Category Archives: Faith

Up, Down, Or Around??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 10

21 Monday Jun 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Children, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Conviction, Faith, Faithfulness, Family, Father's Way!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 10  Up, Down, Or Around???

 

I’m sorry to be late with this post, but it’s been a bit hectic around our house, and we have some health issues that come up pretty regularly these days, and we just have to do what we can, when we can—so here I am on this Monday morning instead of our normal Sunday evening.  But God’s Word stands true and faithful no matter the timing of our lives!  And for that I am totally grateful.  I want to start with a Psalm of encouragement for each of us, and then hopefully touch on the import of the family dynamic.

“I will

lift up mine eyes

unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will

not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee

will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber

nor sleep.

5 The LORD is

thy keeper:

the LORD is

thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall

preserve thee from all evil:

he shall

preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall

preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”  Psalm 121:1-8

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that regardless of the chaos in our lives, the peace and sovereignty of God never ceases or changes!  He truly is the one to whom I “lift up mine eyes”!  How about you?  Is something keeping your eyes cast down?  What draw of the world is calling you away from The One who loves you and gave His life for yours; that you and I could have salvation, forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with our God?  He’s waiting for you to look UP and remember HIS faithful provision for you and me!  Lift up your eyes—seek The ONE who is waiting for you to open the door and let HIM come in and walk with you every step of the way.  I can’t even express how I feel to know and experience HIS presence in the grief, the sorrow, the fatigued days, the demanding days when you/I feel that we can’t go on—but by God’s all-sufficient grace we can go on, IN JESUS strength!

“I know

both how to be abased,

and I know

how to abound:

every where

and in all things

I am instructed both

to be full

and to be hungry,

both

to abound

and to suffer need.

13 I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:12-13

Paul also reminds us that God’s promises are faithful; because God IS God, and because JESUS IS His greatest promise–fulfilling God’s promise of salvation at Calvary (a promise that goes all the way back to Genesis 3:15), and we can depend on every promise of God!  But we also must remember that we have to respond to God’s call to those promises, and many of them are preceded by a great big “IF”!  (See 2 Chronicles 7:14 & Psalm 81:8 to list two!)

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,

who was preached among you by us,

even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus,

was not yea and nay,

but in him was yea.

20 For all the promises of God

in him

are yea,

and in him

Amen,

unto the glory of God

by us.

21 Now he which stablisheth us with you

in Christ,

and hath anointed us,

is God;

22 Who hath also sealed us,

and given the earnest of the Spirit

 in our hearts.”  2 Corinthians 1:19-22

Jesus IS the ultimate culmination of every promise of God, even those yet to be fulfilled in HIS return!  Yet God left us some instructions to enable us to pass the baton of faith to the next generation; and sadly, we have failed to heed God’s Word and its instruction to our total detriment.  But I pray that we still have time, “if” we will seek HIS face and do HIS will!  Let’s simply consider God’s plan—it works.  We’ll look at some sections (but I encourage you to read the whole 6th chapter for yourself) rather than the whole chapter for time and space sake.

“Now these are the commandments,

the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD your God

commanded to teach you,

that ye might do them

in the land whither ye go

to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,

to keep all his statutes

and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou,

and thy son,

and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days may be prolonged.”   Deuteronomy 6:1-2

God instructed His people to heed HIS Word and to pass it on!  We have decided that is unnecessary today; let every child choose for himself—and while every person does have the right to choose, we are to lead them to know and choose God’s way.  Even as Joshua declared: “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”!  I think the catch in our day and culture is that we have chosen to serve other things before God.  We want to claim HIS name for our benefit and in times of trouble but make HIM optional the rest of the time; but Moses set a different standard, let’s continue.

“Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God

is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt

love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:”   Deuteronomy 6:4-6

God makes it clear that “godly” families begin with those who have chosen to believe in God, HIS promises and HIS plan of redemption, by grace, in faith—for you see the plan never changed—it’s always been about salvation by grace through faith in a coming Messiah, and for us that very Messiah, Jesus Christ The Lord—crucified, buried and risen again for the “forgiveness of sin”!

“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 1:13-14

Have you been forgiven?  Have you been to the cross to find new life, in a new birth from Jesus, through HIS shed blood for your sin?  It’s the only way, Jesus said so Himself.

“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

Even Moses told the people that they had to know God themselves before they could share HIM, HIS truth, and HIS ways with anyone else.  It is our responsibility to share what we have with those we love, especially our children and grandchildren.  But you can’t share what you don’t have!  So, what do we share, and how?

