Category Archives: Abundant Life In Jesus

What Price Revival??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 01

20 Sunday Sep 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Remember, Repentance, REvival

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 01    What Price Revival???

 

It’s been a long week at our home, but God’s still God, God’s still good and I still trust Him.  While I don’t always know what God wants to accomplish in my life, I do know that if I will but wait, listen and seek to obey, He will reveal what I cannot see, in HIS time.  What about you?  I’d like to share some things that I pray will help us each draw near to our Savior and Lord, Jesus in these difficult days!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings

as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

God is ever doing HIS work in us, because when we are born again—we are His children, and HE is working to make us more and more like Jesus.  But we must remember whose we are!  We live in such a “me” culture that it’s often hard to not get caught up in its focus on self!  Much like the church at Corinth, we need to be reminded that we belong to God!  (Also see Romans 8:28-29)

“What? know ye not

that your body

is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have

of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought

with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”   1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Did you get that?  We are to glorify God, because we are “bought with a price”!  We must reject the popular idea that we can claim Jesus saving power and give Him no allegiance!  We will never truly experience the power of God in our lives, until our lives are truly yielded to Jesus!  We must recognize the priority of Jesus’ authority in my/your life!

“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

And we can accomplish this seemingly impossible task only when we depend upon the power supplied by the redeeming work of Jesus at Calvary through HIS Holy Spirit within us!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

While Jesus spoke these words before His passion, He knew what HE would do for His sheep, and He told us before that HE would give us not only eternal life, but life here and now, “more abundantly” than we could ever know without Him!  We can have this life today, and tomorrow and each day of our lives if we will but walk in the light of His Spirit.  And when we will yield our lives to that leading of our Shepherd, we can be a part of seeing a move of God about us!  As many of us have prayed for revival for a long time, it is a prayer that still wafts heavenward from my own lips!  And in light of that prayer, I’d like to take some liberty with a familiar passage and break it down into bite-sized pieces to consider things that we may have missed.  I pray that this will touch your heart and mine and bring us humbly to HIS cross that alone can save, transform and renew lives, as well as recharge HIS own!

“If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall

humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn

from their wicked ways;

then

will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14

When we consider the context of this much quoted verse, we are brought to see that it is not only God’s promise to hear and answer when His people returned to Him, it is a reminder from God that they would rebel again (as they had ever since Moses led them out of Egypt) and that HE would judge them because of it.  But the comfort and assurance that we find here, is that HE told them HE would (much like the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son) be ready to hear, forgive, restore them to favor, and heal their land, (which He would judge because of their sin); for it would take His judgment upon them to get their attention!  Sound familiar?  We still suffer from the same spiritual forgetfulness, and I pray that we will remedy this trait in our own hearts today and each day ahead.

So, back to the verse—let’s ponder its value:

If—supposing or based on a condition (you do…I do…)

–whosoever will…(See John 3:16)

–no other name….(See Acts 4:12)

My people—a promise to those who belong to GOD…

–not a blanket promise to all mankind…

–a principle for believers…

(See Jn. 10:26-28 & Jn 3:16; Acts 4:12)

Which are called by MY name—the regenerate…

–those born again by God’s Spirit..

(See John 1:12-13 & John 3:3,5,16)

–bought with a price…

(See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Shall humbles themselves—bow to/yield to God

–We are called to humble ourselves…

–Not to be puffed up..

–Not arrogant..

–Not self-satisfied..

 –To be like Isaiah before God…

(“Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because I am a man

of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth,

 and said,

Lo, this hath touched

thy lips;

and thine iniquity

is taken away,

and thy sin

purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord,

saying, Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I;

send me.”  Isaiah 6:5-8)

Shall—

humbles themselves,—

and pray,—

and seek my face,—

and turn

from their wicked ways; –REPENT…

–of self…

–of prayerlessness/self-dependence…

/independence…

–of neglecting to seek God’s face…

–of embracing wickedness freely…

(We must practice the fruit of The Spirit…

rather than the fruit of the flesh!!!

