Category Archives: Abundant Life In Jesus

The Cross Is My Anchor??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #645

17 Friday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Consider Your ways, Cross, Faithfulness, JESUS, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #645   The Cross Is My Anchor???

 

“But God forbid

that I should glory,

save in the cross

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world

is crucified unto me,

and I

unto the world.”   Galatians 6:14

We make choices every day—some important, some not as important, some easy, some very difficult—and I want to remind us all that we, as believers, need to make our decisions with the cross in mind.  In these difficult days we are experiencing all around the world, we must stand in confidence of our Lord and WHO He is—“Sovereign Lord” of all who died to redeem and save us, and we need to “fix our eyes” on HIM in all things.

“Beware lest any man spoil you

through philosophy

and vain deceit,

after the tradition of men,

after the rudiments of the world,

and not after Christ.

9 For in him

dwelleth all the fulness

of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete

in him,

which is the head

of all principality

and power:”  Colossians 2:8-10

Paul also told this precious church at Colossae about living in light of the cross; let’s determine to receive The Word and walk accordingly in these perilous times—in all times!  Don’t let fear or frustration send you down the wrong road.

“Lie not one to another,

seeing that ye have put off the old man

with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek

nor Jew,

circumcision

nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian,

Scythian,

bond

nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.

12 Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called

in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing

one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace

in your hearts

to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do

in word

or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks

to God

and the Father

by him.”    Colossians 3:9-17

I pray that these words of truth, hope and encouragement will minister to you this morning, and may you have a blessed day.  Remember that the cross is our anchor—it’s where Jesus accomplished our redemption—and HE died for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith…

“As for our redeemer,

the LORD of hosts is his name,

the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 47:4

Amen and Amen.

 

 

 

Only ONE Will Always Be There!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #643

15 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Darkness or Light?, Dependence, Discipline, Distractions, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Judgment, Just Jesus!, Listening To God, Living Right, Perseverance, Righteousness, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #643   Only ONE Will Always Be There!!!

 

In these days of “quarantine” and being ‘home alone’ or for some “Not” alone, we are finding new ways to manage; whether it be cooking, or shopping in new ways, keeping our distance (without being distant!), meetings via the internet, learning to converse anew, being cut off from our loved ones, friends, neighbors and our church families; whatever the difficulty in your life right now, may we ever remember that our solution isn’t the weatherman or the government—even when they send out “checks”—for there is only ONE who has promised to always care for HIS own!  And the good, no the great news, is that you can come into His family, His fold!

“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

But there is only one way to come to HIM, and that is in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—yours and mine–and HIS grace is extended to “whosoever will” come to Him.

“And Jesus said unto them,

I am the bread of life:

he  that cometh to me

shall never hunger;

and he that believeth on me

shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you,

That ye also have seen me,

and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me

shall come to me;

and him that cometh to me

I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven,

not to do mine own will,

but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father’s will

which hath sent me,

that of all which he hath given me

I should lose nothing,

but should raise it up again

 at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me,

that every one which seeth the Son,

and believeth on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:35-40

Jesus came to give His life that we might live, and HE is coming back again (and a lot sooner, I think, than we can imagine!) and take His own to Himself and set all things right on this earth!  Are you His?  Are you ready if He came today?  It truly is a matter of life and death!

I am so glad that I have Jesus as my Lord, my Master, My King; and I can trust Him to accomplish His purpose in me and use me as HE sees fit—no matter the cost, or the pain that comes my way.  I know, as the old song says, WHO holds not only “tomorrow” but The One Who holds today—be it sunny or gray!  He is trustworthy, and I choose to trust Him and obey His Word and His voice to my heart in the person of The Holy Spirit!  Thank you, Jesus!

We need to understand that Jesus loves the world, yet He not only loves His own but also disciplines them—that we may be “conformed to the image” of Himself!

“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

Pretty strong language with a message that so many ignore or reject today—but it is God’s Word!  If you can sin and have no discipline in your life, you better check out what you think saved you!  There are those who found Jesus’ own words too hard to accept, what about you?  The choice is yours but remember there is a test!

“Jesus said unto him,

If thou wilt be perfect,

go and sell that thou hast,

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure

in heaven:

and come

and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying,

he went away sorrowful:

for he had great possessions.”   Matthew 19:21-22

What are you clinging to instead of Jesus?  Don’t let your ‘idols’ keep you from the Master!  Won’t you let go of your fears, your greed, your dependency on substances (of whatever sort they are), your pride, or clinging to your own way, and take His “yoke upon you” and truly receive what HE promises and delivers, ”ye shall find rest unto your souls…”!  I pray that you will choose Jesus for HE loves you more than you know, and He promises to never leave you!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”   Hebrews 13:5-6

I pray that you will hear the voice of this Jesus, THE ONE who loves you and wants to deliver you and give you “rest unto your souls…”!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

Is Almost/Tomorrow Too Late??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 06

12 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Glory To God, One Day Too Late?, The Resurrection Life!, You can overcome

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 06    Is Almost/Tomorrow Too Late???