“And thou shalt teach them

diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign

upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Simple but profound instructions; we are to live lives before our children that reflect the glory, truth, and power of God.  We are to take advantage of every teachable moment to share God with them.  We are NOT to leave it to the church, the school, or the grandparents!  PARENTS are to pass on their faith—and whether or not we deliberately instruct our children, our lives will instruct them in one thing or the other!   We are to live godly before our children (and the world): in our ‘talk’, when we ‘sit around’, when we ‘are on the go’, when we ‘go to bed’, when we ‘get up in the morning’, when we ‘work with our hands’, what we choose to ‘look at’, what we ‘have in our homes, for décor, entertainment, for attire’!  We will either lead them to the cross or to hell!  It’s your choice but choose wisely the eternal destiny of our children is at stake.  And God tells us how it will work.

“And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed

signs

and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt,

upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware

unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us

to do all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

 if we observe to do all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”  Deuteronomy 6:20-25

In Blanche’s paraphrase: if we live in godly, and holy obedience before our children and have godly standards, it will stand out to our family and the world! And because it will be different than the culture around us, the day will come that our children will come and ask, “why” do we “DO” these things.  What we “DO” will make way more difference than what we “SAY”, if we don’t back it up with a life that matches our words!  What questions will your children ask?  And when they ask, we will have the opportunity to tell them what GOD has done and is doing in our lives—our testimony!  And believe me they will have questions, and our actions will affect them—for eternity!

So, the question for today is, “Where are you leading your family to?”  We can choose to take a path toward God or follow the world to hell.  The choice is yours, but please choose wisely, there is a test; not just a test for you but a test of the influence that you have shared with those who follow your steps!  And there’s only one life to share.

“And as it is appointed unto men

once to die,

 but after this

the judgment:”  Hebrews 9:27

“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

‘Nuff said.  Amen and Amen!!!

 

Faithful In Little>Faithful In Much??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #734

10 Thursday Jun 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Faith, Faithful, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Father's Way!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #734 Faithful In Little>Faithful In Much???

 

I have a few simple (yet profound) thoughts to share with you today.  For many often proclaim, “I’d die for Jesus!”; yet these same people don’t have time to “live” for Jesus.  They have no thought of serving God in and through the church; they may or may not grace God with their occasional presence—but their hands are surely held out for the “presents” of God, with very little, if any, thought for HIS “Presence”!  How sad!  Jesus said if we aren’t faithful in the “little” (“the least”) things—like our daily living—we won’t be faithful in the “big” (“much”) things.  I find it quite interesting that Jesus relates ‘unfaithfulness’ with being “unjust”!  It seems to me that Jesus is telling us that if our character exhibits faithfulness and justice toward God and His Word, then we will have that same character in the world—in our daily living before the world!  Then He goes on to remind us that it’s an issue of the heart and “what master” we have chosen to serve—God or self (and self pretty much covers all the choices that are not of God!)!

“He that is faithful

in that which is least

is faithful

also in much:

and he that is unjust

in the least

 is unjust

also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful

in the unrighteous mammon,

who will commit to your trust

the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful

in that which is another man’s,

who shall give you

that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve

two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God

and mammon.

14 And the Pharisees also,

who were covetous,

heard all these things:

and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them,

Ye are they which justify yourselves

before men;

but God knoweth

your hearts:

for that which is highly esteemed

among men

is abomination

 in the sight of God.”   Luke 16:10-15

What are we setting as “highly esteemed” in our lives?  Is it service to God or service to self?  How easy is it for us to find something else to do on Sunday (or Saturday if that is your day of worship) rather than gather for corporate worship, study, and receiving The Word of God in power and truth?  I remember a time when there were no ballgames played on Sundays or Wednesday nights (much less team practices on ‘church’ nights!) because parents had their children in church; in fact, I heard of a man who told the coach that if he wanted his sons to play ball, he had to understand that they would be in church on Sundays and Wednesday nights!  Boy you don’t hear that today! For it seems that today, we find most any excuse to be elsewhere (and no I’m not talking about Covid or illnesses, especially since we are of an age to be affected with health issues that often keep us at home when we’d rather be at church).  And while I’m at it, let me also add that when we watch at home, we try to be up and dressed for worship—and yes, I think that matters.  Why would we claim to be gathering to worship The Almighty God of all creation and come dressed like we’re going to a hog-wrestling match or a peep show!  We wouldn’t dress like that to meet any other important “personage”—but God won’t mind.  No, God’s isn’t judging us by the price-tag or style of our clothes, but HE is interested in our heart, and if we love someone, we usually try to care about our appearance for them!  Worship is coming into God’s presence and seeking His face and desiring to hear HIS voice speak to us! Another message that Jesus had for His disciples is a bit harsh seemingly, especially for our culture of ease, expecting God to be a heavenly slot machine; I drop in my request, and HE produces on demand!  Excuse me—who is the ‘god’ here?

