Category Archives: Crucified With Christ

How Far Away Is Your Cross??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #547

10 Wednesday Apr 2019

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #547  How Far Away Is Your Cross???

 

There’s an old hymn (The Old Rugged Cross, by George Bennard, Public Domain) that I love, which speaks of the cross on “a hill far away” in reference to location from us.  But I’d like to ask how ‘far away’ is your cross and mine?  Have we allowed ourselves to lose sight of the cross in our everyday living?  Or are we committed to following our Lord with the cross in sight.

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer

many things,

and be rejected

of the elders

and chief priests

and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised

the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny

himself,

and take up

his cross

daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:22;25

Jesus made it clear that He would die (for our sin), and that those who desired salvation must come to Him and yield their own life for the “life” of Jesus!  In fact, He goes on to say that in HIS cross is the only real salvation—we can’t keep our own lives, our own selves, for, as Paul made clear to the Romans, sin has a cost!

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

And to come short of the glory of God, is to miss life—abundant life here and now, and eternal life with God, all through Jesus’ death on that ‘cross’!  His death bought our eternal life, and makes us free from the power of sin, by keeping close to that very ‘cross’ of Jesus!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

 our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

To have Jesus as “our Lord” is the picture of the crucified life—being willing to “take up his cross daily, and follow me”! It’s keeping the cross in sight with each and every step we take, following Jesus where ever He leads!  As a friend shared with me the other day, she had on a shirt that said, “It’s not about “me”—It’s about HIM”.  When someone questioned what the shirt meant (for they thought it was some smart-aleck reference to spouses or something else) she explained to them that it was a reference to living for Jesus, that my life isn’t just about “me” anymore, but it IS about JESUS!  Then she shared with me that she had memorized the verse to share the truth of that when she was asked.  I was so proud of her willingness to keep Jesus and the cross in sight.  And the verse she learned; you can learn too!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

So, my question for us today is, “Are we living the crucified life—with the cross clearly in view?”  Or have we drifted so far from that ‘cross’ and the One who gave Himself for us, that we seldom consider it? He loves us and to be in HIS presence is unequaled joy and peace.  I’ll simply leave you this morning with some words that Paul shared with the church at Philippi:

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things

are true,

whatsoever things

are honest,

whatsoever things

are just,

whatsoever things

are pure,

whatsoever things

are lovely,

whatsoever things

are of good report;

 if there be

any virtue,

and if there be

any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace

shall be with you.”   Philippians 4:6-9

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

Are You In Focus??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 03

03 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by in Crucified With Christ, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.03     Are You In Focus???

 

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders

obtained a good report.

3 Through faith

we understand that the worlds were framed

by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things

which do appear…….

6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”   Hebrews 11:1-3 & 6

There is a lot of talk about “faith”, but the thing that we often miss, is that ‘faith’ doesn’t save and keep, but the object of ‘our faith’ is our only security!  I may ‘believe’ that a stone will save and keep me, but the truth is that it has no existential power.  God on the other hand, is all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient), and omnipresent (all present).  It’s not so much that God is everywhere, but that wherever anyone is, God is already there.  The Psalmist reminds us of God’s power, pre-imminence, and provision.

“Whither shall I go

from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee

from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold,thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not

from thee;

but the night shineth

as the day:

the darkness and the light

are both alike to thee.”  Psalm 139:7-12

We learn so much about the character of God from the Psalmists, as well as all of scripture, for those who come to HIM. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we “must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.  God loves us and calls us to trust Him—Him who is worthy of our trust and faith—and faith placed in Him will never be insufficient.  Only Jesus can and will save—HE is the only way to God, for HE paid the price for our salvation on the cross!  Peter reminds us that we can come to Him with confidence!

“To whom coming,

as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God

by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion

a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone

which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were

appointed.

