Category Archives: Abiding In Jesus

Hear Ye HIM??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #68

22 Wednesday Feb 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Doers or intenders?, Forgetting or Remembering?, Hear ye HIM!, Hearing God, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Just DO it!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Hear Ye HIM???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #68

“While he yet spake,

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:

and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said,

This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it,

they fell on their face,

and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said,

Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes,

they saw no man,

save Jesus only.”  Matthew 17:5-8

Have you heard the voice of Jesus?  No, not audibly with your ears, but with your heart and mind?  Jesus speaks in unique ways, at unique times, and usually with a unique calling.  The problem is we don’t always hear for the clatter of the world.  Or sometimes we tempt/test God by saying, “God, if you don’t want me to do this/or that, then stop me!”  Well, I can tell you, I have said that more than once, and on more than one occasion, God has sent events, circumstances, or people to “stop” me, and on more than one occasion I just ran full throttle ahead into a fray that cost me dearly.  Scripture warns us over and over again, that we must cultivate a heart that is open to the voice of God, and that when we don’t there are consequences to pay.

Paul had a lot to say about how to avoid unpleasant consequences.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16

“If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:25

Jesus closed each of the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 with a phrase that should resound in our hearts as well as our “ears”!  Do you have an “ear to hear”?

“He that hath an ear,

let him hear

what the Spirit saith…”.  Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 23

If Jesus repeated this call to the seven churches–to those who claimed HIS name, it would seem to merit our attention to what HE is saying to us–to you and me–today, from HIS WORD as well as HIS Holy Spirit’s voice to our hearts.

James described it in another way, as he reminded us of our ability to “forget”. And believe me, at my age, I certainly know that fact well!  But will we heed James’ call and stay in The Word, or will we continue to live lives ruled by our culture rather than our LORD?

“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.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows

in their affliction,

and TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED

FROM THE WORLD.”  James 1:22-27.                          (Added emphasis is mine.)

So, my friends, will you “hear ye HIM”, or will you continue to be a “FORGETFUL HEARER” and go your own way?  As Jesus warned us in Matthew 7, the broad way (our way) “leadeth to destruction”!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

The Desire Of My Heart??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 05

20 Monday Feb 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Delight of my heart, Faithfulness, Father's Way!, God Knows His Own, God of all comfort!, God's Faithfulness, God's Glory, God's glory NOT mine!, Holy Living

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

The Desire Of My Heart??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 05

I have a simple word to share with you today.  I pray that God will touch your heart and mine and draw us close to Himself that we might be a reflection of HIS glory and not our own!

“O give thanks unto the LORD;

call upon his name:

make known his deeds

among the people.

2 Sing unto him,

sing psalms unto him:

talk ye of all

his wondrous works.

3 Glory ye

in his holy name:

let the heart of them rejoice

that seek the LORD.

4 Seek the LORD,

and his strength:

seek his face evermore.”  Psalm 105:1-4

The Psalms always encourage my heart and reading, rehearsing, and memorizing them is worthy of our time and effort, for they remind us continually of the faithfulness of our God and our need for HIS presence, grace, power, and love.  Jesus also reminded us that it is God’s glory we are to pursue not our own–oh, how far our culture has come–and usually in the opposite direction (due in great part to the media–social, broadcast, movies, and music!)!

“Jesus answered them, and said,

My doctrine is not mine,

but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will,

he shall know of the doctrine,

whether it be of God,

or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself

seeketh his own glory:

but he that seeketh his glory that sent him,

the same is true,

and no unrighteousness is in him.”   John 7:16-18

Yet, where do we find ‘righteousness’?  Only in Jesus, through the blood that cleanses us “from all sin”!  Oh, thank you Jesus for the price that you paid for me, that I might have your righteousness, peace, and love.  It’s so hard to not just give you pages of scriptural evidence of HIS power and provision, but I pray that God will lead you to Himself through HIS Word, and one of the most powerful pictures of what God does in us when we come to Jesus is found in Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth!  Its context is amazing, and I pray that it will encourage your heart.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 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 5:17-21

Have you received the blood-bought righteousness of Jesus?  He came that we might “have life…more abundantly…”, all because “God so loved…” you and me!  Again Paul makes this so clear in his letter to the Roman believers.