(See Galatians 5:18-24)

THEN–God’s response to our “IF” we do the above…

Will I hear from heaven–

God sees and knows, ever ready to respond…

(See Psalm 11:4, 34:15; Proverbs 15:3)

              God hears the prayers of the righteous…

(See James 5:16)

And will forgive their sin—

The sins of HIS own when we confess…

(See 1 John 1:8-10; Matthew 6:12)

And will heal their land—restore from judgment…

The preface—verse 7:13

***“If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

***or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

***or if I send pestilence

among my people;”  2 Chronicles 7:13

Our choice is to hear and obey God or reap the consequences!  There is hope of God’s provision when we will return to HIM, but we can’t be presumptuous and continue to disobey on the expectation of God’s forgiving grace without consideration of HIS judgment.  I’ll simply close with a somber reminder from Paul, and I pray that you will ponder these things—I pray that we who are HIS will stand in the gap for a nation in desperate straits!  What are you sowing?  Where are you bowing to?  The choice is yours but remember there is a test!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh

reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit

reap life everlasting.”  Galatians 6:7-8

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s Your Water Source??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #676

14 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Amazing Grace, Cups of cold water!, Have You Heard?, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #676     What’s Your Water Source???

 

As many of you know, we live in Oklahoma; it’s summer, and it’s HOT, really hot, triple digit hot!  A cool drink of water is welcome to quench the thirst and keep a body hydrated in extreme heat, yet there is a heat beyond imagination for those who refuse to drink of Jesus’ offer of “living water”!  The woman of Samaria—an outcast, a woman of ill-repute, a loner, a woman despised by ‘decent’ women—simply came to get her water for the day (remember she had no “faucet” to turn on!) but she came at noon!  Most of the women would draw water early in the morning or in the late evening, the cooler parts of the day; yet this woman, the outcast, came at noon and who did she find but Jesus—a Jew!  And Jesus added amazement to her day by simply asking for a drink of water; but then HE led her to see that HE could give her “living water”! (It would be good to take some time today and read the entire chapter for yourself.)

“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water:

Jesus saith unto her,

Give me to drink…

…9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him,

How is it that thou, being a Jew,

askest drink of me,

which am a woman of Samaria?

for the Jews have no dealings

with the Samaritans.

10 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.

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob,

 which gave us the well,

and drank thereof himself,

and his children,

and his cattle?

13 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.”   Portions of John 4:7-15

Later, at a feast in Jerusalem, Jesus called men, women, boys and girls to Himself, the very source of God’s “living water”—water that can quench the thirst of your soul and mine!!!  I’m so grateful that Jesus came to me, not in person like the Samaritan woman, but in just as desperate a condition, and Jesus revealed my black heart, so that I could see what HE saw, then HE called me to repent and trust HIM to save me, rather than my own self-generated, good works done to impress others and convince them that I was a ‘good’ person.  Oh, praise HIS name, Jesus knew about me, and He knows about you!  Won’t you take of His water? You’ll find His grace and peace unequaled; I came to Him over 40 years ago, and HE has never failed me—ever!  Especially in this last few months of dealing with the grief over the loss of my only daughter, HE has carried me, comforted me, dried my tears, and reminded me over and over again to come to HIS cross for more of HIS life-sustaining water!  Oh, what a wonderful Savior!  Pour it on Lord, pour it on?

“In the last day, that great day of the feast,

Jesus stood and cried, saying,

If any man thirst,

 let him come unto me,

and drink.

38 He that believeth on me,

as the scripture hath said,

out of his belly shall flow

rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit,

which they that believe on him

should receive:

for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;

because that Jesus was not yet

glorified.)”. John 7:37-39

Jesus came to be the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours; He not only can and will save you, but He will fill your soul with peace, joy and rest!  His water has never run dry when I come to Him in the sweltering heat of life, even knowing the many times that I fail Him—HE never fails me!  His water is an ever-flowing artesian well of life, restoration, and refreshing to my soul!  I invite you to take of HIS water and forsake that muddy puddle that you’ve been drinking from.  Jeremiah recorded God’s judgment concerning the choice of “drinking water”!

