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God’s Still On HIS Throne??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #727

07 Friday May 2021

Posted by Blanche in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Are You Ready, Be not conformed to this world, Blessed by God, By Him We Live, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Commitment Or Convenience, Compromise, Confessing Sin, Consider Your ways, Darkness or Light?, Erasing The Lines?, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Family, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Forgiveness, God Bless America, God Is In Charge, God Knows His Own, God Who Sees, Godly Women, Good News, Healing, Holy, In The Beginning, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Lies, Light In The Dark, Marriage, Mothers, No Sin No Need?, One Foundation, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Our God Reigns

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1 John 1:7-10, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Family, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:22-24, God created Male and Female, God Created Marriage, God Still Reigns, God's Design, Male and Female, Matthew 19:4-6, Mothers, Mothers and Fathers matter, Parents are important, Psalm 11:1-7, Truth

Bible Ballistics: BBs #727  God’s Still On His Throne???

 

As we approach Mother’s Day, my heart is often grieved for our nation and the sad state of families and the world’s degraded opinion of mothers.  The world around us is trying to erase the lines of God’s creation, morality and the gift of children is the saddest of all.  We have made children disposable—we have not only denied the blessing of children but have approved of and even promoted the killing of children because they are “unwanted”!

It makes me sad that we have bought the lies of the enemy and are killing our children on the altar of convenience.  And not only the lives of the unborn are at stake, but even the children that have lived are often neglected and mistreated to a degree that is unconscionable and yet we just go on like there is no tomorrow.  This situation is addressed in scripture—God’s Word tells us that this kind of disregard of God, His Word and human life would become rampant in the last days.

“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.

6 For of this sort are they

which creep into houses,

and lead captive silly women

laden with sins,

led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning,

and never able

to come to the knowledge

of the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:1-7

Reading this list is like reading a current newspaper—yet it seems to me as though we are reaping what we have sown!  We have denigrated the import of God’s design for mankind—for God created “male and female” and established marriage and the home as the foundation stone of society—not this crazy mixed-up circus that we see today!

“And God said,

Let us make man

in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion…

… over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.

28 And God blessed them,

and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and ….. over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth…

…2: 22 And the rib,

which the LORD God had taken from man,

made he a woman,

and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said,

This is now bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh:

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man

leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one flesh.”                      Portions of Genesis 1:26-28 & 2:22-24

And yes, before you ask, I believe in the Genesis account of creation—it is the foundation on which all other scripture stands, for if there was no creation, there was no Adam and Eve; if there was no Adam and Eve, there was no sin; and if there was no sin, there is NO NEED for a Redeemer!  Yet, Jesus IS The Redeemer of all who will come to Him in repentance and faith, for “all have sinned”! And Jesus Himself confirmed the truth of this Genesis account, and God’s design for mankind, marriage and the home!!!  (See Romans 3:23 & 6:23)

“And he answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read,

that he which made them

at the beginning

made them male and female,

5 And said,

For this cause

shall a man leave father and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife:

and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.”  Matthew 19:4-6

God established marriage, the home and the important priority of parents, yet we have abandoned all of the above today.  Many, if not most, choose to live together without benefit of marriage—for marriage is seen as unimportant–, and if they marry it’s with a swinging door (and I know what it means to believe those lies, as I made some of those same mistakes in the past—and I praise God that HE does forgive, cleanse and restore through Jesus, when we come to HIM!) powered by divorce.  We leave children fatherless or motherless or often today, parentless.  Then we wonder why our culture is falling apart!  We wonder why our children are in distress!  We can’t figure out why our children and young people are committing heinous crimes.  Well, when we reject God and His Word, we will suffer the consequence.

What can we do?  We must come to God in humility and repentance for our part in this mess we have created in our land.  We must face our own sin, turn from it and cling to the cross and HIM who died for us!  We must once again cling to and stand for the righteous truth that God IS GOD, and we need to seek HIS face and HIS truth and live by it.  And we moms must cling to God’s truth NOT the world’s lies!

“In the LORD put I my trust:

how say ye to my soul,

Flee as a bird to your mountain?

2 For, lo,

the wicked bend their bow,

they make ready their arrow upon the string,

that they may privily

shoot at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations be destroyed,

what can the righteous do?

4 The LORD is in his holy temple,

the LORD’S throne is in heaven:

his eyes behold,

his eyelids try,

the children of men.