“But which of you, having a servant

plowing

or feeding cattle,

will say unto him by and by,

when he is come from the field,

Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him,

Make ready wherewith I may sup,

and gird thyself,

and serve me,

till I have eaten and drunken;

and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant

because he did the things

that were commanded him?

I trow not.

10 So likewise ye,

when ye shall have done all those things

which are commanded you,

say,

We are unprofitable servants:

we have done that which

was our duty to do.”   Luke 17:7-10

We seem to have forgotten that we belong to Jesus—or that is what scripture tells us!  Yet we seem to have this idea that when we claim the blood and name of Jesus, we are “entitled” to rub our ‘magic lamp” and have our every fleshly desire met! NOT! NOT! NOT!

“What?

know ye not

that your body is the temple

of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

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

We are called to seek God’s desires, His will, and His way!  Trusting to His care and provision for every area of our lives.  And that’s not always easy; simple yes, but easy, NO!  But as Paul said:

“I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

I can testify to this truth, for it is how I’ve gotten through the last 18 months (since the death of my precious daughter)—by trusting to THE ONE who holds my hand every step of the way!  Get your eyes off of the “things” around you and look to Jesus, and seek HIS face, HIS Word, and HIS Kingdom FIRST!

 

“Therefore

 take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But

seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

 and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

 is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

One of the signs of a committed believer and follower of Jesus can often be determined by their ‘wallet’.  But wait, giving isn’t just about our financial resources—it’s about giving our “redeemed life” to Jesus in grateful love, devotion, and service (His service)!

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

 and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth

in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

 or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace

abound toward you;

that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

 9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth

seed to the sower

both minister bread for your food,

and multiply your seed sown,

and increase

the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing

to all bountifulness,

which causeth through us

thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-11

And while this has been a bit heavy today, I would like to bring us to one of my very favorite passages to lift your hearts to the “Throne of Grace…to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (See Hebrews 4:16).  This is a great passage to memorize for it tells us the “how to” of walking with Jesus each and every day!  Try it—HE has never failed me yet!  And HE IS coming soon for HIS own!  Just remember that “the desires of thine heart” are only filled for good when we “delight thyself…in the LORD”; this isn’t another of those “slot machines”!  Never presume on God—HE is God, I am not!

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also

in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way

unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

 and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him

who prospereth in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself in any wise

to do evil.”   Psalm 37:3-8

May you hear the voice of Jesus speaking to your heart. And take note— ‘trust’ and ‘fret not’ are mentioned twice; maybe for a reason!!!  HE is waiting for you to hear and heed to HIS voice!  The days are quickly dwindling past—don’t put God off until it’s too late.  HE is waiting for YOU!

“And therefore will the LORD wait,

that he may be gracious unto you,

and therefore will he be exalted,

 that he may have mercy upon you:

for the LORD is a God of judgment:

blessed are all they that wait for him.”   Isaiah 30:18

Amen and Amen!!!

Monopoly Mentality??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 08

06 Sunday Jun 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Approved Unto God, Are You Ready, Beauty of Holiness, Believe IN Jesus, Born Again, By Him We Live, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Clothed In His Righteousness, Consider Your ways, Deniable Truth? Really?, Faith, Faithfulness, False Lives, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God's Faithfulness, God's Judgment, God's Presence Not Presents, Gospel, He Died That We Could Live, He Opens Blinded Eyes to SEE, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, If not now? When?, It's Your Choice, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Judgment, Knowing GOD, Knowing God's Word, Listening To God, Monopoly Mentality, Only One Way, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Repentance, Salvation, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Word Or The World?, Today is the day of Salvation, Trusting Jesus?, Yesterday

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 08 Monopoly Mentality???

