Category Archives: Faithful

Rewarded To Serve??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 19

31 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Ask God For Wisdom, Be not conformed to this world, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Dare To Be Different!, Faithful, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Trust, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 19    Rewarded To Serve???

 

We left off last week with Daniel receiving the answer to the prayers of he and his three friends.  We have seen the integrity, character and faithfulness to God of these four young men who exemplify the response of a godly servant of God!  We are all called to faithfulness; and the example that we find in Daniel ought to encourage each of us to righteous living and the courage to pursue godliness, and character that reflect God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit before a world in desperate need of a Savior and Redeemer!  Daniel was certainly in the minority!

Let’s review not only Daniel’s prayer and his praise to The God who hears and answers prayer, but compare these, as we go. to the things that Daniel shared before the King!

“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

18 That they would desire mercies

of the God of heaven

concerning this secret;

that Daniel and his fellows

should not perish with the rest

of the wise men of Babylon

19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep

and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom

and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”   Daniel 2:18-23

Daniel and his friends made a habit of prayer, and so should we; as we said last week, prayer should be our first line of defense, not our last resort.  How’s your prayer life?  Are you developing a true and intimate relationship with The Almighty God of the universe and His Son, Jesus, or are you running your own ‘show’?  Are we willing to pursue real intimacy with God and learn to trust to His care and direction in all our ways?  Not just for ‘results’, but for the glory of our God and the increase of HIS kingdom!  Let’s consider Daniel’s behavior after he receives the answers that he and his friends asked of God.  Remember the decorum with which Daniel inspired the king to grant him the time to pray and give him the answer to his ‘dream dilemma’.  He went through the “powers” that be, and even when he received the answer he still behaved with godly decorum.

“Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch,

whom the king had ordained

to destroy the wise men of Babylon:

he went and said thus unto him;

Destroy not the wise men of Babylon:

bring me in before the king,

and I will shew unto the king

the interpretation.

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel

before the king in haste,

and said thus unto him,

I have found a man

of the captives of Judah,

that will make known

unto the king

the interpretation.

26 The king answered and said to Daniel,

whose name was Belteshazzar,

Art thou able to make known

unto me

the dream which I have seen,

and the interpretation thereof?”   Daniel 2:24-26

Here we see that Daniel honors those who have the authority over him and the decree to kill all the ‘wise’ men; instead of storming the castle with the answer, he goes through Arioch, the captain of the guard, and allows him to take some credit for finding the answer for the king.  It never hurts us to share kindness and opportunities of glory with others.  So, Daniel is brought in before the king, and is asked if he can help.  Let’s continue to look at Daniel’s response to the king (considering that he has the opportunity to take all the credit unto himself); while remembering that Daniel is a captive and openly acknowledging his GOD could be dangerous.

“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said,

The secret which the king hath demanded

cannot the wise men,

the astrologers,

the magicians,

the soothsayers,

shew unto the king;

28 But there is a God in heaven

that revealeth secrets,

and maketh known

to the king Nebuchadnezzar

what shall be in the latter days.

Thy dream, and the visions of thy head

upon thy bed,

are these;

29 As for thee, O king,

thy thoughts came into thy mind

upon thy bed,

what should come to pass hereafter:

and he that revealeth secrets

maketh known to thee

what shall come to pass.

30 But as for me,

this secret is not revealed to me

for any wisdom

that I have more than any living,

but for their sakes

that shall make known

the interpretation to the king,

and that thou mightest know

the thoughts of thy heart.”   Daniel 2:27-30

I encourage you to rehearse Daniel’s prayer, his praise to God for the answer, and then his response to the king; consider all that you learn about this young man (and remember he is probably barely 20, if that) and his character, as well as his confidence in his God.  What is your ‘confidence quotient’ toward God?  Are you walking in the flesh or the spirit?  Paul reminded us that we are to walk in the power of The Spirit who lives within every true believer in and follower of Jesus Christ our Lord!

“16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

…. 25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25-26

Daniel’s character is such an encouraging standard for me, oh, that I could attain to such integrity, and dependence upon our Lord!  Let’s consider Daniel’s choices before this pagan king; he still held to and uplifted his GOD above all.  He desired no credit for himself, only that God would be glorified.  Even as Paul told us in his letter to the Galatian believers.

“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

Consider Daniel’s actions:

He stated clearly

that the ‘wise men’ couldn’t do it—

(which the king already knew)

that there is a GOD in heaven who could—

who reveals secrets—

and that is revealing future things—

to Nebuchadnezzar—

and is revealing secrets to the king—

about what shall come to pass—

that the secrets weren’t revealed due to Daniel—

not for his deliverance alone, but

for the deliverance of the faithful.

