Category Archives: It’s Your Choice

Are You Being Fooled??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #661

24 Wednesday Jun 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, All About Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #661  Are You Being Fooled???

 

I would like to share a word today about our associations, and the need for caution and wisdom in choosing whom or what ideologies and movements we align ourselves with.  For today many are hopping on board with people whose goals and ideologies are foreign, and often opposed, to the call and biblical principles of Jesus and HIS Word.

I truly believe that my call is to adhere to, love and obey God’s Word rather than the latest movement of the day—be it political, religious, or social.  The Word of God is to be our compass, our guide and the solid rock upon which we can stand without fear of collapse.  Jesus gives us a sure warning!

“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 7:24-26

Where is your house built?  Jesus also warned us that, in my words, “saying so doesn’t make it so”; just because someone claims to be leading in the right direction, you need to check out who you are following, and believing!

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you

in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:15

Paul gives us some good advice for responding to cultural issues; and he reminds us (it is dear to my heart) that we have One call—and that is to preach Christ Jesus—Lord of all, crucified, risen and coming again!  It is so easy to have our focus distracted and find ourselves of little use to God after we have ruined our testimony by being distracted by the call of the world’s “causes”!

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications,

prayers,

intercessions,

and giving of thanks,

be made for all men;

2 For kings,

and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet

and peaceable life

in all godliness

and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable

in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge

of the truth.

5 For there is one God,

and one mediator

between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom

for all,

to be testified in due time.”  I Timothy 2:1-6

And if I may take the liberty—it’s past time to return to our calling as children of God; and that my friends is the desire of my heart—to be found faithful to to my Lord Jesus Christ when He comes, or when He calls me unto Himself!

“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.”   1 Corinthians 2:1-2

It’s all about Jesus—He died for ME and YOU!  Who are you abandoning Jesus for?  We are called to live for Jesus, not our own fickle fancies of the day.  May God open our eyes!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Nothing New??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 13

31 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Be Fruitful And Multiply!, Be not conformed to this world, By Him We Live, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Compromise, Consider Your ways, Conviction, Darkness or Light?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God Is In Charge, God's Faithfulness, If not now? When?, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming!, Judgment, Justice, Light In The Dark, Nothing New, One Day Too Late?, Our God Reigns, Righteousness, Seeing Truth, Stand Fast, Still Will I Trust HIM, That They May Know, Thy Kingdom Come, Time, Time Is Grace!, Victory IN Jesus!, Who are YOU following?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 13    Nothing New???

 

King Solomon said it most eloquently:

“The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing

under the sun.

10 Is there any thing

whereof it may be said,

See,

this is new?

it hath been already of old time,

which was before us.

11 There is no remembrance

of former things;

neither shall there be any remembrance

of things that are to come

with those that shall come after.”    Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

Sadly, it seems, each generation forgets the lessons of the past.  And our world has not only forgotten the faithfulness of our God, but the countless times and ways that He has stood by us through trials and conflicts.  Our culture, our world, has chosen to forsake God, and exercise hatred, greed and jealousy, which ever seem to follow close on the heels of God’s faithfulness since mankind chooses to sin by his own will.  While we often blame others, the times, the culture, the temptations—the truth is, we have each chosen to go our own way!  Will you choose Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice or your own way?  God has given us the freedom to choose, but each choice will bring a consequence, so choose wisely, there is a test!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death.”   Proverbs 14:12

The very first parents saw their poor choices affect their children—one chose God’s way, the other chose to go his own way; and the consequence was disastrous!

“And Cain talked with Abel his brother:

and it came to pass,

when they were in the field,

that Cain rose up

against Abel his brother,

and slew him.

9 And the LORD said unto Cain,

Where is Abel thy brother?

And he said,

I know not:

Am I my brother’s keeper?

10 And he said,

What hast thou done?

the voice of thy brother’s blood

crieth unto me

from the ground.”   Genesis 4:8-10

Sin never escapes God’s sight, and HE WILL bring justice to light in HIS time!  He created this world and HE will bring all accounts to their right judgment—in HIS time (and I can’t believe it’s very far away!)!  Abel chose wisely!  How about you?

“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.

4 By faith

Abel offered unto God

a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,

by which he obtained witness

that he was righteous,

God testifying of his gifts:

and by it

he being dead

yet speaketh.”   Hebrews 11:3-4

“Whosoever is born of God

doth not commit sin;

for his seed remaineth in him:

and he cannot sin,

because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God

are manifest,

and the children of the devil:

whosoever doeth not righteousness

is not of God,

neither he that loveth not

his brother.