 

Most of us have played the game of Monopoly at one time or another, some of us more recently than others; and one thing that most everyone remembers about the Monopoly board is getting a “get out of jail free” card.  I think many today have approached Jesus Christ The Lord in that way, and I’d like to take a few minutes to consider this attitude toward Jesus.  It seems to be a most popular ‘gospel’ and attitude toward Jesus.  Many today preach a message of “name it and claim it”—just use Jesus’ name as your own personal ‘heavenly slot machine’; then there are those who preach the ‘feel-good’ message that God only wants you to ‘feel good’ all the time.  I love what C. S. Lewis said in “Mere Christianity”, “We want not so much a Father but a grandfather in heaven, a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, ‘What does it matter so long as they are contented’?”

How said that we are trying to bring God down to our standard rather than pursuing the holiness that is God!  As Billy Graham once said to Phil Donahue, one of the early talk show hosts on television, “you’re trying to create God in your image” rather than realizing that we are made in God’s image but have fallen due to sin.   And that is an idea that is flourishing today—make the gospel fit us rather than recognizing our sin, repenting and turning to Jesus Christ for salvation—we just want a “grandfather” in heaven, doling out gifts and treats to his ‘grandchildren’.  We simply want a “get out of jail free” card, live how we want—do our own thing—but not have to pay for our sin; in fact, we don’t even want to bring sin into the equation!  Sin is old-fashioned, and we don’t have to call anything sin these days—if it feels good to you, it’s ok, just do it.  If it makes me ‘happy’ it will be pleasing to God.  But God says something different!

“Woe unto them that draw iniquity

with cords of vanity,

and sin

as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say,

Let him make speed,

and hasten his work,

that we may see it:

and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel

draw nigh

and come,

that we may know it!

20 Woe unto them that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise in their own eyes,

and prudent in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:18-21

Paul paints an amazing picture of man’s relationship to God, and SIN IS the issue.  Sin is a disease which we are born with, a disease for which we all have a bill due, one we will either pay for ourselves– for our sin in hell– or we can accept Jesus’ payment of HIS own blood shed at Calvary for our sin by repentance and faith and have eternal life with HIM!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test (and I believe it is coming soon!)!

“For when ye were the servants of sin,

ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things

whereof ye are now ashamed?

for the end of those things is death.

22 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 6:20-23

Are you serving “sin” or God?  Do you simply want a “get out of jail free” card, or have you “become servants to God”?  Do you desire to live having “fruit unto holiness”, or living your own way, dabbling in the sin and walking in the darkness of this world?  God says that you can choose to live in sin but notice the consequence: “For the wages of sin is death”!  And according to Paul’s clear truth: you can choose to live in sin or choose to come to Jesus in repentance and faith to be justified (made right with God!)!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:”  Romans 3:23-24

Paul also told the Romans what this looks like, I invite you to consider this with me—it is so imperative that we understand what Jesus has done for us and will do for those who come to HIM in repentance and faith!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given

unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.

12 Wherefore,

as by one man sin entered into the world,

and death by sin;

and so death passed upon all men,

for that all have sinned:”  Romans 5:1-12

If SIN IS the issue—JESUS IS the only cure!  But when Jesus transforms a life—it is HIS work, and it shows.

“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

Salvation is Jesus’ work of redemption, not man’s work of “self-righteousness”, or “good works”, or an “altered” standard!  When we belong to Jesus, we become new creations of God.

“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.

20 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 5:17-21

Jesus took on my sin, so that I could receive HIS righteousness, and HIS Spirit dwelling in me, which will be evident to one degree or another.  What’s evident in your life?  Jesus? Or a “get out of jail free card”?  Jeremiah and Jesus both have something to say about our attitude toward God.

“…my people have forgotten me days without number…”. Jeremiah 2:32b

Let’s consider Jesus’ own commentary for those who only want to use His name rather than come to HIM in repentance and faith.  As my mother used to say, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool GOD!”  Who are you trying to fool? (See Matthew 16:24-25)

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

 21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings

of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded

upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings

of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolishman,which

       built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”                   Matthew 7:20-27

And in closing, some food for thought; a passage that is often disregarded, but it is truth, and we must consider it.  I will simply call our attention to the qualifier: “such WERE some of you”…..”but ye are sanctified”.  It doesn’t matter what sin we “had”; it matters what Spirit controls us NOW!  For as Paul says in Romans 8:9b, “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”! I hope that you will ponder the words of scripture and measure with God’s judgment not man’s, “be not deceived”!