5 The LORD trieth the righteous:

but the wicked and him that loveth violence

his soul hateth.

6 Upon the wicked

he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone,

and an horrible tempest:

this shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the righteous LORD

loveth righteousness;

his countenance

doth behold the upright.”  Psalm 11:1-7

God sees and HE knows!  Our job is to confess our own part—without pointing fingers at everyone else but ourselves—then Jesus can and will respond with “healing in HIS wings”!  And oh, I can’t express the joy of knowing Jesus and the healing and restoration HE brings to my heart, soul, mind and life!

“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.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:7-10

And just as the key word above is “IF”, the “key word” in another passage we often quote, is “IF”; may we who are “HIS” truly repent, receive HIS forgiveness and be cleansed to walk forth in HIS light and glory?  May we sincerely ask GOD to bless America once again, and be willing to obey?

“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

And if you’d allow me, “then and only then”!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

(And I’m taking Sunday off for Mother’s Day—so Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms and women of godly influence!  May God bless you and yours!)

 

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Laws Don’t Change Hearts!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 26

21 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by Blanche in All About Jesus!, Believe IN Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confessing Sin, Consider Your ways, Creation, Creator of ALL, Decency, Deniable Truth? Really?, Discernment, Encouragement, Erasing The Lines?, Erasing The Past?, Evil will not win, Eyes that SEE HIM, Father of lies, For Such A Time As This, God Who Sees, God's Judgment, Hate, He Died That We Could Live, Holy Spirit, If not now? When?, In The Beginning, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus In Genesis!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Judgment, Know Whom I Believe, Knowing God's Word, Laws Don't Change Hearts, Liars, Lies, No Sin No Need?, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Polluted by the world?, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Repentance, Salvation, Seeing Truth, Speaking The Truth In Love, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Blood Of Jesus, The Broad or Narrow Way?, The Word Or The World?, Today is the day of Salvation, Transformation, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Heart?, Who are YOU following?

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Choices And Consequences, Choices Matter, Colossians 1:12-17, DI, Falling For The Lies, Genesis 1:1-3, Genesis 1:26-31, Hebrews 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:9, John 14:16-17, John 1:1-3, Laws Don't Change Hearts, Luke 13:3-5, Matthew 12:35, Matthew 7:13-15, Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 1:1-6, Romans 1:17-31, Romans 1:32, Romans 1:8-9, Sin IS the issue, Sin takes us down

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 26  Laws Don’t Change Hearts!!!

 

We are surrounded by confusion on every hand; a time in culture and history when we are not only changing the rules, but people are attempting to change the very foundations of mankind—foundations that were established by God “in the beginning” and they haven’t changed regardless of what “men” may say!  But there’s more—men are also attempting to explain sin away!  They pass laws that try to blame “hate” and “prejudice” to erase the simple truth that man’s heart is evil and sinful men commit sinful acts.

They also are determined to eliminate the presence or influence of God in our world.  If laws could change hearts, God would have stopped with the Ten Commandments, but He knew that it would require a sacrifice for sin to provide that which would change the very hearts of men, women, boys and girls—and yes, we are created “male and female” regardless of what the government says!  Political mandates don’t change the eternal Word of God or it being truth.

“In the beginning

God created the heaven

and the earth…

… 26 And God said,

Let us make man in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.

28 And God blessed them,

and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth…

… 31 And God saw every thing that he had made,

and, behold,

it was very good.

And the evening and the morning

were the sixth day.”   Portions of Genesis 1:1 & 26-31

While many deride the truth of the first eleven chapters of Genesis, they are the very foundation of what I/we believe about God; in fact, without the truth of Genesis 1-11 we can close the book and go do something better with our time and energies.  For without this foundation and truth of the creation of God there would be no man, no Adam and Eve, no sin and no redemption plan—and without sin and the need of a Redeemer, why would we need a Jesus to become the incarnate Son of God, and be crucified, buried and risen for our sin?  But I know that this is God’s truth, and I will stand upon it in confidence and trust in The God who created all things—Father, Son and Holy Spirit– until HE seals my lips or calls me unto Himself!  We find God the Father and God the Holy Spirit specifically in the first few verses of Genesis, yet people ask, “Where is Jesus?”  Well, friends, I can answer that question; When you look at Genesis 1 you will find that every part of creation was “spoken” by God and came into existence—and who is Jesus?