11 For this is the message that ye heard

from the beginning,

that we should love one another.

12 Not as Cain,

who was of that wicked one,

and slew his brother.

And wherefore slew he him?

Because his own works were evil,

and his brother’s righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren,

if the world hate you.”  1 John 3:9-13

We see those who have seemingly gone crazy, those who have taken the opportunity to run amuck, using any excuse to do so; what is the difference between them and me?  When the causes we claim to follow and support turn into wreck, havoc and riot, what do we do?  We must come back to the principles of God and remember that sin is sin, and when we abandon God’s ways, there is a price to pay; compromise with sin/evil will never produce good results!  And our culture has given itself over to pursue sin and evil with a vengeance; rejecting the principles of God and His Word;  using the name of Jesus for a by-word, not the name of the Son of God; are we standing fast with our Lord, or delighting in the sinful ways of those around us.

“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!

22 Woe unto them

that are mighty

to drink wine,

and men of strength

to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked

for reward,

and take away

the righteousness

of the righteous

from him!”  Isaiah 5:18-23

There always have been evil men, and today is no exception, even as Paul warned us of those who are not only evil but take pleasure in doing evil and causing others to follow in their evil schemes.  The choice is yours—who will you follow?  Whom will you believe?  Will you join evil people or “withstand in the evil day”?  (See Ephesians 6:10-19).

God gave you the freedom to choose, but you do not have the freedom to set the consequences!

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding,

covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,

unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure in them

that do them.”  Romans 1:28-32

And this is scripture—not off of the front page of the newspaper!  We live in a culture that is like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum, only the results are far more deadly—it is destroying lives and property—the very means by which we can live and be productive.  Yet we see rack and riot on every hand, produced not by those who have suffered offense, but by those who desire to cause more offense, and take pleasure in the sin that is rampant, for we have chosen a disastrous course!  But one that God has told us beforehand would come.

“Be astonished,

O ye heavens,

at this,

and be horribly afraid,

be ye very desolate,

saith the LORD.

13 For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.”   Jeremiah 2:12-13

We, the culture and our world, have not only chosen broken cisterns over living water, but we have walked head-long into the perilous times that God warned us would come!

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

So, my question for us today is, will we choose to stand for the right, to be (not just talk about, but “BE”) true reflections of the glory and truth of GOD?   It is our calling—a calling that only the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us can accomplish!

“I therefore,

the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness

and meekness,

with longsuffering,

forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body,

and one Spirit,

even as ye are called

in one hope

of your calling;

5 One Lord,

one faith,

one baptism,

6 One God and Father

of all,

who is above all,

and through all,

and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us

is given grace

according to the measure

of the gift of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:1-7

Even as Jesus reminds us, it is by HIS Power—our abiding in HIM that produces fruit.  Are you abiding in Jesus?  If not, what are you abiding in?

“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

If we will ‘abide” in HIM, HE will produce fruit—HIS fruit in and through us!  Paul also made it clear for us all—we must choose to let GOD work in us, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.

17 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…

… 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 5:16-17 & 25-26

Yet rather, as the author of Hebrews reminds us, provoke one another to good works; as our Pastor Brad always says, “good, good works” (not just ‘good works’ to impress or gain for ourselves, but doing good things for the right reasons!)!

“Let us hold fast

the profession of our faith

without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised😉

24 And let us consider one another

to provoke unto love

and to good works:”   Hebrews 10:23-24

May we truly be those who are found faithful, regardless of what the world says or does.  And the day is coming, rapidly I believe, when we will be the scape-goat—but may we be found to be “busy about my Father’s business”!

“So then every one of us

shall give account of himself

to God.”  Romans 14:11-12

Amen and Amen!!!

Are You Battle Fatigued??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #648

29 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, Ask God For Wisdom, Believe IN Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Fatigue, Great is Thy Faithfulness, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Weariness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #648   Are You Battle Fatigued???

 

We talked last time about our Lord God being the One who fights our battles when we will rest in Him, take our hands off, and watch God work!  Yet, sometimes God sends us to take a sling and a rock and face our giants, but like David, we must, I repeat we must, remember that our confidence is in the God we serve, not in our own abilities, ideas, strength or wisdom.  We must learn to rely on the wisdom of God, the strength of our Lord, and trust to His direction, care and provision.

As Paul told the church at Ephesus, our armor is effective because of “The One” who empowers it!  Let’s peruse Paul’s encouragement to the believers who needed the armor of God, but even more importantly, they needed the God who empowers that armor!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not

against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.”   Ephesians 6:10-12

We often become weary because we forget that our enemy is most often unseen—but our God is ever present with us!  We see HIM with spiritual eyes, and hear HIS voice speaking to our hearts through the power of HIS precious Holy Spirit. So, I simply want to share a few scriptures that I pray will encourage you in your “battle fatigue” today.  May God’s Word be that “balm of Gilead” to sooth the troubled soul!