“Hath a nation changed their gods,

which are yet no gods?

 but my people have changed their glory

for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this,

and be horribly afraid,

be ye very desolate,

saith the LORD.

13 For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:11-13

There is a time coming for those who will choose to follow Jesus in repentance and faith, when we will lay down our burdens, rest in His presence, drink of those fountains eternally without restraint, and have our tears wiped away!  Oh, glorious day!  Hallelujah!  May we be found faithful when HE calls, and I can’t believe it’s long till that trumpet sounds!  Are you ready!

“They shall hunger no more,

neither thirst any more;

neither shall the sun light on them,

nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb

which is in the midst of the throne

shall feed them,

 and shall lead them

unto living fountains of waters:

and God shall wipe away all tears

from their eyes.”  Revelation 7:16-17

May you have a blessed day and be filled with Jesus’ “water of life” today!!!

Amen and Amen!

Show Or Substance??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #670

24 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Amazing Grace, Believe IN Jesus, By His Grace, Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Father's Way!, God Is In Charge, God of all comfort!, God's Faithfulness, He Died That We Could Live, HOPE, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, Jesus Saves!, Just Jesus!, Our God Reigns, Resting In Jesus, Salvation, The Blood Of Jesus, TODAY, Trials, Trusting Jesus?, Victorious Living

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #670  Show Or Substance???

 

It’s been a challenging week for a lot of reasons, but mainly just the ups and downs of life, grief and the world around us; so I would like us to consider what we are depending on—where is our hope—who is our security—how do we press on?  The only certain answer to all of those questions is Jesus!  And because He loves us, HE came to give us life—abundant life, and pardon just as The Father promised.

“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 55:7-9

Even as Jesus told Nicodemus, He came to save, even though it would cost Him His life’s blood; He came to die, to save you and me—He willingly came to die that we might live!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.”  John 3:14-18

God loves us, He hates the sin that plagues us, so He had already made the plan for our salvation before we needed it!  He knew and HE created us anyway!  (See John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; and 1 Peter 1:20) What amazing love—a love that is here for you, if you will but reach out and take His hand—receiving His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for your sin and mine!  The Psalmist said it better than I can.

“Our soul waiteth for the LORD:

he is our help

and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him,

because we have trusted

in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD,

be upon us,

according as we hope in thee.”  Psalms 32:22

Jesus IS our hope and confidence, as I’m often heard to say, “My confidence is in Jesus, not the government nor the weatherman!”  And praise God we can rest assured that our God reigns in all and is accomplishing HIS purposes all around us; and when we keep our eyes on HIM and walk in trust and obedience, we will find HE is the “substance” not just a “flash in the pan” show!  He is the only One who can not only give us abundant life but sustain us in it—and it in us!!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

Are you HIS sheep?  Or are you putting on a show for the seeming benefit of others?  Remember there is only One way to God, and HIS name is Jesus!  And while you may be able to fool the world, you can’t fool God!  Remember:

“There is a way that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

And Jesus said it best!

“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

Are you trusting in what “you” say, or what “Jesus has done” for you and me?

On a side note, I’ve been thinking a lot about my daughter this week, and as I was pondering on Psalm 23, God’s Word spoke to my heart in a new way.  As David encouraged us to know that even though we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”,  it doesn’t necessarily refer to just our own journey through that valley, but the journey that we sometimes have to take through that valley due to the death of someone else.  Yet God is still faithful, and HE is faithful to me now, as I continue to walk through this time of grief, sorrow, and sadness, yet my eyes can bring comfort to my soul as I look heavenward knowing that I need not “fear” any evil because just as David said,

“I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me”!