 So, God could make it known to Nebuchadnezzar!

Do you see the connection between what Daniel knew as he proclaimed the character of God in his praise to God for the answered prayer, and what he shares with Nebuchadnezzar?  We can only share what we know and have come to trust in our God by experience!  The more you know HIM, the more you will come to trust HIM, and the more you trust HIM the more you will have to share.

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Daniel knew HIS God and that nothing done for Him, in Him or through HIM would be in vain.  While we won’t be going into the prophetic import of the dream at this time, we do want to look at the results at the end of the revelation.

“Then the king Nebuchadnezzar

fell upon his face,

and worshipped Daniel,

and commanded that they should

offer an oblation

and sweet odours

unto him.

47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said,

Of a truth it is,

that your God

is a God of gods,

and a Lord of kings,

and a revealer of secrets,

seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

48 Then the king made Daniel

a great man,

and gave him

many great gifts,

and made him ruler

over the whole province of Babylon,

and chief of the governors

over all the wise men of Babylon.

49 Then Daniel requested of the king,

 and he set

Shadrach,

Meshach,

and Abednego,

over the affairs of the province of Babylon:

but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.”   Daniel 2:46-49

What is amazing, is that this encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar brought glory to God, promotion for a faithful servant, and his friends.  And hopefully we’ll get into chapter 3 next week and focus on a different “four” friends.  May God bless you and encourage your heart and draw you near to Him and grow you in grace, faithfulness, godly character and integrity!  It is important, and it could be the difference between heaven and hell for those around you!

Amen and Amen!!!

A County Fair Christian??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 15

03 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, By His Grace, Changed Lives, County Fair Christian, Faith, Faithful, Faithfulness, False Lives, God Knows His Own, God Who Sees

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 15  A County Fair Christian???

 

I love the county fairs in south Mississippi and try to go down at that time of year as often as I can.  While we have county fairs here in Oklahoma, I love the fairs in the deep south; but one thing they all have in common is that they usually include livestock shows.  A livestock show is where people (mostly young people) bring their livestock to show and compete against other’s animals.  You’ll find pigs, cattle, sheep and horses among other various animals all on display seeking a blue ribbon.  You will find cleaned up pigs, cows, and even household pets at the fair; but no matter how much soap, powder, spray and polish the owners use before the show, when they get back to the farm, guess what?  Those animals will be back in their normal habitat, for no matter how much they are “fluffed-up” for the show, they are still pigs, sheep or cows, and they are still what they are, they didn’t change their nature just their environment.

The same can be true of some professing believers in Jesus!  Peter talks about false teachers/preachers in his second letter, and his words are what I want us to consider today; as I am often wont to say, “saying so doesn’t make it so”!

“These are wells without water,

clouds that are carried with a tempest;

to whom the mist of darkness is reserved

for ever.

18 For when they speak

great swelling words of vanity,

they allure

through the lusts of the flesh,

through much wantonness,

those that were clean escaped

from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty,

they themselves

are the servants of corruption:

for of whom a man is overcome,

of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped

the pollutions of the world

through the knowledge of the Lord

and Saviour Jesus Christ,

they are again entangled therein,

and overcome,

the latter end

is worse with them

than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them

not to have known the way

of righteousness,

than, after they have known it,

to turn from the holy commandment

delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them

according to the true proverb,

The dog is turned

to his own vomit again;

and the sow that was washed

to her wallowing in the mire.”    2 Peter 2:17-22

In fact, I believe this entire second chapter is the most succinct description of false teachers in scripture.  It’s why we are committed to sharing The Word of God, and helping others know truth; for while the times may change—God’s Word never does! (And without Jesus a pig/dog is still a pig/dog—county fair or not!)

“Jesus Christ

the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Jesus describes Himself as “the beginning and the end”, the very essence of God—ever working in His own.

“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

“I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning

and the ending,

saith the Lord,

which is,

and which was,

and which is to come,

the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:8

“I and my Father are one.”  John 10:30

In other words, Jesus is the final Word; He is creator, Lord, The Word—the spoken Word and the Living Word.  And HE never changes—and neither does HIS Word!

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was

in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made

by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life

was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth

in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

And “the Word” came to fulfill all that scripture declared about HIM—both His first coming, and HIS return; His timing is perfect in God’s plan!

“Think not that I am come to destroy

the law,

or the prophets:

I am not come to destroy,

but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you,

Till heaven and earth pass,

one jot or one tittle

shall in no wise pass from the law,

till all be fulfilled.”   Matthew 5:17-18

As we compare these things with what Peter penned in 2 Peter chapter 2, we see that God’s Word has stood the test of time and will continue to stand until “all” is fulfilled.  It also tells us that God knows those who are genuinely HIS; for God changes not only the outside, as cleaning a pig for a show, but HE makes all things new in HIS own.  And even when we stumble and fall, God is ever working to conform us into the image of HIS Son.  (See 2 Peter 1:19-21)

“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 1:11-13

“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;”    2 Corinthians 5:17-18

“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

Paul told Timothy that God knows HIS own!  We may not be able to know, but God can and does!

