Category Archives: Choices And Consequences

Do You See What God Sees??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 25

03 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Church:Dead Or Alive?, Consider Your ways, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, IN Jesus!, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Just Jesus!, Lies, Not Of This World, Perilous Times Are Here, Plumbline?, Salvation, Seeing Truth, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Trust God, Who are YOU following?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.25 Do You See What God Sees???

 

“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

A powerful warning from the Apostle Paul; difficult times are coming—and that’s a fact.  But just as alarming as that is that today, I believe we are “there”!   We are living in “perilous times”, especially for those who choose to follow biblical Christianity.  But I’d like us to focus on an issue as important as the times, and that is how we see the times.  To put it another way, what is our plumb line of judgment in this day of peril?  Jesus gives an apt picture of misreading the truth, as He speaks to the Laodicean church in the book of The Revelation.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

These things saith the Amen,

the faithful and true witness,

the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works,

that thou art neither cold

nor hot:

I would thou wert cold

or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm,

and neither cold

nor hot,

 I will spue thee

out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not that thou art

wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame

of thy nakedness

do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes

with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love,

I rebuke

and chasten:

be zealous therefore,

and repent.”   Revelation 3:14-19

While I believe that these letters were to seven literal churches, I also believe that they represent periods in church history (which when Jesus gave them, were periods in the future of the church), and that the Laodicean church represents the apostate church of the later days.  For most of my life I have believed that we lived in the time of the church of Philadelphia (the missionary church), but in recent years I have had to face the fact that I have lived long enough to see the church transition into the church at Laodicea; and I’d like us to consider what Jesus said to this church, both then and now!

Jesus identifies Himself as the “Amen”, the “faithful and true witness”, the “beginning of the creation of God”! He is the One who is the “so be it”—the “eye witness” of the future (in fact the author of “history” because “history” is “His-story” from beginning to end)!  God knew when He created us, what we would do, yet He created us any way, and JESUS was there.  Just as the Apostle John, who wrote The Revelation, said in his account of the Gospel:

“In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word

was with God,

and the Word

was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made

by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life

was the light

of men.

5 And the light shineth

in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

Jesus came as the living, breathing, flesh and blood, God-Man, redeemer of mankind.  He took on flesh and blood that He might die for our sin—so that we could live in HIM!  And this redeemer, Jesus, said that this church at Laodicea didn’t have clear vision.  What they saw to be true about themselves, Jesus said was not true!  Just as Isaiah told ancient Israel the truth about their perceptions, the church today, especially the church in America needs to take heed as well!

“And he said, Go, and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat,

and make their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes;

lest they see

with their eyes,

and hear

with their ears,

and understand

with their heart,

and convert,

and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10

And Jesus Himself said:

“Therefore speak I to them in parables:

because they seeing

see not;

and hearing

they hear not,

neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,

which saith,

By hearing

ye shall hear,

and shall not understand;

and seeing

ye shall see,

and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart

is waxed gross,

and their ears

are dull of hearing,

and their eyes

they have closed;

lest at any time they should see

with their eyes,

and hear

with their ears,

and should understand

with their heart,

and should be converted,

and I should heal them.”    Matthew 16:13-15

All I can say is ‘oh me’ not amen, for the grief it causes to my heart.  But where do we live today?  We live in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to those of us who cleave to The Word of God, and a biblical world view that interprets life, righteousness and opportunity through the lens of The Bible, as we trust to the leading of Jesus’ Holy Spirit!  As Jesus tells us, as well as the church at Laodicea, we must seek His perspective to know truth, for HE is truth.

See what this church said of themselves:

”I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing”!

And what is the church saying today—we are ‘mega’, we are ‘affluent’, we are self-sufficient, and because we are ‘faithful’ (in our own minds), we can “name it and claim it”!  What saddens me, and I’m sure it did The Lord, is that here was a church who, by their own declaration, said they had “need of nothing”!  In fact, as we check the rest of this letter, they had need of nothing—even Jesus—for we find Jesus saying to this church (and to any who will hear):

