and see what God’s Word has to say about “size”

There was a lunch of 5 loaves and 3 small fish—that fed 5,000+; a young boy with a sling and 5 stones—who brought down a giant with only 1 stone; there was another young boy whom God called to deliver a man-sized message—Samuel delivered God’s message of judgment to Eli; there was a small town which hosted the birth of the King of Kings—tiny Bethlehem!

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,

though thou be little

among the thousands of Judah,

yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me

that is to be ruler in Israel;

whose goings forth

have been from of old,

from everlasting.”  Micah 5:2

God doesn’t see what we see—and we, sad to say, often don’t see what God is calling us to see.

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked

forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man

his thoughts:

and let him return

unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens

are higher than the earth,

so are my ways

higher than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

And as the Proverbs tells us:

“There is a way

that seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

“There is a way

which seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

Jesus talked about a narrow gate, and the “few” that find it.  And that is about as significant a passage as we will find regarding the import of seeking God’s “small” things, which in reality are the “big” things!  For you see, sometimes the seemingly small things have giant consequences!  Both of the above proverbs make it clear to us that when we miss the things of God, by choosing our own wisdom over God’s the consequence can be “deadly”!  Just because it’s popular or the “buzz word” of the day, doesn’t make it true—and regardless of what is accepted today—JESUS IS TRUTH!–  and HE is the standard by which we will all be judged.

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom

we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

Jesus Himself reminds us that we must choose between that which is popular and that which is right!  The majority is seldom spiritually right!  Don’t believe everything you see or hear, we must compare all things to what God has said, and by the person of our Lord, Jesus Christ—The Truth! (see John 14:6)!  There are many false voices proclaiming themselves wise today—beware!

“Enter ye in

at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”  Matthew 7:13-15

Paul had a lot to say about being aware of what we hear and see and being wise to discern between the true and false—what may appear to be small is often truly foundational to know God and HIS truth!  While your call or mine may seem insignificant to the world—if God has called us to it, may we go forward in faith, confidence and obedience and leave the results up to our God.  It worked for David, Samuel, and Andrew who brought a small lunch to The Master, and it will still work God’s way for us too, if we but learn to exercise our faith and trust in God and HIS Word!  Oh my, YES!

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ

should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish

foolishness;

but unto us

which are saved

 it is the power of God.

19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom

of the wise,

and will bring to nothing

the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”    1 Corinthians 1:17-21

Ouch!  Remember our passage above from Isaiah:

“For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

 my ways,

saith the LORD”

I just love the way that God gave Paul to weave truths together, and that is just what he did in this first letter to the Corinthian believers; he goes on in chapter 3 to paint a most profound picture of the difference between doing things our way and doing them God’s way!

“According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation

can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

 precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work

shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed

by fire;

and the fire shall try

every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:10-16

Wow!  What a picture—we can choose to do God’s work with God’s materials—gold, silver, precious stones (those things which are created by God, and only mined by diligent pursuit of God’s treasure)!  Or we can choose to appear to do “God’s” work our own way, using the feeble, temporal, flammable materials of this earth (those things which can be produced by human effort!  Think about that!)!  When we belong to Jesus, we are to pursue HIS works, not our own works—usually done for our own glory, in our own power, hence the lack of reward, when our works lay in ashes with nothing to offer our KING!

Can you see the difference between the seemingly insignificant and that which is of eternal value?  It kind of makes it clear why we see so few Goliaths falling around us!  Please God, help us see what you see in all these distracting things around us, and help me/us to pursue Your will, that we might do Your work, Your way!

I would like to simply close with the words of our Lord to help us reevaluate our focus.

“And when thou prayest,

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:

for they love to pray standing in the synagogues                                       and in the corners of the streets,

that they may be seen of men.

Verily I say unto you,

They have their reward.

6 But thou,

when thou prayest,

enter into thy closet,

and when thou hast shut thy door,

pray to thy Father

which is in secret;

and thy Father

which seeth in secret

shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray,

use not vain repetitions,

as the heathen do:

for they think that they

shall be heard

for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore

like unto them:

for your Father knoweth

what things ye have need of,

before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore

pray ye:

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 6:5-10

Amen and Amen!!!

Remember To Forget??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #754

17 Friday Sep 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Fear, Fearfulness, Fearlessness, Follow Jesus, Forgetting or Remembering?, Forgiveness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #754  Remember To Forget???

 

I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘what a strange title’, and yes, it is a bit strange but there are some things that scripture reminds us that we ought to forget and press on regardless.  Let’s delve into a few and see what we can find out.

“Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend

that for which also I am apprehended

of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself

to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this

unto you.”  Philippians 3:12-15

Here we have a passage of encouragement from the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi—a letter of commendation with very little correction.  Yet, his instruction was a word of warning to walk faithfully before our God, and a watching world.  And we ought to take heed to his instruction and press on with our eyes wide open and our hearts and minds on guard, diligently remembering what to forget.