“Nevertheless

the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

Our job, as God’s children, is to yield everything in our life to our LORD and accomplish HIS purpose; to give God the glory in all our life, is an evidence that I have been changed by the blood of Jesus and transformed into God’s child.

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Paul commands us to draw near to our Lord—presenting ourselves to Him as a “living sacrifice”—our life devoted to and focused on the Lord Jesus whose name we claim!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

So, are you a county fair Christian, who can wash off his “faith” when it’s unnecessary; or one who truly belongs to Jesus, and lives for HIM in all things—good, bad or mundane!  The choice is yours but choose wisely—there is a test!

“So then every one of us shall give account

of himself to God.”  Romans 14:12.

Amen!!!

Has Harvest Passed??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 08

08 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by in Faithful, One Foundation, The Harvest is past

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 08  Has Harvest Passed???

 

I am still burdened over the subject from last week of the “harvest” and what that means to our nation and our world; much like Israel in Jeremiah’s day, we are living in a world gone mad with rejection of God, His Word and His ways. Regardless of any political situations going on around us, we must face the fact of our sins against God and either continue in the way we have gone or turn to God through His Son, Jesus in repentance and faith unto obedience.  I would like to consider a rather lengthy passage that God gave to Jeremiah.  I pray that we will hear “the word of the Lord” and respond in recognition of our own sin, repentance toward God/Jesus, and a broken heart for those around us.  Only God can make the changes that we need!

“Why do we sit still?

 assemble yourselves,

and let us enter into the defenced cities,

and let us be silent there:

for the LORD our God

hath put us to silence,

and given us water of gall to drink,

because we have sinned

against the LORD.

15 We looked for peace,

but no good came;

and for a time of health,

and behold trouble!

16 The snorting of his horses

was heard from Dan:

the whole land trembled

at the sound of the neighing

of his strong ones;

for they are come,

and have devoured the land,

and all that is in it;

the city,

and those that dwell therein.

17 For, behold,

I will send serpents,

cockatrices,

among you,

which will not be charmed,

and they shall bite you,

saith the LORD.

18 When I would comfort myself

against sorrow,

my heart is faint in me.

19 Behold the voice of the cry

of the daughter of my people

because of them that dwell in a far country:

Is not the LORD in Zion?

 is not her king in her?

Why have they provoked me to anger

with their graven images,

and with strange vanities?

20 The harvest is past,

the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then

is not the health of the daughter

of my people

recovered?”  Jeremiah 8:14-22

May God’s people—you and I who are born again by the “blood of the Lamb” who was slain for us “before the foundation of the world” (See Ephesians 1:3-5 & Revelation 12:11)—see and acknowledge that our Lord is totally worthy of our devotion.  And devotion to Him is seen in our love for Jesus and His Word, as well as that Word being lived out in all we do and say.  James said it best:

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face

 in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being

not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer

of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.

26 If any man among you

seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion

is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father

is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows

in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

from the world.”   James 1:21-27

What ‘spots’ do you/I have?  Our lives are to be a testament to the Lord Jesus Christ who has redeemed us and called us to do a work for HIM.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

What have you and I done with the “good works” that God has “ordained” for HIS own?  Have we fiddled away our summer as the grasshopper, or have we been busy about “my Father’s business”?  Has my opportunity for harvest passed?  Have I been doing God’s work or my own?  Am I depending on Jesus strength, power and grace to do HIS work by abiding in HIM?  Jesus Himself gave us the key; abiding in HIM!  It’s all about Jesus—not me.  And the harvest will reflect my focus.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken

unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

 except ye abide in me.

5 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 15:1-5

And in closing, Paul’s message to the Corinthians, reminds us that there is a day of accounting coming, and the only foundation we are to build on is the Gospel of JESUS!  What are you building on?  What with—gold, silver and precious stones; or wood, hay, and stubble?  It’s your choice but choose wisely!  There is a test (accounting)!

“According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation

can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work

shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed

by fire;

and the fire

shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work

shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”   1 Corinthians 3:10-16

I pray that we each will heed the Word of God and pursue the harvest that counts!  Oh, to see a great harvest of souls before we have to cry with Jeremiah, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved”!  May we stand in the gap for those who need JESUS!  Consider the fire’s affect on—gold, silver, gems-vs-wood, hay, stubble?

Amen and Amen!!!