Tags
1 Peter 2:4-9, Faithful God, Focused On Jesus, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:16 &25, Hebrews 11:1-6, Hebrews 12:1-8, John 15:5, Keep You Eyes On Jesus, Looking Unto Jesus, Matthew 16:24-26, Philippians 4;13, Psalm 139:7-12
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!