We begin our look at this passage with Paul’s declaration that he (in Blanche’s paraphrase) had “not arrived”, or in his words “not already attained” to all that God had for him to “be” and “do”.  We so often forget what we should remember; that ‘being’ comes before ‘doing’.  When we belong to Jesus we are to yield our hearts and minds to him, as Paul reminded them of in chapter 2.

“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.”   Philippians 2:5-8

When we pursue the mind of Christ—the heart and mind of servanthood, as well as living the crucified life—the willingness to be “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”!  Yet so much of the American Christian culture is focused on making Christianity a convenience rather than a sacrificed life!  But back to our consideration of “forgetting”.

Paul told the church at Philippi, as he is telling us today, that he has yielded his life to be what he called being “apprehended of Christ Jesus”, a total contrast of a culture that has and is trying to make Jesus/God a magic genie who is at our disposal for ease, comfort, and the supply of every worldly device that we might be enthralled with!  Instead, Paul goes on to give us the true key to walking with The Lord in power, peace, and productivity by HIS Spirit!  Ouch! But he goes on to remind us that we are not only “apprehended of” Jesus, but we are to continually purse the things of God by HIS power, grace and HIS Word!  Paul says something so powerful that we often miss it in the sheer simplicity of his words:

“this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus”

WOW!  ONE. THING. I. DO.

I press toward the mark—

As I forget those things which are behind me–

 As I reach forth for what is before me—

Knowing that I am pressing on—

For the prize-

Of the high calling

Of GOD

IN JESUS!

And my dear ones, JESUS. IS. THE. PRIZE.!!!  Paul also reminds us that if we are mature this is the mindset that should mark our lives before a lost and dying world!  He also says that if we are pursuing Jesus, The Prize, HE will lead us and correct us; and if we are without any correction from the Lord, then we better examine what or who we think saved us.

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son,

despise not thou the chastening

of the Lord,

nor faint

when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:5-8

Jesus told us that there are things to remember, even things that we want to forget.  The problem is we often fall into the habit of walking in the past with fear of tomorrow, not what God has called us to.  With God’s forgiveness, and cleansing, we can forget the failures of the past and boldly remind the enemy that we are forgiven, when we repent, confess, and receive not only God’s forgiveness but His cleansing and healing. For God has “not given us the spirit of fear;, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind…“!

“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 1:9-10

Our forgiven sin is not subject to the enemy’s use or reminders.  We can forget what God has forgotten, by reminding ourselves (and others) that we ARE forgiven!

“He will turn again,

he will have compassion upon us;

he will subdue our iniquities;

and thou wilt cast all their sins

into the depths of the sea.”  Micah 7:19

How can God forget our sin, and see us as righteous?  Good question, but one that scripture answers clearly.

“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

As Corrie Ten Boom often said, “God buries our sins in the depths of the sea and then puts up a sign that reads, “No Fishing.””  Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice paid my sin debt and yours (He paid it for all who will believe in His death, burial, and resurrection for our sin, See John 3:16-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-5), therefore God sees those who are born again through the shed blood of Jesus—making us righteous before God, all because Jesus took my sin upon Himself and paid for it at Calvary!  Hence our sins are covered by the blood, forgiven, and forgotten before God—soooo, remember to forget what God has forgotten and forgiven.  Be sure to keep short accounts on sin and keep it under the blood.  And if others have sinned against us, we are to forgive liberally, and if we have wronged others, we are to seek forgiveness.  Then let it go, in the vernacular, “forget it”!

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,

and there rememberest

that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar,

and go thy way;

first be reconciled to thy brother,

and then come and offer thy gift.”   Matthew 5:23-24

“And when ye stand praying,

forgive,

if ye have ought

against any:

that your Father also which is in heaven

may forgive you

your trespasses.”  Mark 11:25

Let me just say, I know the old saying as well as anyone, “I can forgive but I can’t forget!”  But may we consider the words of Paul again—while maybe I can’t, God can!

 

“I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

All because of what Jesus has done for me.

“And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:5-8

And in closing, let me simply say, what can I refuse to forgive someone else of, that would equal what Jesus has forgiven me of!  Nothing!  And believe me, I have wrestled with forgiveness just like you, but I have learned that when I “give it to Jesus” and remember that HE HAS forgiven me for more than I can (or want to) remember, I must rest in HIS work in me, and the truth of scripture, forgiving, and forgetting (the offense not the reality of an action). (Meaning to receive God’s power to live in Jesus’ forgiveness when I can’t erase the thoughts!)!  And believe me, there are thoughts that keep coming back again and again, but if I can depend on God to supply my need, so can YOU!  Remember—you can forget, by remembering Philippians 2:5, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”  “Father forgive them“!