 

I have a simple message to share on this Resurrection Sunday—what are you doing with the resurrected Lord Jesus?  Are you waiting for ‘a better time’?  Are you waiting for the ‘perfect’ life?  It will never arrive!  If you keep putting things off—you may find yourself calling on God one day too late!  And if you are His, what are you doing with the power HE has imparted to You?

“For the king knoweth of these things,

before whom also I speak freely:

for I am persuaded that none of these things

are hidden from him;

for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa,

believest thou the prophets?

I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me

to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said,

I would to God,

that not only thou,

but also all that hear me this day,

were both almost,

and altogether such as I am,

except these bonds.”   Acts 26:26-29

Like Paul, my prayer is that you will respond to the Gospel of Jesus; coming to Him in repentance and faith in the risen Lord who gave His life for You and me! It’s why we believers honor this day—for The Lamb slain for our sin, that we might have life.

“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 3:14-21

And when we choose Jesus in response to His call to our hearts, He empowers us to walk in victory, but we must yield ourselves to walk in HIS power not our own; abiding in the vine not our flesh!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 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 15:1-5

Won’t you look up to Him and walk forward in HIS power?  My prayer is that you will hear His voice and answer His call!  He IS the answer—are willing to 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

And with that I’ll simply say, “May God lead you in the way HE has for you”; and I am praying that you hear HIS voice today and learn to walk in HIS overcoming power!!!  Because:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

“For whatsoever is born of God

overcometh the world:

and this is the victory

that overcometh the world,

even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world,

but he that believeth

that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:4-5

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Living HOPE??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #641

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Born Again, He IS Alive!, HOPE, IN Jesus!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Resurrection, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Love of God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #641       A Living HOPE???

 

“Behold, the eye of the LORD

is upon them

 that fear him,

upon them

that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death,

and to keep them alive in famine.

20 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.”  Psalm 33:18-22

As we approach the celebration of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, I just want to remind each of us of the HOPE that we have in Jesus—regardless of our circumstances!  So may these words of scripture encourage your heart along with mine, as we rehearse the goodness, grace and love of our God and Father, through the gift of His Son, Jesus for our sin; as well as the precious gift to every believer of the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide, direct, teach and lead us as we yield to Him and God’s Word (which He helps us to understand and conform to!)!

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself,

and God, even our Father,

which hath loved us,

and hath given us

everlasting consolation

and good hope

through grace,

17 Comfort your hearts,

and stablish you

in every good word

and work.”  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

May we each rest in that comfort that only God can give, my friends, despite the current events plaguing our world; don’t let ‘these things’ take your eyes off of the victory that our Lord Jesus purchased at Calvary and delivered at the “empty” tomb!  HE AROSE—so we can have victory.  Don’t let the enemy distract you with fear, discouragement, worry, and especially “hopelessness”; for of all people in this world the children of God have an eternal HOPE!!!  HIS name is JESUS—and HE LIVES!

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope

by the resurrection

of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance

incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven

for you,

5 Who are kept

by the power of God

through faith

unto salvation

ready to be revealed

in the last time.”   1 Peter 1:3-5

Not only is HE RISEN—HE is coming back again—and sooner, I believe, than we might think!  Are you ready to meet HIM?  Have you let the enemy get your eyes on your surroundings instead of our living Lord?  Take time today to rejoice in whose we are—and WHO has given us this eternal, living “HOPE”!  Even as Paul told the young preacher boy, Titus so many years ago; and as an old song reminds us of the truth that we’re closer home than we’ve ever been before! Amen!  Hallelujah!  Praise The God from whom all blessings flow!

“Looking for that blessed hope,

and the glorious appearing

of the great God

and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself

for us,

that he might redeem us

from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself

a peculiar people,

zealous of good works.”    Titus 2:13-14

Remember the words of our dear Lord before He left this world!

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house

are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place

for you.

3 And if I go

and prepare a place

for you,

I will come again,

and receive you

unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

1 Peye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not

whither thou goest;

and how can we know

the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh

unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:1-6

All because of HIS grace, HIS love, and HIS sacrifice!  Thank You, Jesus.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  Our redeemer IS coming for us!

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption

draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28

Amen and Amen!

 

Fickle Fame–Fickle Followers??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 05

05 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Be not conformed to this world, Born Again, Compromise, Cross, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Fickle or Faithful

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 05   Fickle Fame—Fickle Followers???

 

I want to share some food for thought in regard to the “passion” week of our Lord, particularly the four short days between Palm Sunday and the taking of our Lord.

