Category Archives: Follow Jesus

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

10 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, The Crucified Life

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

 

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

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer

many things,

and be rejected

of the elders

and chief priests

and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised

the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny

himself,

and take up

his cross

daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:22;25

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

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

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

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

 our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

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

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

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

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things

are true,

whatsoever things

are honest,

whatsoever things

are just,

whatsoever things

are pure,

whatsoever things

are lovely,

whatsoever things

are of good report;

 if there be

any virtue,

and if there be

any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace

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

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #546

05 Friday Apr 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Follow Jesus, Gospel, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #546       God Is Still God!!!

 

“In the year that king Uzziah died

I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne,

high and lifted up,

and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims:

each one had six wings;

with twain he covered his face,

and with twain he covered his feet,

and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy,

 is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved

at the voice of him that cried,

and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because

I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of

a people of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:1-5

 Isaiah had a life-changing encounter with God—and we can have the same when we come to Jesus.  Isaiah saw God in His holiness, which brought him to see himself in his sinful state!  And that’s what we each must do—come to see God for who He is—GOD—and to see ourselves as sinners with no recourse to fix our sin problem.  And SIN is the problem—you/I have it, you/I can’t fix it, but Jesus can and will if we will but humble ourselves before Him as Isaiah did.  Isaiah saw God as:

 “The Lord—                  High and lifted up—

  Holy, Holy, Holy—

  The Lord of hosts—   Full of glory—

  The KING—                The LORD of hosts–”!

Amen and amen!  And as Isaiah had his sin dealt with by a burning coal, Jesus dealt with sin at Calvary for all who will come to Him—the promise that Isaiah looked for, is the One we look back to.  As He invited people then, He is still inviting people to Himself today! (He who has ‘eyes like fire’, see Isaiah 6:6-9 and Rev. 1:13-15).

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

 and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek

and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus will give “rest unto your souls”—for HE is still God, HE is the Sacrifice for sin, The Redeemer of my/your soul.  Do you hear a knock at your heart’s door?  He’s waiting!

“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

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

03 Sunday Mar 2019

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

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

 

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders

obtained a good report.

3 Through faith

we understand that the worlds were framed

by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things

which do appear…….

6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

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

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

“Whither shall I go

from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee

from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold,thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

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

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not

from thee;

but the night shineth

as the day:

the darkness and the light

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

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

“To whom coming,

as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God

by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion

a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone

which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were

appointed.

9 But ye

are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth

the praises of him

who hath called you

out of darkness

into his

marvellous light:”   1 Peter 2:4-9

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

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk

in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25

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

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-26

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

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ

liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”    Galatians 2:20

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

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

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

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such

there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.”  Galatians 5:17-24

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

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

And that’s why Paul could say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

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

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son, despise not thou

the chastening of the Lord,

nor faint

when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son

whom he receiveth…

 8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:1-6, 8

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

Amen and Amen!

A Real Rock Of Ages??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 01

18 Monday Feb 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Salvation, SIN

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.01 A Real Rock Of Ages???

 

I love the old gospel songs, and “Rock Of Ages” is one of my favorites.  It was written by Augustus M. Toplady in 1776, and I’d simply like to share its clear gospel message, which has never changed, with you today:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.”

I/we must absolutely come to Jesus with “nothing in my hand”!  It is not by our own righteousness that we receive “everlasting life”, but by faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus! It is HIS blood that imparts forgiveness of sin, salvation and righteousness to us!

“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 5:21

Jesus paid the price of our salvation with His own blood, and when we receive Him by faith, God imparts HIS righteousness to us, all because Jesus took on our sin at the cross.  Yet to receive Him we must come empty handed to God, trusting in what Jesus did for us, not our own goodness or works that we have done.  Paul gives us a clear picture in his message to the young preacher Titus. My pastor reminded me of it yesterday morning in his message, and I thought it a timely reminder to share it with you today.