“Know ye not

that the unrighteous shall not inherit

the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators,

nor idolaters,

nor adulterers,

nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves,

nor covetous,

nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but

ye are washed,

but

ye are sanctified,

but

ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

And a final word from Jesus:

“Judge not according to the appearance,

but judge righteous judgment.”  John 7:24

With a Proverb:

“There is a way

that seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

The choice is yours but choose wisely—there is a test!  God’s WORD not mine!

Amen and Amen!!!

Blow Up Or Bow Down??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #731

26 Wednesday May 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Suffering With Jesus, Today is the day of Salvation, Trials, Troubles, True Knowledge, Trust, Trusting Jesus, Truth

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #731 Blow Up Or Bow Down???

 

Whether we like it or not, crises come into our lives, usually when we least expect them; but our God is faithful, and HE never says “oops”!  I’m so glad—yet I want to talk about our responses to crises, for we have options, and two of those are to “blow up” and pitch a “hissy fit” (southern for a real fit!), or to “bow” before our Lord and seek HIS face for the wisdom, grace and strength to “stand fast in the evil day”!

“Beloved,

think it not strange concerning the fiery trial

which is to try you,

as though some strange thing

happened unto you:

13 But rejoice,

 inasmuch as ye are partakers

of Christ’s sufferings;

that, when his glory shall be revealed,

ye may be glad also

with exceeding joy.”  1 Peter 4:12-13

James also encourages us to realize that trials are a part of life—especially the life of God’s children!

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect and entire,

wanting nothing.”  James 1:2-4

James goes on to advise us as to what we ought to do when we don’t understand, leading us to achieve the maturity that he mentions (perfect –is referring to spiritual maturity, not sinless ‘perfection’!).

“If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth

is like a wave of the sea

driven with the wind

and tossed.”  James 1:5-6

Are we blowing up—being tossed and driven by the winds of life?  Or are we seeking God’s face for strength and wisdom to persevere?

So many are preaching an “easy life” gospel which falsely tells people that “if you have enough faith”, “if you name it and claim it” it will happen, but God’s Word tells us that “the servant is not greater than his Lord”; and our Lord suffered for “Being” right as well as “Doing” right and He told us that we should expect the same!  Ouch!  Not a popular perspective or message, but it is truth!

James gives us another principle for dealing with our trials, and trouble—not a very popular answer in our culture—yet it is God’s answer; to recognize that GOD is still GOD and I “am not”!

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:10

When we recognize that God is God, and we are not, we can bow ourselves before HIM, knowing that HE is ever working for HIS glory and our good; even when we don’t see it or understand it!

“Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

 and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow

from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

 it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that

which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing

whereto I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:7-11

Blow up or bow down?  The choice is yours, but if you will see and acknowledge that GOD is GOD and seek His face, “he will have mercy”!  God’s mercy is here for you and me, but we must seek HIM while HE may be found.  Today is what we have—what will you do with it?

“(For he saith, I have heard thee

in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation

have I succoured thee:

behold, now is the accepted time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.)”.  2 Corinthians 6:2

Consider the contrast between David and Saul, who each received rebuke from The Lord, yet had two different responses.  Saul was busy “doubting, pouting and dropping outing”, while David humbled himself before God and accepted the discipline of God in his life.  Which one will you emulate (copy)?

“And David said unto Nathan,

I have sinned against the LORD.

And Nathan said unto David,

The LORD also hath put away thy sin;

thou shalt not die.”  2 Samuel: 12:13

Saul in contrast:

“But now thy kingdom shall not continue:

the LORD hath sought him a man

after his own heart,

and the LORD hath commanded him

to be captain over his people,

because thou hast not kept that

which the LORD commanded thee…

… 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul

to be king:

for he is turned back

from following me,

and hath not performed my

commandments.

And it grieved Samuel;

and he cried unto the LORD all night…

.19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey

the voice of the LORD,

 but didst fly upon the spoil,

and didst evil

in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel,

Yea, I have obeyed

the voice of the LORD…

…. 22 And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying

the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken

than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected

the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee

from being king.”   1 Samuel 13:14 & 15:11 & 19-23

The choice is yours; will you offer “sacrifices” unto God and refuse to obey (I encourage you to read the full account of Saul and Samuel in chapters 12-16)?  Or will you confess, repent and receive God’s forgiveness, cleansing and restoration?  Choose wisely, there is a test.

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

May we hear HIS voice today and respond? Amen!!!