9 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:”   1 Peter 2:4-9

Jesus is the “corner stone” and we who come to Him in repentance and faith, are built upon Him.  As we compare the contrasts in Peter’s warning above, we see that there are those who “stumble at the word”—those who refuse to believe, and hence are “being disobedient”, and yet Peter tells us that “ye” (we, those who have come to Jesus and have been born again) have answered the call and placed our faith in the only One who saves.  The point being that we are given the free will to choose whether we will believe in the Gospel or go our own way.  When we choose to follow Jesus, we are to yield ourselves to His Spirit and walk in His ways—the way of the Holy Spirit.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

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 5:16 & 25

We can only do this by pursuing the crucified life—Jesus calls us to it, and Paul describes it beautifully.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-26

There is no other offering/sacrifice for sin but Jesus, and as He said, “what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”.  The only payment for sin, is death and hell, or Jesus’ sacrifice, it is only Jesus who gives life—eternal life.  And when HE gives us life, we have victory in Him—not only victory over death and hell, but victory in everyday living; all by dying to self and living unto Him, led by His Spirit.

“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

This is how we walk by faith, with confidence in the veracity and dependability of God and His Word.  Yet if I don’t know His Word, I may fall for the lies of the enemy, and they are abundant around us.  There are two choices—a life lived in the fleshly lusts or a life lived in the Spirit of Jesus, and the works or fruit will reveal our choice!  What do your works/fruit reveal?

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 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.”  Galatians 5:17-24

Did you notice that Paul lists the “works of the flesh”, but then he contrasts this to the “fruit of the Spirit”!  We don’t “work” our way to heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He imparts His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, and we simply have to live for HIM, to bear fruit—and notice it is “fruit” (singular) and not ‘fruits’ (plural).  The “fruit” is God’s not ours, we simply need to fix our eyes on JESUS, and “walk in the Spirit”, abiding IN Him, and He will lead our every step and be glorified in our lives as we abide IN Him!

“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 15:5

And that’s why Paul could say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

I can only ‘do’ because I “be” born again (not good grammar, but a great example) and have the Holy Spirit within!  So, I am determined to keep my focus on Jesus!  I long to hear that “Well done, thy good and faithful servant” when I face Him!  In the mean-time, we are to run our race (no one else’s race, but the one that Jesus has set before ‘you/me’)!  And whether my race includes ease, or pain; joy or sorrow; lack or abundance, I/we can proclaim with Job, “though He slay me, still will I trust Him”!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

5 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…

 8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:1-6, 8

Do you know Jesus the Savior? Are you focused on YOUR race for and with Him?  Jesus gives “abundant life” IN Him, so may you have a blessed week keeping your eyes on Jesus, focusing on HIM, and run your race faithfully before The Lord, that others may see HIM!

Amen and Amen!

Not I But Christ!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #491

07 Friday Sep 2018

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #491  Not I But Christ!!!

 

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony

of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”   1 Corinthians 2:1-2

One song, One message, One Lord and One Savior and Redeemer! Jesus is all we need, and the truth of His work of salvation is the joy of my heart and the message that we are called to share.

We are so often distracted by the busyness of life, and forget that Jesus is all we need to get through the maze of living! And I can do that when I keep my heart and mind set on HIM! So here are a few tidbits of scripture to help you finish your Friday with HIM!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily

beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured

such contradiction of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3

And as we consider Jesus and the price that HE paid for us, we can live the “crucified” life in selfless abandon to HIM, knowing that He is working all things for our good and HIS glory.

“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 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

May you find comfort today in The One who gave HIS all for YOU! And no matter what is facing you today remember to keep your eyes on the Lord not the “lions” around you!

“If God be for us,

who can be against us”

May we truly join Paul in our single-minded dependence on Jesus?

“For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified”

It’s all about HIM, and God has you in HIS hand, and HE never says “oops”!!! He’s got you and your situation!!! Prayers and blessings sent your way–today!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

Are YOU Hungry??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #487

24 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Crucified With Christ

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #487 Are YOU Hungry???

 

I love food—I like to eat out—I like to eat with others—I like to eat my own cooking—I just love food. Yet, food can be a stronghold when we don’t exercise “self” control, then it can even become an idol that we use to replace our intimacy with God. But that’s not my point for today; I want us to consider someone who had a different thought about food—Job! Job is the man we look to when we need to understand and deal with suffering and faith, but I found something many years ago that has stuck with me and I often have to revisit this principle when I am trying to live victoriously in my own issues. I hope it will speak to you today.