“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.”  John 1:1-3

Paul also made it clear that Jesus was and is the instrument in the creation of all things—He IS God, not a creation of God!  He is The God-Man-Savior; the One who redeems all mankind who will come to HIM in repentance, and faith in His sacrifice for my sin and yours!

“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:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created

by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before

all things,

and by him

all things consist.”  Colossians 1:12-17

You and I are created “by him, and for him”, HE ought to be my focus and yours; as the author of Hebrews also makes this truth of Jesus, the creator, clear!

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners

spake in time past

unto the fathers

by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days

spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed

heir of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory,

and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”  Hebrews 1:1-3

While all of this is imperative to our faith, it is also an accusation against our culture, and even the church, which has seemed to remain silent on this unquestionable foundational truth of our faith—both creation and sin!  Paul told us that the heart of man is the issue—not our circumstances or our culture (yet the culture is often influenced by the hearts of wicked men)—that circle of our relationship with God; the one so aptly pictured in the book of judges (which we won’t quote today) which pictures the cycle of mankind, close to God—rejecting God—leaping headfirst into sin—reaping the consequences of sin—repenting and God providing a redemption for repentant sinners!  Just like HE still does today.  Even Jesus calls us to repentance!

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

…5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

What does all this have to do with us today?  Well, it has to do with the fact that God knows that sin is/was the issue, and that The Law couldn’t change hearts, only reveal our need for God’s saving grace.  So, God promised that The Law would show them their sin, but He would send One who would be the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, initiating the New Covenant—the indwelling Holy Spirit who would dwell with all who will believe in Jesus, HE who paid the sin debt for all who would believe.

“And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.”  John 14:16-17

Paul makes the distinction very obvious in his letter to the Romans.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 1:8-9

Yet, with all this promise in Jesus, Paul reminds us that most will reject the Redeemer and choose to continue in sin, much like what Jeremiah stated!  The bottom line is, SIN is the issue!

“The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?”  Jeremiah 17:9

And Jesus addressed it too:

“A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.”   Matthew 12:35

Now, back to Paul’s message to the church at Rome—one of the most wicked cities of its time; but sin’s not only in big cities, but in every place—at home, on TV, in movies, on social media– sin in a can you can open at will—it’s just renamed to deceive us!  Yet it’s not the “stuff” or the circumstances that dictate our choices but our own selfish, sinful lusts—and no abundance of laws can change one heart—only the “blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin”!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein

is the righteousness of God revealed

from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God

is revealed from heaven

against all ungodliness

and unrighteousness of men,

who hold the truth

in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known

of God

is manifest in them;

for God hath shewed it

unto them.”  Romans 1:16-19

While our culture is attempting to erase all the lines of moral absolutes, they are also trying to legislate God out of our lives and replace God with their laws which will supposedly make all men equal, the same—uniform–with no room for evil—or the essentials of creation–NOT!  Sin is in the heart of man, and no law can change that; only the saving work of the blood of Jesus can change hearts and lives.  Paul goes on in chapter 1 of Romans, to remind us that sin will never lift anyone up—but will spiral into total chaos, evil, more sin and the very rejection of God that dooms mankind.

“For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world

are clearly seen,

being understood

by the things that are made,

even his eternal power

and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that,

when they knew God,

they glorified him not

as God,

neither were thankful;

but became vain

in their imaginations,

 and their foolish heart

was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise,

they became fools,

23 And changed the glory

of the uncorruptible God

into an image made

like to corruptible man,

and to birds,

and fourfooted beasts,

and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up

to uncleanness

through the lusts

of their own hearts,

to dishonour their own bodies

between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God

into a lie,

and worshipped

and served the creature

more than the Creator,

who is blessed for ever.

Amen.”  Romans 1:20-25

And as Paul goes on to reveal, there is a consequence to every choice, and the choice to reject God will lead to more and more sin, for not only does “misery love company”—sin will not only affect you, but everyone that you come in contact with.  And those who pursue sin, will propagate their lifestyle, their agenda and their corruption regardless of the cost and effect upon themselves or others.

“For this cause

God gave them up unto vile affections:

for even their women

did change the natural use

into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men,

leaving the natural use

of the woman,

 burned in their lust

one toward another;

men with men

working that which is

unseemly,

and receiving in themselves that recompence

of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection, implacable,

unmerciful:”  Romans 1:26-31

All of this they pursue without regard to the judgment of God, for they take pleasure in that which God hates—yes God does hate!

“Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

in them that do them.”  Romans 1:32

“These six things doth the LORD hate:

yea, seven are an abomination

unto him:

17 A proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth

wicked imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness

that speaketh lies,

and he that soweth discord among brethren.”  Proverbs 6:16-19

And in closing, one of the simplest and most profound descriptions of the contrast between the godly and the wicked is Psalm 1.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not

in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth

in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat

of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

his leaf also

shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth

shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way

of the righteous:

 but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.”  Psalm 1:1-6

And for your consideration, Jesus own words about the nature of the options.

“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

Will you be like that “tree planted by the waters” or the condemned/many, apart from God.  It’s your choice–but choose wisely—there is a consequence and a test!

May God open your eyes to see, your ears to hear and your heart to “see God” and come to JESUS!

Amen and Amen!

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What’s Turning Your Heart??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #713

11 Thursday Mar 2021

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Ask God For Wisdom, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Commitment Or Convenience, Compromise, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Dare To Be Different!, Dependence, Encouragement, Erasing The Lines?, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, God Who Sees, God's Judgment, Good News, Sowing and Reaping, The Little Things., The Word, The Word Or The World?, Trust God, Truth

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1 Corinthians 15:33, 1 Kings 11:4-6, Compromise, Culture--Versus--Truth, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Hebrews 12:1-3, Hebrews 4:12-13, Jeremiah 17:9, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 141:1-4, Psalm 44:21, Settled for?, Song of Solomon 2:15, Spirit-vs-Flesh, What's Turning YOUR Heart?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #713   What’s Turning Your Heart???

 

“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old,

that his wives turned away his heart

after other gods:

and his heart was not perfect

with the LORD his God,

as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth

the goddess of the Zidonians,

and after Milcom

the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil

in the sight of the LORD,

and went not fully after the LORD,

as did David his father.” 1 Kings 11:4

What an indictment for us to consider today.  Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (other than Jesus, the God-man Savior) made some foolish choices that cost him dearly.  God judged his sin, and the effects of it reached throughout his kingdom, and eventually resulted in a divided kingdom.  But for today I want us to consider the import of guarding our heart by keeping our eyes on Jesus and running the race that HE has set before us and called us to!  And then I’d simply like to share some scriptures with us about the heart and what a difference a right heart and right choices will make!  I’ve learned from experience and God’s Word that “little foxes” can ruin the crop of our heart and life!

“Take us the foxes,

the little foxes,

that spoil the vines:

for our vines

have tender grapes.”  Song of Solomon 2:15

We must guard the “crop” of our heart, for Satan is ever busy throwing his “fiery darts” to distract, deter and delay us until we’ve missed the opportunities of service to our Lord and King.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.”   1 Corinthians 15:33

Or as the NASB puts it:

“Do not be deceived:

Bad company 

corrupts good morals.”  1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB

May we with the Psalmist ever pursue God and HIS truth rather than the prattle of the world.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

And again, great counsel from the Psalmist.

“LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me;

give ear unto my voice,

when I cry unto thee.

2 Let my prayer be set forth

before thee as incense;

and the lifting up of my hands

as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch, O LORD,

before my mouth;

keep the door of my lips.

4 Incline not my heart

to any evil thing,

to practise wicked works

with men that work iniquity:

and let me not eat of their dainties.”   Psalm 141:1-4

It is a fulltime job to keep our heart right with God and it requires diligence and determination to keep our eyes set on Jesus.

“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

Only Jesus saves and transforms lives—and the transformed heart, while regenerate, is not free from the trials and fleshly temptations that abound around us, but when we keep our hearts, minds and eyes “Looking unto Jesus” we will find the strength and courage to “withstand in the evil day…and having done all, to stand”!

We must be aware of our surroundings and the danger of compromise, for any reason.  We must keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus.  And while HE will deliver when we seek HIS provision and guidance, HE won’t violate our free will.  He is ever at work to conform us into HIS image, but we are called to “walk in the Spirit” and we will “not fulfill the lusts of the flesh”! (See Galatians 5:16 & 25).  Yet we can choose to compromise as Solomon did and reap the consequences of our choices, or we can trust to the care of HIM who completes HIS work IN US!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

So, my friends, we all have a choice, recognize the dangers of compromise and avoid them, or succumb to the “wiles of the devil”!  What’s your pleasure, to allow the things of this world to turn your heart away from God, or to “stand fast in the evil day”?  Jeremiah put it quite succinctly.