“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

Here is a church that was so self-sufficient, that they no longer needed The Lord!  He was on the outside, knocking to come in. And I believe that is where many churches today have relegated Jesus—claiming His name, but excluding Him, and His Word from their life and service.  When we relegate Jesus ‘out’ of our lives, our families, our churches and the public arena, what can we expect?  I personally believe that we can expect exactly what we are reaping in our culture today!  Go back and rehearse the list that we started with today.  The list of the characteristics of the last days!  Oh, dear ones—we are there—or if you would—they are here!  Perilous times are all about us.  We must seek the face of our Lord and stand in the gap for those about us today, for Jesus IS our only hope.  Are we sharing truth? May God have mercy on us today!  (See Ezekiel 22:30)

What do we see happening?  Reviling of the things of God, blasphemous behavior paraded and promoted on TV, in the movies, music, literature and every day speech and behavior.  It comes from men, women and children all around us, and it brings me to tears to see how far we have come in the last 50 years.

How sad that we let the small things creep in, and just as the story of the frog in the pot—who made himself comfortable in the cool water, then the heat is turned up so gradually that he doesn’t realize that he is in “HOT WATER” until it’s too late to jump out of the pot—we are now in such hot water that it is uncertain whether we can get out or not!  Only by God’s mercy will we find hope and deliverance.

So, what are we to do?  We must, must, must pray and seek God’s face, listen to hear HIS voice speaking through His Word and His servants to see and discern things through the eyes of our Lord. Even as the writer of Proverbs wrote so long ago!

“There is a way which seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Even as Jesus said:

“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

The rules haven’t changed no matter what the world may say.  Paul put it in a nutshell for us, and I share the truth of the gospel to bring this to a close—for without the truth of the gospel, we have no hope. And Jesus is the Gospel—His virgin birth, His sinless life, His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN—my sin and yours!

“For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again

the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:”  1 Corinthians 15:3-5

After all, it’s why He came—to save you and me “from their sins”!  (See Matthew 1:21). Amen and Amen!  So:

“He that hath an ear,

let him hear,

what the Spirit saith

unto the churches.”   Revelation 3:22

Others May But I Cannot??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #521

09 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Bloom Where You're Planted!, Choices And Consequences, Conviction, Obedience, Still Will I Trust HIM

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #521   Others May But I Cannot???

 

I read a tract many years ago, in fact I still have it, that impacted me and brought conviction and a comfort– that what God asks me to do, He may not ask you to do; or vice-versa! While we are all saved “by grace…through faith” we are not called to the same work of ministry, the same convictions, or the same responsibilities! God calls us all to bear the “fruit of the Spirit” in our personal ministry, but he also calls some to places of responsibility, burdens, convictions and trials that He doesn’t ask of others.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:22-25

And when we walk in The Spirit, it is a walk of faith and obedience—even when others don’t understand the constraints that God has placed upon us personally. I have learned through the years that when God calls me to something, or even away from something, I must obey even, in fact especially, when others don’t understand. And sometimes it causes hurt, because people will think that we are hard-hearted or unfeeling, but the call to obey God is our prime objective. Oswald Chambers says it best in his amazing book “My Utmost For His Highest”—that is our goal (and if you’ve never read this book I encourage you to get it and read it through this year, it is one of my ‘go to’ books that I’ve read through on many occasions!). Just as Ezekiel was called to be a ‘watchmen’ to his people, yet he wasn’t very popular, but he did what God asked him to do—even strange and seemingly crazy things, he obeyed. So must we come before God with that kind of heart?

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:

therefore hear the word at my mouth,

and give them warning

from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked,

Thou shalt surely die;

and thou givest him not warning,

nor speakest to warn

the wicked

from his wicked way,

to save his life;

the same wicked man shall die

in his iniquity;

but his blood

will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked,

and he turn not

from his wickedness,

nor from his wicked way,

he shall die in his iniquity;

but thou hast delivered thy soul.”   Ezekiel 3:17-19

There are lots of “fluff” preachers and teachers today, but those who are calling people to repent of sin, and turn to Jesus in faith are not the ones being lauded today! But it’s the message that God has delivered throughout HIS Word and throughout history! Who’s listening to the watchman? Not many! But when God gives a call, a conviction, a ministry, an understanding of truth, then we must “stay by the stuff” regardless of the responses of others! I/You must seek to obey Him no matter the response of others. Our kindest attempts can and will often be met with disregard or even rejection, but we must do that which HE calls us to do! Even as Job endured!