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them,

Go into the village over against you,

and straightway ye shall find an ass tied,

and a colt with her:

loose them,

and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you,

ye shall say,

The Lord hath need of them;

and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion,

Behold, thy King cometh unto thee,

meek, and sitting upon an ass,

and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went,

and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass,

and the colt,

and put on them their clothes,

and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude

spread their garments in the way;

others

cut down branches from the trees,

and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes

that went before,

and that followed,

cried, saying,

Hosanna to the Son of David:

Blessed is he that cometh

in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem,

all the city was moved, saying,

Who is this?

11 And the multitude said,

This is Jesus

the prophet of Nazareth

of Galilee.”  Matthew 21:1-11

Here we have Jesus coming into Jerusalem on this amazing Sunday for, as the Gospels record repeatedly, His “time had come” to be the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin.  As Paul and John each put it, He IS the “propitiation” for our sin!

Propitiation: conciliation; or the means by which atonement or reparation (the making of amends for wrong or injury done) is made—the payment in full for the “wages of sin” which “is death”…

The work that Jesus was going to accomplish at Calvary!

“Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins

that are past,

through the forbearance

of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him which believeth

in Jesus.”                     Romans 3:24-26

“My little children,

these things write I unto you,

that ye sin not.

And if any man sin,

we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation

for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world.”                       1 John 2:1-2

“In this was manifested the love of God

toward us,

because that God sent his only begotten Son

into the world,

that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love,

not that we loved God,

but that he loved us,

and sent his Son to be the propitiation

for our sins.”  1 John 4:9-10

It amazes me that so many today are in the same boat as those people long ago who actually encountered Jesus in person.  Yet we so often become discouraged and distraught when we encounter opposition and flighty people; or we give in to the philosophy of compromise which says we must make the “Gospel” palatable to the masses!  Yet, it seems to me that Jesus was so “unpalatable” to the masses that they killed HIM!  Yet Jesus Himself told us that it would be this way—so, we must choose to follow Him even when we receive fickle responses to our faithfulness to God and His Word, or cave to the demands for compromise on every hand!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them,

they had not had sin:

but now they have no cloke

for their sin.

23 He that hateth me

hateth my Father also.”  John 15:17-23

As we look at the account above recording the four days from the “triumphal entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem, how did people change from praising and lauding this very Son of God, to crying “crucify Him…crucify Him”?

“Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner,

called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together,

Pilate said unto them,

Whom will ye that I release unto you?

Barabbas,

or Jesus

which is called Christ?

18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19 When he was set down on the judgment seat,

his wife sent unto him, saying,

Have thou nothing to do with that just man:

for I have suffered many things this day

in a dream because of him.

20 But the chief priests and elders

persuaded the multitude

that they should ask Barabbas,

and destroy Jesus.

21 The governor answered and said unto them,

Whether of the twain will ye that I release

unto you?

They said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate saith unto them,

What shall I do then with Jesus

which is called Christ?

They all say unto him,

Let him be crucified.

23 And the governor said,

Why,

what evil hath he done?

 But they cried out the more, saying,

Let him be crucified.

24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing,

but that rather a tumult was made,

he took water,

and washed his hands before the multitude, saying,

I am innocent of the blood

of this just person:

see ye to it.

25 Then answered all the people, and said,

His blood be on us,

and on our children.”   Matthew 27:15-25

So, I challenge each of us to be sure that we are using The Word of God as our standard and not the reactions, polls, and popular opinions of the world.  Many will ‘say’ they are friends of Jesus, but then balk at biblical ‘Christians’, biblical ‘morality’ and the desire to live biblically.  We must be ready to stand on The Word—but to stand on it, we must know it!

“I charge thee therefore

before God,

and the Lord Jesus Christ,

who shall judge the quick and the dead

at his appearing

and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word;

be instant in season,

out of season;

reprove,

rebuke,

exhort

with all longsuffering

and doctrine.

3 For the time will come

when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts

shall they heap to themselves teachers,

having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears

from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.”  2 Timothy 4:1-4

The choice is yours and mine; will we speak, preach, teach, share the truth “in season, out of season” as we have opportunity?  Will we hold to “sound doctrine” or compromise truth to popular demand?  Will we be those who change from “hosanna” to “crucify HIM”; or will we “stand fast in the evil day”!  My dear friends—truth is our only hope; and Jesus IS that truth; both the living hope, the written hope and the crucified, buried, and RISEN hope!  The risen Lord who IS OUR HOPE!!!  We ought never to be the “fickle” flock—but those who are faithfully following our Lord and sharing HIS truth, even when our closest family and friends oppose us!

“But speak thou the things

which become sound doctrine:”  Titus 2:1

To God be the glory—great things HE has done, is doing, and will ever do.  Open your ears and eyes and let God use YOU today—YOU may change someone’s life forever!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance

incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God

through faith

unto salvation ready to be revealed

in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5