“The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?”   Jeremiah 17:9

God knows, God cares, and HE provides a way, if we will but keep our hearts and minds set on HIM.

“Shall not God search this out?

for he knoweth the secrets

of the heart.”  Psalm 44:21

And as the author of Hebrews put it, the standard is and will ever be The Word of God!  What’s your standard?  Like Solomon’s became, due to the influence of his pagan wives?  What’s drawing you away?  Culture, companions, media, sports, movies, popularity, power, lust…. the list could go on, but you get the point.  What will we choose?  But be careful, choose wisely there is a test.

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints

and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things

are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

And if you want to see a picture of the contrast read and consider Psalm 1.  Blessings on you and yours….

Amen and Amen!!!

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Erasing The Lines??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #385

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by Blanche in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Erasing The Lines?, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Lust, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Today and Forever, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #385 Erasing The Lines???

 

As I’ve watched the ‘news’ lately (which I don’t do often, because it’s so ‘not’ new), I was taken with a thought that I’d like to share with you today. It seems that all of the ‘old’ ideas, principles, morals and standards are being erased little by little, and much like the frog in the pot of water that is turned up gradually, we have been lulled into ignoring the danger about us. We are about to find ourselves in a lot of hot water! The lines are being erased, and those of us that still believe that there ought to be ‘lines’ may find that we are in that proverbial pot of hot water when it’s too late to jump out of the pot. It seems that many around us are truly jumping ‘out of the frying pan, and into the fire’!

Those of us who have committed our lives to Jesus Christ The Lord, must reassess where we are—are we focusing on Jesus or have we allowed ourselves to become so wrapped up in the events going on about us that we have forgotten the call of Jesus to be salt and light in a world of darkness? Are we, like an old McKamey’s gospel song, “Getting Used To The Dark”? May God help us to see that He has never lost control and we don’t need to panic, or join forces with evil, or compromise our Biblical faith and standards—but we must recognize the enemy and be willing to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand”! But to stand, we must know what we ‘stand’ for.

“In the beginning

God

           created the heaven and the earth.”     Genesis 1:1

It all began with God, and He hasn’t lost control yet! Our God still reigns and He is working in this world, and He will accomplish His purposes in His own time, but to be found faithful we must know truth and stand fast in it, by the power of His Spirit (who dwells within every true believer)!

“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! This should be our battle cry, and yes friends we are in a spiritual battle, but so many who are claiming the name of Jesus are trying to fight the battle with worldly weapons and that is not what we are called to do. We have a higher calling, with a higher purpose—we are called to obey Jesus, even when it may cost us everything. And in this day we may be called to join those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for following the commands of our Lord Jesus. Are we willing to be like Jim Elliott and Nate Saint and their friends, and go where God sends us, armed with HIS weapons? We must be willing and able, and to do that we must know what our weapons are, and what they are not!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself

against the knowledge

of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”     2 Corinthians 10:3-5

And believe me friends, when I say, Jesus has never called HIS people to walk in the flesh, to sin, to erase the lines! It’s not ok to sin! It’s not ok to hate! It’s not ok to be mean, to speak ungodly things, to run rampant with riot and mindless vengeance! God calls us to bring every thought—every thought—captive “to the obedience of Christ”! And we can walk in obedience to Jesus, because it is Jesus that is holding it all together, but we must depend on HIS faithfulness and sovereign power. He IS still on the throne with His Father!!

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days

spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory,

and the express image of his person, and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself

purged our sins,

sat down

on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”     Hebrews 1:1-3

We who serve the living God and His Son, Jesus, are to walk in His Spirit that and “not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Yet what is going on all around us? Full-blown “lust of the flesh”! In most of our world people have forsaken the truth of God and chosen to believe the lies—from the ‘father of lies’, Satan. But God has made it clear that the lines haven’t been erased. Sin is still sin and God will judge every person according to HIS Word and His standard, not the world’s! Will you stand in “the power of HIS might”, or fall to the “wiles of the devil”? The lines haven’t been erased, and God’s standard will be the judge. Where do you stand?

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul           and spirit,

and of the joints          and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things are naked

and opened

unto the eyes

of him

with whom

we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

What/who are you choosing to follow? Will you believe and follow God’s Word or the ‘eraser’ of the world? Will you choose the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ or the ‘works of the flesh’? It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test at the end, and Jesus IS “the same yesterday, and today and forever”—no erasers allowed:

“And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:19

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