“So thou, O son of man,

I have set thee a watchman

unto the house of Israel;

therefore thou shalt hear the word

at my mouth,

and warn them

from me.” Ezekiel 33:7

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain

mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

And Job and Ezekiel could do what they did because their confidence was in their GOD not their circumstances—Ezekiel was captive in a foreign land, Job was tested in ways that he couldn’t understand, yet they stood fast in their call and their GOD for they knew He would deliver and their reward wasn’t necessarily in this life!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:” Job 19:25 Amen!

Our call is to faithful trust and obedience, and when we draw near to our God He will always prove Himself faithful, even when we face obstacles of misunderstanding, rejection or even as Job proclaimed—“yet will I trust him”! You see it isn’t dependent on our popularity, or the acceptance or rejection of others, our spiritual ‘success’ is dependent on our God, who will “supply all your need…by Christ Jesus”! Oh what glory!

May we continue to deliver the message, fulfill the ministry, follow the call, or, as Oswald Chambers calls it, continue in the ‘mundane’ that God sets before us! It’s all about HIM, and our objective is calling others from the broken cisterns of their lives to the “living water” that IS Jesus! Jeremiah gives a vivid picture that parallels the message of Jesus!

“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

“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.” John 4:14

Amen and Amen—go forward in your Lord’s call, regardless!

Brides And Heaven??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #520

04 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Brides And Heaven, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Marriage

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #520   Brides And Heaven???

 

When we think of winter, we don’t think much about weddings; we think of weddings in the spring and summer, but the thing I’d like us to consider this morning is the fact that in our culture we have come to consider “Brides” and “weddings” without any consideration for the “marriage”! It came to my mind this morning as I pondered on this article that we think much the same way about heaven, as an old song goes, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!” (As best as I can determine, written by Loretta Lynn [not the modern version]). We have reduced the Gospel to a ticket to heaven with no relationship to God through His Son Jesus, no dealing with sin, and no bowing before the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved and “transformed” by His sacrifice and His Spirit!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

You see, we must understand that just as a wedding ought to have a good marriage as its end, a salvation that takes one to heaven must encompass the changing of a heart and life by the power of the blood of Jesus, because SIN IS the issue, and only Jesus can change a sinner into a saint.

“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.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Jesus saves, reconciles and delivers men, women, boys and girls from sin! It’s what HE came to do!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus imparts to us HIS righteousness in exchange for our sin, then we are to share the Good News in power and truth!

“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 5:20-21

Jesus paid a debt HE didn’t owe, so that we could have life in Him, and also be empowered to walk in the righteousness “of God”, but only “in him”–JESUS! All this because God “made him to be sin for us”! HE paid my debt, and gives me HIS life! HE is the only way to heaven for you or me!

“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

No matter how much “everybody” wants to “go” to heaven, JESUS is still the only way—no matter how much the world waters down the truth of the Gospel. Be sure and read Matthew 7, and see what Jesus Himself has to say about those who simply “say” “Lord, Lord”, and don’t truly know Him in repentance and faith, receiving HIS “transforming” salvation! But what does that have to do with “Brides”? A lot really, for the same God, who sent Jesus, gave us marriage, and HE gave it to us as a true and holy picture of His desire to make us “one” with Him. Yet, we have become a culture that has made “weddings” the prime focus—with lots of money spent, extravaganzas put on, yet little or no attention given to the relationship of “one man” and “one woman” until death do us part! That is God’s plan and no matter what the world says, or how much we have drifted from the truth, God will hold us (especially the church who has compromised this issue beyond measure!) accountable for what we have done with The truth.

Now I’m not throwing rocks, for I also bought the lies for many years, messing up my own life and the lives of my children, as well as others around me who warned of the danger that I was taking on in rejecting God’s plan for my own “happiness” my own “way”! What about you? Have you compromised God’s truth because it is so rampant around us? Have you traded God’s truth for cultural “sensitivity”? God’s plan, His Word and His purpose for us has never changed—He loves us and has called us to walk His way, not our own. And we can only do that through the power of Jesus’ blood and His Holy Spirit, who is given to every one who comes to Him in repentance and faith!

“Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord,

nor of me his prisoner:

but be thou partaker of the afflictions

of the gospel

according to the power of God;

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,

10 But is now made manifest

by the appearing of our

Saviour Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life and immortality

to light through the gospel:”   2 Timothy 1:8-10

The rules haven’t changed for ‘brides’ or ‘heaven’.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.