“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.…

….5 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…

…. 8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have

now received the atonement.”                        Portions of Romans 5:1-11

Even as Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15, that he could only share that which he had received–so it is for every genuine believer in Jesus–it’s all of God, and we are to praise Him, for HIS amazing gifts–

HIS glory–

HIS grace–

HIS love–

HIS peace–

HIS atoning sacrifice–

HIS joy–

HIS Holy Spirit–

HIS reconciliation–

How could we take HIS glory for ourselves?  I would like to leave you with a portion of one of my favorite Psalms, to ponder on and draw strength, wisdom, grace, and encouragement from, that we will be able to stand fast in this “evil day”, being a reflection of the glory of our God–not self!

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man who bringeth

wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

to do evil.”  Psalm 37:3-8

May your day be filled with the “joy of the Lord” and His sweet presence, glory, and grace; for if HE is my delight, His will and purposes will be a delight to me and the desire of my heart will be to walk with HIM today…and today…and today!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 02

29 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Born Again, God's Faithfulness, God's ways are not our ways, Good News, Jesus Saves!, Restoration, REvival, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No.02

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also

we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:1-6

I love God’s Word, it is so true, hopeful, and enlightening to help us see where we have come from, and to see how urgent it is to help others come to Jesus.  The thing I want us to think about today is what does “Revival” mean?  I have prayed for revival for many years and will continue to pray for it until Jesus comes, or HE allows me to see a real Holy Ghost, heaven-sent, knee-bending, sin-confessing, tear-stained altar (and sadly to me, many young people don’t even know what that is!) filling, life changing, church-altering, REVIVAL!  The kind of revivals that I knew and saw as a child and a young adult that brought conviction to bear on believers to the repenting of sin, the recommitment of hearts and lives, then a world that takes note of the change!

But there is a catch!

Revival: restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc. ….an awakening in a church….an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting of a religious (my word is Spiritual) awakening…

The key I want us to note is “restoration”, for to be ‘re’stored, something must exist first; and that is what Paul is pointing out to the Ephesian believers, and to us!  Only when we realize that we are “dead in trespasses and sins” will we see the need to come to Jesus to be “born again”, or as Paul says here in Ephesians 2, that God has “quickened us”, in Blanche’s paraphrase, “God has given us life from the dead”, or as the Apostle John wrote in his gospel:

“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 1:12-13

It’s like what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, we “must be born again” by the power of God through the Holy Spirit!  And my friends, if we haven’t received the new birth–NEW LIFE– from Jesus then we are still “dead in our trespasses and sins” and we can’t be “Revived”! Revival is for those who have received new life in Jesus.  It is for those who know Jesus, but have grown cold toward spiritual things, or have lost their ardor, or just become muddled and confused in the fray of life and need a rekindling of the fire in their heart.  Sort of like a fireplace where the coals are either close to the fire and glowing, or they have become cold with the distance between them and the fire!  Jesus IS our fire!

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again

to folly.”  Psalm 85:6-8

God is ever at work conforming His own into the “image of His Son”; our job is to stay near to our “fire” –the fire of Holiness and truth! Jeremiah shared that he had a fire of God’s power in his life, we also have a call, a ministry, a life of obedience, and I think I understand what Jeremiah means, for God’s call is ever on my heart.  I would love to be the one God calls to write the “fluff stuff”, but God has called me to often speak the hard things, may I ever hear his call and like Jeremiah speak as God directs.

“Then I said,

I will not make mention of him,

nor speak any more in his name.