So, I pray that today you will hear the voice of The One who gave Himself for our salvation and that we might receive HIS “abundant” life; life IN Himself!  And if you don’t know Him, I pray that you will hear His voice today, and open your heart’s door to His call.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

One, Two, One??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 17

28 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, By Him We Live, Consider Your ways, Conviction, God Is In Charge, God's Faithfulness, God's provision, Repentance, Resting In Jesus, SIN, Sovereignty

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 17    One, Two, One???

 

This may be a short post, or it may grow as we go along, but I feel it’s a message that we need to consider.  We have choices in this life—and God has made it clear that while He has given us the freedom to choose, He also tells us that each choice has consequences.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good

unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”  Galatians 6:7-10

God’s standard/salvation is the only ‘way’ that provides eternal life, and, unlike man’s ways—HE hasn’t changed—nor will HE ever.  What HE says is true; just like HIS Son, who is truth!  The “One” way—the “Only” way (from before the foundation of the world)!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

“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

Just as Paul told the Galatians, we have the freedom to choose, but not to set the consequences; yet even when we make wrong choices, God’s grace reaches down, through the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary—the “blood of the Lamb” that “cleanseth us from all sin”!  Jesus is our only hope!  The world has gone crazy and many (even believers) are fearful, and alarmed, but God gives us the assurance that HE is accomplishing HIS purposes in HIS time!  Godly people will pay a price for following Jesus, yet even when evil men prosper in their ways, God provides for HIS own!

“Yea, and all that will live godly

in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving,

and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things

which thou hast learned

and hast been assured of,

knowing of whom

thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child

thou hast known the holy scriptures,

which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation

through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:13-17 

Even when evil abounds around us (and surely it is rampant today) we can be confident in God’s faithful work, ever learning HIS Word so that we can truly obey and have comfort in our Lord, our God, our KING!

“And I heard as it were

the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings,

saying, Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent

reigneth.”   Revelation 19:6

Amen and Amen!  The Psalmist gloriously declares that even when the heathens rage, and the crowds revel in vanity, God laughs—for HE IS in control!!!

“Why do the heathen rage,

and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth

set themselves,

and the rulers

take counsel together,

against the LORD,

and against his anointed,

saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder,

and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens

shall laugh:

the Lord shall have them

in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them

in his wrath,

and vex them

in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king

upon my holy hill of Zion.”  Psalm 2:1-6

Our Lord reigns, and His day of vengeance will come!  Will you be one of those who “rage” at God and HIS Son?  Or will you be one who calls upon the name of the Lord, and receives HIS salvation IN Jesus?

“But what saith it?

The word is nigh thee,

even in thy mouth,

and in thy heart:

that is,

the word of faith,

which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess

with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe

in thine heart

that God hath raised him

from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth

unto righteousness;

and with the mouth

confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith,

Whosoever believeth on him

shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference

between the Jew and the Greek:

for the same Lord over all

is rich unto all

that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.”  Romans 10:8-13

Jesus Himself declared clearly what the issue is—and to make clear the title of this post—the ONE issue is SIN,  there are only TWO choices—believe/receiveJesus for salvation, or reject Him and pay for your own sin; yet there will be only ONE result– the consequences of your choice!  It’s your choice but choose wisely—there is a test!

“And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

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

There is only “One” issue—SIN!  There is only “One” choice-although there are two options, believe or reject– but remember the consequence will be an eternal one!  To use Jesus’ own words:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds

may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:16-21

Every “ONE” is free to choose; but of the “TWO” choices only “ONE” leads to God; the other “ONE” leads to hell!  The choice is yours and mine.  God said that evil men shall “wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”, and we are surely seeing that happen before our very eyes.  Sad, but true!  Will we be brave enough to shine the light everywhere we go?  Will we be diligent to learn God’s Word so that we can share it with confidence and integrity?  Will we be swayed by the rhetoric of the day—the media (social and national), the politics, the false prophets and leaders, the desire for popularity and to go “viral”?  Or will we “stand fast in the evil day”—and, my friends, it is upon us!  It won’t be “one, two, three, go”; it will be a “yes” or a “no” to Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  It’s why HE came—to “BE” the way, and save us:  “…he shall save his people from their sins…”!