“But he knoweth the way

that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept,

and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.” Job 23:10-12

What are you hungry for? Are you like me and wrestle with the pleasure of food? Or maybe you wrestle with something else! Regardless of your struggle, what Job says is a pure principle that will help us live victoriously whatever the area of our personal struggle! How? By “esteeming” God’s Word above all—more than our “necessary food”—in other words, Job is telling us that seeking God’s face and God’s ways is more important to him that life itself (For without ‘necessary food’ we die!)!

Paul helps us give some “feet” to this principle and I pray that we will each ponder these things as we go into this weekend (and daily) hearing from God in regard to whatever issues we may be facing.

“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

When we die to self and live unto HIM, by HIM and through HIS power, grace and strength, we can overcome any stronghold that tries to suppress us!!! But we must keep our eyes on Jesus—not on ourselves, our food, our lusts, or our distractions–knowing that HE is all we need.

“To whom God would make known

what is the riches

of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:27

Jesus is our glory in all things, and He even told us how to make Him our priority—and this is where victory begins!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.”   Matthew 16:24

If I might make it simple—we must:

Deny “me” and acknowledge His sufficiency—

Die to “me” and live by the power of HIS cross—

Follow HIS desires not “mine”!

And when we learn to depend on Him for all we need, whether it’s our “necessary food”, or the passions that distract us, we can have victory in our daily walk with Jesus, and then we can truly join the Psalmist and embrace this truth:

“The

LORD

is

   my

shepherd;

I

   shall

  not

      want.”   Psalm 23:1

I can follow MY SHEPHERD in total confidence and with Job declare that I desire HIM and esteem HIS Word and ways “more than my necessary food”! It’s an issue of love and devotion! Are we in love with something other than Jesus first? Are we more passionate about the world or our LORD?

How hungry for HIM are YOU?

“...but Christ is all, and in all.”   Colossians 3:11b

As Paul also reminded the Romans, it’s all about Jesus:

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 12:1 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.” Romans 11:36-12:1

Amen!

Send Me!!! But Not There??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #481

03 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Follow Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Servanthood, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Trust God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #481 Send Me!!! But Not There???

 

We talked last time about the call of God to His own to go and serve in His fields, and the difficulty of the task; today I’d like us to consider our own frequent and self-willed unwillingness to go where God wants us to go. Sometimes when God calls (In fact almost always!) it is at, in our opinion, an inopportune moment! But I just want to remind each of us of the inopportune moments that our Lord faced:

Laying aside His glory to take on flesh—

Living in a body of flesh and blood for you and me—

Coming to those whom He created to face rejection—

Coming to a humanity that He loved to be denied—

Taking on the “servant hood” to save us from hell—

Facing the trials, beatings and crucifixion on Calvary—

To save us from our sin, death and hell—

But “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” He didn’t stay in that grave but He rose victorious so that we could “have life, and…..have it more abundantly”—by the power of His resurrection and the indwelling Holy Spirit imparted to His own—those who receive His gift of salvation and new birth!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”   John 1:10-13

We are redeemed, delivered and saved from sin by the power of His sacrifice, what could He ask of us that is ‘too much to ask’?

“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

What a price He paid to bring us to God, “redemption through his blood”—what price are we willing to pay to show our gratitude and love for our Lord? When we hear the call of God what will we do? When we are called to suffer for Him, what is our attitude and response? Are we willing to follow the path of Jesus, to submit and obey the call of God? Or are we so consumed with ‘self’ that we whine and complain when God asks us to follow Him? Is it too hard a thing He is asking? Is it to time-consuming? Is it inconvenient and certainly costly to our ‘public image’?

“For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted

for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:20-25

Or do we understand that to walk with Him is to join in His suffering for us—and to pursue the holiness and glory of God in this life, knowing that the “suffering of this present time….” are incomparable to the glory we will share with Him. Will we heed the message that Paul shares with us?

“The Spirit itself

beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs

with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together.

18 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 8:16-18

NO COMPARISON!!! When we choose to obey, there is no sweeter or safer place to be than in the center of God’s will! I always think of Jim and Elizabeth Elliott and their choice to follow Jesus—knowing it could cost them more than the world thought it should. When questioned about his willingness to follow Jesus into a wilderness, Jim Elliott’s response is still profound today and it says it all:

“He is no fool

who gives what he cannot keep

to gain what he cannot lose.”

Amen and Amen! May we ever pursue HIM—are you willing?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

“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