And one simple verse that brings reality to what I’m trying to share; God knows it’s not always up to you alone!  Others don’t always desire peace.

“Recompense to no man

evil for evil.

Provide things honest

in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible,

as much as lieth in you,

 live peaceably with all men.”   Romans 12:17-18

Remember, we win!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

My Hope Is Secure??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 21

12 Sunday Sep 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Fear, Fearlessness, Holy Living, HOPE

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 21  My Hope Is Secure???

 

“As the hart panteth

after the water brooks,

so panteth my soul

after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God,

for the living God:

when shall I come

and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat

day and night,

while they continually say unto me,

Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things,

I pour out my soul in me:

for I had gone with the multitude,

I went with them to the house of God,

with the voice of joy

and praise,

with a multitude

that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him

for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God,

my soul is cast down within me:

therefore will I remember thee

from the land of Jordan,

and of the Hermonites,

from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep

at the noise of thy waterspouts:

all thy waves and thy billows

are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness

in the daytime,

and in the night his song

shall be with me,

and my prayer

unto the God of my life.

9 I will say unto God my rock,

Why hast thou forgotten me?

why go I mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones,

mine enemies reproach me;

while they say daily unto me,

Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down,

O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him,

who is the health of my countenance,

and my God.”  Psalm 42:1-11

As we consider many of the things going on around us, we can often become what the Psalmist describes as, “cast down, O my soul”……and our souls may become “disquieted in me”!  Yet, we can take heart and have the same confidence that the Psalmist had, and surely “hope thou in God”.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith”!

“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

Our call is to follow Jesus, keep our eyes on HIM, and to run the race that HE has set before us; all in the assurance that many have experienced the faithfulness of God before us—in believing the witnesses, laying aside sin and the weights of trials that surround us, running the persistent race, with our Lord and HIS Word in view!  We must recognize that the great “cloud of witnesses”, are not a stadium of spectators, but the faithful who have walked the journey of faith before us.  In fact, many of them gave testimony to God’s faithfulness in chapter 11—known as the faith chapter!  And as we experience more and more of God’s faithfulness we can truly learn to walk consistently by faith!  And oh, what a faithful GOD we serve!  Paul gave us great advise for pursuing excellence in following our God.

“Brethren,

I count not myself to have apprehended:

 but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore,

as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing

ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this

unto you.”  Philippians 3:13-15

As we pursue the prize of our calling in Jesus, may we truly learn to live the crucified life: crucified to self and alive unto Jesus our Lord and King in all our ways!

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless

I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

So, my friends, where is your hope placed?  Don’t let the enemy deceive you into hoping in yourself or the world, for God truly is our “very present help in trouble”!  And if there was ever a world in trouble, we’re living in it!  But don’t lose heart—we win because our GOD wins!!!

“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

Oh, what a God we serve!  Will you serve HIM with your whole heart?  Will you walk in confidence of HIS grace and mercy toward us!  May your week be full of blessings and grace!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

 and of love,

and of a sound mind…

…. 9 Who hath saved us,

and called us

with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,”   2 Timothy 1:7 & 9

Amen and Amen!!!

Only Two!!! Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #752.

10 Friday Sep 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Creation, Creator, Creator of ALL, Family, Father's Way!, God Knows, The Things of God, The Word Or The World?, Trusting God, Truth, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #752      Only Two!!!  Really???

 

I would like to share an important post with you this morning, and while I won’t comment a lot, it’s not because I don’t have much to say, but because I simply want to share God’s Word with you and offer a few comments and ask you to consider what you are accepting and following as truth.

“In the beginning

God created the heaven and the earth…

…And God said,

Let us make man

in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.”  Portions of Genesis 1:1 & 26-27

More of the details are revealed in Genesis 2, with the account of the establishment of marriage, the home, and our moral boundaries.

“And the LORD God said,

It is not good

that the man should be alone;

I will make him an help meet for him…

…21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep

to fall upon Adam,

and he slept:

and he took one of his ribs,

and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib,

which the LORD God had taken

from man,

made he a woman,

and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said,

This is now

bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh:

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man

leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one flesh.”  Portions of Genesis 2:18-24

While many dispute and deny the truth of the Genesis account of creation, and also deny that the New Testament even deals with creation, I would challenge you to check it out!  For there are many references not only to the Genesis account of creation, but Jesus Himself confirmed the truth of scripture and mentioned not only the Genesis account of creation, particularly God’s establishment of marriage, but he also referred to Daniel and Jonah—two of the most debated and denied books of scripture.