But his word

was in mine heart

as a burning fire shut up in my bones,

and I was weary

with forbearing,

and I could not stay.”  Jeremiah 20:9

So, as I pray for revival amongst God’s own, won’t you join me and seek revival in your own heart–for revival must start with “ME”!  How about you?  And if you don’t know Jesus and are just trying to play the game, use the right words, do the right deeds, be in the right church, or belong to the right group…God wants YOU and YOUR heart not your stuff or your abilities to get to heaven. HE wants you to come through Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice!

“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

 Jesus calls us to Himself for rest as well as life–take HIS yoke, and you’ll never walk alone!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Amen!!!

What “Form” Of Godliness??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #62

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abiding In The Vine, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Following Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Which form?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

What “Form” Of Godliness???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #62

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Paul was instructing this young pastor in many things, including verse 2:15 where he instructed him to “study to shew yourself approved UNTO GOD” (emphasis mine), and then as he continues in chapter 3, he reminds him of the veracity (look it up!) of scripture, and its power to establish our way.  So what is this “form of godliness”?  I think it is the very thing that Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter 7, those who want to impress, succeed, progress, profit, or fit in–regardless of their reasons– those who want to do it their way, but claim to be working “for God” but “denying the power thereof”!  Those who aren’t willing to come to God and let Him work in or through them, for they are too busy doing it ”my way”!  Just as it was then, it is still the same today.  Let’s see what Jesus said about it.

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:4-5

I believe that “form of godliness” is the work we do “without” Jesus!  You can talk the talk, and even pretend to walk the walk, but without really knowing and possessing Jesus, and being HIS child, you/I can do little of real value, and virtually of no value to the kingdom of God.  In fact Jesus told Nicodemus something very similar to this– he was a high-placed religious leader– which reminds us that we can have men’s credentials without having Jesus!

“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.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb, and be born?

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.”  John 3:3-7

The Apostle John also wrote about this in chapter 1.

“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

Remember the “power” that was denied in 2 Timothy 3 is the power that saves; and just as John says above it’s not by blood (birth, relationships), not by flesh (working it up), nor the will of man (passed on by any other person)!  As the old proverb says, “every pot must sit on its own bottom”!  What are you counting on?  Let’s see what Jesus says.

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he

that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many

wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

Earlier in this chapter Jesus makes another profound assessment of life choices, which is still true today!

“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

So, my question for us all is, “Do you/I only have a “form of godliness”?” Or have you been “born again” by the blood of the Lamb which cleanses us from all sin, for Jesus is THE ONLY WAY!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Can You Pass The Hearing Test?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #59

06 Friday Jan 2023

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Hearing God, What are you listening to?, Who are you listening to?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Can You Pass The Hearing Test?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #59

“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation,

in the day of temptation

in the wilderness:

9 When your fathers tempted me,

proved me,

and saw my works

forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved

with that generation,

and said,

They do alway err in their heart;

and they have not known my ways.

11 So I sware in my wrath,

They shall not enter into my rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren,

lest there be in any of you

an evil heart of unbelief,

in departing from the living God…

… 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David,

To day, after so long a time; as it is said,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7-12 & 4:7

I know this is a bit lengthy, but I want us to recognize God’s truth, that we can hear, respond, and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, or we can depart from God, His Word, His Son, and His way.  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test!  So, I want to share a few scriptures that call us to search our hearts and be sure whose we are.

“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

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

Even as Jesus rebuked the religious leaders, you can read the Bible and miss the message–and the messenger; or you can choose to diligently seek God’s face not just His blessings!

“Search the scriptures;

for in them ye think ye have eternal life:

and they are they

which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me,

that ye might have life.”  John 5:39-40

Paul also gives us amazing advice which we all need to remember and heed.

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine, (what you know about God)

for reproof,   (recognizing the wrong)

for correction, (fixing the wrong)

for instruction in righteousness: (prevention)

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

So will you heed the voice of Jesus that is still calling today!  Check your ears!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek

and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-29

May you have a blessed day and find the joy of the Lord “is my strength”!

Amen and Amen!!!