“Put them in mind to be subject

to principalities and powers,

to obey magistrates,

to be ready to every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man,

to be no brawlers,

but gentle,

shewing all meekness

unto all men.

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes

foolish,

disobedient,

deceived,

serving divers lusts

and pleasures,

living in malice

and envy,

hateful,

and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness

and love of God

our Saviour

toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing

of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us

abundantly

through Jesus Christ

our Saviour;

7 That being justified

by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.”  Titus 3:1-7

God makes us His children, heirs of “eternal life” “through Jesus Christ our Saviour”!  He is our “Rock” of all the ages!  The Psalmist pictures this amazing parallel frequently.

“For thou art my rock and my fortress;

therefore for thy name’s sake

lead me,

and guide me.”  Psalm 31:2

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee,

when my heart is overwhelmed:

 lead me to the rock

that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

“He only is my rock

and my salvation:

he is my defence;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation

and my glory:

the rock of my strength,

and my refuge,

is in God.”  Psalm 62:6-7

Jesus also uses this analogy of the ‘rock’ to show us that we must depend on HIM, not self!  He paints a clear picture of the difference that knowing Him will make!  And while we can’t judge where others stand with God, we are to judge ourselves, for Jesus says that His presence in His own will make a difference—not always in the same way, not always in the same time frame for everyone!

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 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.”    Matthew 7:20-23

Jesus makes it clear that just “saying so” doesn’t make one a child of God—but the person who does “the will of my Father”!  It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done”, but by the life-transforming salvation that Jesus’ blood provides; yet Jesus makes it clear that when we are born again we are empowered by His Spirit to do God’s will—and we can, because our house is built on the “Solid Rock”! Even as Paul and James both talk about our life-works reflecting the presence of His Spirit within us—that is the proof of whose we are—not depending on what we say/claim that we ‘are’!

“24 Therefore whosoever

heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which 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 foolish man,

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 7:19-27

Whether it’s in the construction arena or our spiritual life, a solid foundation is essential to a safe, secure and reliable future!  And JESUS IS the “Rock of Ages” on whom we can depend!  Scripture is replete with references to this very “Rock of Ages”!

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD,

Behold,

I lay in Zion

for a foundation

a stone,

a tried stone,

a precious corner stone,

a sure foundation:

he that believeth

shall not make haste.”  Isaiah 28:16

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners,

but fellowcitizens with the saints,

and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation

of the apostles

and prophets,

Jesus Christ himself

being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly

framed together

groweth unto an holy temple

in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are

builded together

for an habitation of God

through the Spirit.”    Ephesians 2:19-22

“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.”  1 Peter 2:4-8

My simple question for each of us is, “Have you come to the Rock of Ages for salvation, by repentance and faith in Jesus, or will you be crushed when you face Him?”  While it may seem over-simplistic, the truth is that we can believe and bow before HIM now as Lord and Savior, or we will bow before HIM as judge—with no opportunity to accept the saving grace He is offering you today!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue

should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:8-11

The question isn’t ‘will you bow?’! The question is ‘when?’ will you bow before Him; now to receive His saving grace, or will you bow before Him at the Great White Throne with no recourse and no excuse!

“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.

20 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:”  Romans 1:18-20.

God hasn’t changed, nor will He ever change—He “is love” and He has offered you salvation in HIS Son, Jesus; but if you choose to reject Him, there is a day of reckoning coming. While I know this isn’t a very popular truth, it is truth, and I must share it—I pray that you will receive it with all the love that God has intended, as a warning to avoid the judgment for sin! And I offer this warning, as a friend of mine often says, “in His love and mine”!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small

and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death

and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

 according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”    Revelation 20:11-15

Check out your foundation—the storms will come in this life, and judgment will come for all, and the ‘rock’ or the ‘sand’ will be manifest.  Are you building on “The Rock of Ages”?  Or are you building on the ‘sinking sand’?  The choice is yours, but there is a test coming!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

Confident Or Cocky??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 26

10 Sunday Feb 2019

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.26 Confident Or Cocky???