5 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 13:4-6

I pray that we will get back to The Truth, and spread the Good News by our lives, our words and our actions!!! It’s what God has called us to do! May we walk in HIS Spirit not our flesh!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh……..

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25

Amen and Amen!!!

A Holy Or A Holey New Year??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 20

30 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Consider Your ways, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Holiness, Holy, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.20 A Holy or A Holey New Year??

 

“And make straight paths for your feet,

lest that which is lame

be turned out of the way;

but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men,

and holiness,

without which

no man shall see the Lord:”   Hebrews 12:13-14

I love Swiss cheese, and one of its qualities is the large holes that are in the cheese. I can remember as a child thinking that was a rip off—why pay for cheese when it has holes in it, so it’s not all there? But as I grew and matured I learned that the holes in Swiss cheese are part of what gives it its flavor. The holes are caused when elements interact between the lactic acid in the milk and certain bacteria and organisms; the creation of carbon dioxide creates pockets of air that result in the mature cheese having holes. In fact agro-scientists have even figured out how to control the size of the holes by controlling the amounts of certain things that can be added to the milk.

Well, believers in Jesus are called to the “holy” not “holey”! In fact you could say that we are called to be “wholly holy” not affected by the things of the world, but maintaining a “wholly holy” walk before our God and the world that He has called us to be a testimony to! And David was a great testimony of the power of God in the life of someone devoted to God. Even though David had his faults, when he sinned he knew how to repent, return to God and restore his fellowship with God. David records one of the greatest pictures of this from his experience (as well as inspiration) in Psalm 51.

“Behold, thou desirest truth

in the inward parts:

and in the hidden part

thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop,

and I shall be clean:

wash me,

and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;

that the bones which thou hast broken

may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart,

O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.

11 Cast me not away

from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit

from me.

12 Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me

with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors

thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted

unto thee.

14 Deliver me

from bloodguiltiness,

O God,

thou God

of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud

of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips;

and my mouth shall shew forth

thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice;

else would I give it:

thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are

a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart,

O God,

thou wilt not despise.”   Psalm 51:6-17

While we must keep this in the context in which it was written, (the personal, permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit had not yet been accomplished) the message that David imparts to us, if we will be see it and receive it, is that even when we are in pain due to our own sin and failure returning to the throne of God, and seeking HIS face in repentance, brings His healing, and the restorative work of forgiveness, and bringing us back into intimate fellowship with Him. But He will also restore us to a place of usefulness in HIS kingdom. I love that David’s reveals the progression of God’s restorative work in us, to forgive us when we seek Him, desiring the restoration of our intimate fellowship with God, and the sense of HIS presence in our daily living. It’s almost the same message that the Apostle John gives us in his first letter.

“If we say that we have

fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive

ourselves,

and the truth

is not in us.

9 If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:6-9

John reminds us that while Christians aren’t perfect, we do have an “advocate with the Father” when we sin! We have One who can and will forgive us when we confess (agree with God that we have sinned, and not try to rename it, clean it up or agree with the world that it’s ok to sin), and He not only forgives but also cleanse us “from all unrighteousness”! God will restore our fellowship with Him, and also our opportunities of service to HIM. We must understand that when we choose to sin, and walk “in the dark” there are consequences that will affect our lives; and while not all things can be wholly restored when they are broken (especially human relationships and reputations!). Yet the point I want us to see, is that when we strive for ‘holiness’ rather than settling “holeyness”, we will avoid many of the pitfalls of this world; for even genuine believers must understand that while we are free to make our own choices, we are not free to choose the consequences. And as I’ve heard it said before: “Sin will take you farther that you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and will cost you more that you wanted to pay”, and that is a true principle of God.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,,

that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

So as we strive for holiness in all our ways, I would simply like to share a few passages that will point us in the right direction as we enter a new year. I encourage you to check your Bible concordance and search for the places where God calls us to “be holy”! It can be a great eye-opening exercise.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing

of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”   Romans 12:1-2

Did you notice that we are to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy” before our God, and that is “acceptable unto God”, what does that make “holey”? God Himself calls us to holiness!