“And he answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read,

 that he which made them

at the beginning

made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause

shall a man leave father and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife:

and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.”  Matthew 19:4-6

While our culture has almost completely disregarded God’s plan and instructions for marriage, I praise God that He forgives and restores.  He gives that “living water” that heals the soul of sin and makes us “new creatures” in Jesus.  I know because I am one of those “Samaritan women” who needed saving and healing from my sin and disregard of God’s way!  What an amazing God we serve.  Like the Samaritan woman, until we see our sin as sin, we have no need of a Savior! How about you?  Are you a sinner in need of a Savior?  Jesus is waiting for you to call upon Him to drink of His living water!

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

 springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her,

Go, call thy husband,

and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said,

I have no husband.

Jesus said unto her,

 Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands;

and he whom thou now hast

is not thy husband:

in that saidst thou truly…

…24 God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him,

I know that Messias cometh,

which is called Christ:

when he is come,

he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her,

I that speak unto thee am he…

…28 The woman then left her waterpot,

and went her way into the city,

and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man,

which told me all things that ever I did:

is not this the Christ?”  Portions of John 4:13-29

Here was a woman who had completely strayed from God’s plan and Jesus brought faith, restoration, and a new vibrant testimony of finding the Messiah.  And this is an amazing thing, for this is the first recorded account of Jesus revealing Himself openly—and not only to a woman, but a Samaritan woman!  A totally ‘anti-cultural’ move, truly declaring that “whosoever will, may come”!  The choice is ours/yours—to believe in Jesus or to reject/deny Him.  It’s your choice—to believe in Jesus—to honor marriage or desecrate it—to obey or to reject the ONE who died for YOU.  “Come, see a man”!  God did create male and female, and HE set the design and plan for mankind and the home, and regardless of what men may say today, God has spoken, and HE will hold men accountable.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me

before men,

him will I confess

also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me

before men,

him will I also deny

before my Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32-33

Please consider what God has said and respond to HIS call on your heart.  Jesus is ready to save right now!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“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 1:9-10

Amen and Amen!!!

Joyfulness Is Contagious!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #751

08 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, God's love, God's provision, Joy, Joy Is Contagious!, Joy To The World?, The Joy of The Lord!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #751  Joyfulness Is Contagious!!!

 

I truly believe this statement of our title—joyfulness is contagious—but we must have joy before we can share it!  I also believe that we can often be distracted from the “joy of the Lord” and become consumed with the “doubt of the world” instead.  Joy is a choice of those who belong to Jesus; a choice to walk in the confidence that our God gives and overcome the doubt that surrounds us.

“Then he said unto them,

Go your way,

eat the fat,

and drink the sweet,

and send portions unto them

for whom nothing is prepared:

for this day is holy unto our Lord:

neither be ye sorry;

for the joy of the LORD

is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

This passage is from the prophet Nehemiah’s instructions to the people as they celebrated the completion of the wall around the city of Jerusalem.  If you take the time to read the entire book you will find that Nehemiah had led the people in not only a building project, but a project that was completed under great difficulty and opposition.  Here Nehemiah was encouraging the people to put their confidence in God’s provision, and to remember that “the joy of the LORD is your strength”!  It is what we must remember and count on as well.

No matter the challenge, God is ever faithful to provide us with everything that we need; there is never a trial or test that catches our God unaware!  He is ever faithful to provide, especially for HIS own—and God knows those who are really HIS own!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”   2 Timothy 2:19

And as Jesus said, HE knows HIS own sheep, and they know HIM, and follow HIM!  The question is, who are you following?  From whom or what do you get your strength? The world’s praise?  A bottle (no matter what is in it)?  Success on your job?  Wealth, fame, popularity, or any other worldly prize?  If your confidence and hope are not in Jesus, you have allowed yourself to be misdirected.  But the straight way is still here!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man

is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

For those who deny Jesus’ deity, this passage sets it straight; Jesus made this clear and certain statement of His own deity, “I and my Father are one”!  For those who claim that Jesus never claimed to be God, here is the true statement that HE made, and HE IS GOD!  And back to that straight way!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

This is a contrast that many don’t want to consider today, but Jesus said it, and that settles it, whether you/I believe it or not!  If I may paraphrase, Jesus said that there is a wide, easy, popular way that MANY will choose—but it leads to destruction!  Yet Jesus called us to choose the “strait gate”, even though it is narrow, difficult, and not very popular, for “few there be that find it”!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And we who know Jesus and belong to HIM will have HIS joy, as well as HIS strength to press on for HIS glory and our good.

“As the Father hath loved me,

so have I loved you:

continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments,

ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept my Father’s commandments,

and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you,

that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full.

12 This is my commandment,

That ye love one another,

as I have loved you.”  John 15:9-12

So, will you walk in “the joy of the Lord”, or flounder around in the lies of the world?  Won’t you join me and choose JOY?

Please do—HE has never failed me and HE never will, and Jesus surely came that our “joy might be full”!  Let your joy be contagious!!!

“Nevertheless my lovingkindness

will I not utterly take from him,

nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.”  Psalm 89:33

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen!!!