 

It is important that as believers, we exhibit our confidence before a lost and dying world, yet never with arrogance.  We can have absolute confidence in our Lord, yet we must be on guard against a cocky attitude of heart.

“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

You see, our confidence is in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, not in ourselves.  There is no place for arrogance, self-righteousness, or selfish pride!  The only thing that we have to be proud of is our LORD—oh how I cling to HIS cross and remember that HE has given me immeasurably more than I could ever earn or deserve. He “giveth more grace” for each day—it’s all about HIM not me—for “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us”!

“For the grace of God

that bringeth salvation

hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that,

denying ungodliness

and worldly lusts,

we should live soberly,

righteously,

and godly,

in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope,

and the glorious appearing

of the great God and our Saviour

Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us,

that he might redeem us

from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself

a peculiar people,

 zealous of good works.

15 These things speak,

and exhort,

and rebuke

with all authority.

Let no man despise thee.

3:1 Put them in mind

to be subject to principalities and powers,

to obey magistrates,

to be ready to every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man,

to be no brawlers,

but gentle,

shewing all meekness

unto all men.

 3 For we ourselves also

were sometimes foolish,

disobedient,

deceived,

serving divers

lusts

and pleasures,

living in malice

and envy,

hateful,

and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness

and love

of God our Saviour

toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us

abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.”  Titus 2:11-3:7

Because God “so loved the world that HE gave”—we can have life, new life in Christ Jesus!  We must never forget that it is of God’s mercy that we are saved.  Even as Jeremiah wrote, after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, knowing his confidence was anchored in his God, not himself!  After all, it was God who had warned them for some 40 years to repent, with very little response to Jeremiah’s message!

“This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.”    Lamentations 3:21-25

There was also a contemporary of Jeremiah’s latter years, who received a message from God for those who would respond—and that message is as true for us today as it was those thousands of years ago.  Have you responded to God’s call?  Have you humbled yourself before Him, and come to know God through His son Jesus?

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant

shall he corrupt by flatteries:

but the people that do know their God

shall be strong,

and do exploits.”  Daniel 11:32

“And they that be wise

shall shine as the brightness

of the firmament;

and they that turn many to righteousness

as the stars for ever and ever.”  Daniel 12:3

But how can we know God and turn others to righteousness?  There is only ‘One Way’, Jesus, and seeking Him through His Word and through prayer.  And when we draw near to God, and depend upon His grace and power, we can learn to recognize the opportunities that He gives us to share the gospel of the cross.  Even as He gave to Paul, who testified of his total reliance on Jesus blood, and the truth of the “crucified” and risen Lord Jesus!

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not

with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony

of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.

3 And I was with you

in weakness,

and in fear,

and in much trembling.

4 And my speech

and my preaching

was not with enticing words

of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration

of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”    1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As John shared in his gospel account.

“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.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-14

So, as we consider the choices that lay before us this week—may we approach them with humble confidence, yet with boldness as we speak the truth of the Gospel; not swelling with pride and arrogance, or lording it over those we encounter, as if we were better than they, but humbly sharing the truth of the cross.  May we join with Paul in recognizing our own sin and weakness, and follow the Lord  Jesus who calls us—to take up our cross (which means that we are to die to self and live to Him) as we follow Him; yet even that is done by God, His Holy Spirit whom He has given to dwell within every believer, and through His power—that it may of Christ alone.

“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

Jesus summed it up in John 15.

“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 15:4-5

So, remember that while “I can do all things through Christ”, it is only because “Christ liveth in me”!  Confident in HIS love, grace and power—never being cocky in my own power!

“Pride goeth before destruction,

and an haughty spirit

before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

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

Praise Him today!

“Great is the LORD,

and greatly to be praised;

and his greatness

is unsearchable.”  Psalm 145:3

Amen and Amen!