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he

which hath called you

is holy,

so be ye

holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”   1 Peter 1:14-16

And where is it “written”?

“And ye shall

be holy unto me:

for I the LORD am holy,

and have severed you

from other people,

that ye should be mine.”    Leviticus 20:26

God hasn’t changed the rules—but HE has given us Jesus, who IS the way to have His laws written in our hearts, rather than on tables of stone—HIS name is JESUS, and He imparts His Holy Spirit to those who are born again!!! And as His own Spirit-filled people we are called to live His Way!

“But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away

with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat,

the earth also

and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then

that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons

ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting

unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire

shall be dissolved,

and the elements

shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

according to his promise,

look for new heavens

and a new earth,

wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved,

seeing that ye look for such things,

be diligent that ye may be found

of him

in peace,

without spot,

and blameless.” 1 Peter 3:10-14

Since God has done so much for us, how can we do less than pursue His “holiness”, that He may be glorified and others may see Him in us? And as I close for today, I’d like to offer a challenge to each of us, especially those who participate in social media—watch what you write, what you share, what the comments on your feed say, and ask how YOU are reflecting Jesus? If you claim to belong to Jesus, why do the same ugly words appear on your feed as appear on the pages of the ungodly? If your share things, have you checked out the source? There are a lot of “cutesy”, seemingly nice, even ‘godly’ sounding posts that are coming from sites that are lurking to trip people up and trap them into ‘new age’ bunk that, as scripture says, “even denying the Lord who bought them”? And on a more personal note, are there words coming out of your mouth that shouldn’t be in a “holy” persons vocabulary? Are there actions or gestures that you use that don’t belong in the life of someone pursuing “holiness”? Do you watch and listen to things that blaspheme the Savior that you claim to love? It’s time (and a good New Year’s project) to examine our own lives and ask God to help us draw nearer to HIM and not the world. Whose altar are you really worshipping at? May we be found faithful when He comes—and that may be sooner than we think!!! It’s your choice, but remember there is a test at the end!

“Judge me, O LORD;

for I have walked in

mine integrity:

I have trusted also

in the LORD;

therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O LORD,

and prove me;

try my reins

and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness

is before mine eyes:

and I have walked

in thy truth.” Psalm 26:1-3

“Prove all things;

hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;

and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body

be preserved blameless

unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you,

who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-24

‘Nuff said! Amen and Amen!!!

Looking Ahead With Confidence??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #518

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Grace, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Perseverance, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Tomorrow, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #518 Looking Ahead With Confidence???

 

As we approach a new year ahead, let’s take a few minutes to assess our progress. It is helpful to look back and consider our successes and our failures, and while I’m not much on making “resolutions” for the New Year, I do think we can benefit from asking God to help us see where we can improve our walk with HIM! As we seek His face and the leadership of His precious Holy Spirit, we can press on faithfully. And while not dwelling on it, we can consider our past while we pursue the present that God is calling us to! But remember that the enemy will try to keep us focused on our failures, paralyzing us to going forward with Jesus—don’t listen to him! Paul gives us some good advice in this arena.

“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.”   Philippians 3:13-14

We must accept the past as just that—passed! While our past will always affect our present and our future it doesn’t have to dictate our direction or paralyze us from serving our Lord! God has called us to be a reflection of HIS glory to a lost and dying world, and He will supply our every need as we walk forward in HIS service.

“But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises

of him who hath called you

out of darkness

into his marvellous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people,

but are now the people of God:

which had not obtained mercy,

but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

When we receive the mercy of God, we are equipped for HIS service, by His power and might—so we can go forward in confidence regardless of our past, for it has “passed”.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you

that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,”    Ephesians 4:1

We are His called, and He will accomplish His purpose in us as we yield to His Spirit, and walk in His strength, according to His Word and His grace. He is ever at work making us more like our Lord and Master, Jesus. You can take heart, for God is ever at work in and through His own.

“And we know

that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31

I pray that you know HIM, and will commit yourself anew to yield to His working in you. He is your shepherd and His voice is ever leading you, and if you haven’t been listening—you can change that today!!!

“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

If you don’t know HIM—I pray that you will hear His voice and invite Him in to sit on the throne of your heart! He is calling—won’t you open the door today? I pray that God will make Himself real to YOU today, for as Jesus says:

“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