The bottom line is that there are only two kinds of people—the lost without Jesus, and the saved who have been “born again” by the blood of Jesus.  It’s God’s work not ours—but when we receive Jesus, we are compelled to share it with all we encounter.

“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

Have you come to Jesus?  Have you been “born again” into the kingdom of God?  I’d like to close with one of my favorite passages of Paul’s which so concisely reveals what we receive when we receive the “WHO” of salvation—JESUS!

I ask that you spend some time pondering these truths—it will bless and encourage your heart if you will receive it!

“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.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

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.

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.

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.”   Romans 5:1-11

May God bless you and open your eyes to see His truth, that we may “stand fast in the evil day”!  It is upon us!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

Hidden Treasure??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #662

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Compromise, SIN, Still Will I Trust HIM

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #662       Hidden Treasure???

 

What are you doing with the treasure that God has blessed you with?  Are you shining your light on the darkness or are you “hiding it” under a bucket, or a life of compromise?  I’d like to share a passage from Paul, a bit longer than usual for a Friday, but one I feel we need to consider.  Are we helping to spread the good news of the gospel, or are we adding to the darkness and supporting the lies of the enemy?

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry,

as we have received mercy,

we faint not;

2 But have renounced

the hidden things of dishonesty,

not walking in craftiness,

nor handling the word of God deceitfully;

but by manifestation of the truth

commending ourselves

to every man’s conscience

in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid,

it is hid to them

that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world

hath blinded the minds

of them which believe not,

lest the light of the glorious gospel

of Christ,

who is the image of God,

should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves,

but Christ Jesus the Lord;

and ourselves your servants

for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God,

who commanded the light

to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light

of the knowledge of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure

in earthen vessels,

that the excellency

of the power

may be of God,

and not of us.”   2 Corinthians 4:1-7

May we ever be mindful that “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”?  It is so easy to be distracted, caught up, and led away from our Lord by the “bling” and “glitz” of the world.  But the urgency of the hour calls for our total devotion to our Lord; even in the midst of trials, suffering, and ridicule.  We must choose the things of God and the dependence upon HIS Spirit rather than the world’s false answers!

“See then that ye walk circumspectly,

not as fools,

but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time,

because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding

what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

 in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

in your heart

to the Lord;”  Ephesians 5:15-19

We live in a culture that stampedes to the short-term solutions of any popular substance of the moment; whether it’s alcohol, drugs, tobacco, food, or anything that we use to control our fears or anxieties.  And while we can “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”, that season will not last (see Hebrews 11:25) and its price tag is almost always more than we expect it to be!  When we choose to follow Jesus, we can expect opposition and difficulty, but we can rest assured that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”!  Paul assures us that no matter the cost of following Jesus faithfully, it will be rewarding beyond worldly measure.  For while we may be troubled “on every side”, we know that Paul is right in what he told the Roman believers!

“For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

Paul also reminds us, as he did the believers at Corinth and Galatia, that regardless of our circumstances our Lord is always faithful in every situation (adequate to every trial!):

“We are troubled on every side,

yet not distressed;

we are perplexed,

but not in despair;

9 Persecuted,

but not forsaken;

cast down,

but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body

the dying of the Lord Jesus,

that the life also of Jesus

might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live

are alway delivered unto death

for Jesus’ sake,

that the life also of Jesus

might be made manifest

in our mortal flesh.”  2 Corinthians 4:8-11

I am “bought with a price”; and that price is the blood of Jesus which “cleanseth us from all sin”!  May we ever strive to be a mirror of Jesus’ power and grace rather than the substitute gratifications of the world’s lies!  Remember, ‘sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay’!  But Jesus has already given HIS life that we might have “abundant life”!  Choose wisely!  There is a test!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!