“But the Comforter,

which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send in my name,

he shall teach you all things,

and bring all things

to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.”   John 14:26-27

Our peace and confidence come from our Lord, not our circumstances—rest in HIM.  And in closing one of my personal favorite passages; I pray that it will encourage and comfort you in your battles today!   This entire chapter is one of my “go-to” scriptures.

“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

I pray that this will encourage you today and lift your heart upward—remember you have a Savior who cares!  He is ever there for you!  Let HIM ease your ‘fatigue’!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched with the feeling

of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:15-16

Amen and Amen!!!

Only ONE Will Always Be There!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #643

15 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Darkness or Light?, Dependence, Discipline, Distractions, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Judgment, Just Jesus!, Listening To God, Living Right, Perseverance, Righteousness, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #643   Only ONE Will Always Be There!!!

 

In these days of “quarantine” and being ‘home alone’ or for some “Not” alone, we are finding new ways to manage; whether it be cooking, or shopping in new ways, keeping our distance (without being distant!), meetings via the internet, learning to converse anew, being cut off from our loved ones, friends, neighbors and our church families; whatever the difficulty in your life right now, may we ever remember that our solution isn’t the weatherman or the government—even when they send out “checks”—for there is only ONE who has promised to always care for HIS own!  And the good, no the great news, is that you can come into His family, His fold!

“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

But there is only one way to come to HIM, and that is in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—yours and mine–and HIS grace is extended to “whosoever will” come to Him.

“And Jesus said unto them,

I am the bread of life:

he  that cometh to me

shall never hunger;

and he that believeth on me

shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you,

That ye also have seen me,

and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me

shall come to me;

and him that cometh to me

I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven,

not to do mine own will,

but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father’s will

which hath sent me,

that of all which he hath given me

I should lose nothing,

but should raise it up again

 at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me,

that every one which seeth the Son,

and believeth on him,

may have everlasting life:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:35-40

Jesus came to give His life that we might live, and HE is coming back again (and a lot sooner, I think, than we can imagine!) and take His own to Himself and set all things right on this earth!  Are you His?  Are you ready if He came today?  It truly is a matter of life and death!

I am so glad that I have Jesus as my Lord, my Master, My King; and I can trust Him to accomplish His purpose in me and use me as HE sees fit—no matter the cost, or the pain that comes my way.  I know, as the old song says, WHO holds not only “tomorrow” but The One Who holds today—be it sunny or gray!  He is trustworthy, and I choose to trust Him and obey His Word and His voice to my heart in the person of The Holy Spirit!  Thank you, Jesus!

We need to understand that Jesus loves the world, yet He not only loves His own but also disciplines them—that we may be “conformed to the image” of Himself!

“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.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:5-8

Pretty strong language with a message that so many ignore or reject today—but it is God’s Word!  If you can sin and have no discipline in your life, you better check out what you think saved you!  There are those who found Jesus’ own words too hard to accept, what about you?  The choice is yours but remember there is a test!

“Jesus said unto him,

If thou wilt be perfect,

go and sell that thou hast,

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure

in heaven:

and come

and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying,

he went away sorrowful:

for he had great possessions.”   Matthew 19:21-22

What are you clinging to instead of Jesus?  Don’t let your ‘idols’ keep you from the Master!  Won’t you let go of your fears, your greed, your dependency on substances (of whatever sort they are), your pride, or clinging to your own way, and take His “yoke upon you” and truly receive what HE promises and delivers, ”ye shall find rest unto your souls…”!  I pray that you will choose Jesus for HE loves you more than you know, and He promises to never leave you!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”   Hebrews 13:5-6

I pray that you will hear the voice of this Jesus, THE ONE who loves you and wants to deliver you and give you “rest unto your souls…”!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

Big “IF”s In God’s Word??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 04

29 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Be not conformed to this world, Believe IN Jesus, Born Again, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Consider Your ways, Conviction, Crucified With Christ, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God Is In Charge, Gospel, If not now? When?, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Knowing God's Word, Light In The Dark, Living Right, Power of The Cross, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, SIN, Take Up YOUR Cross, That They May Know, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 04  Big “IF”s In God’s Word???

 

As I begin this post, I’m not sure if it will be long or short, for I’m not really sure where this will take me but it’s been on my heart for a long while, and today is the day to pursue what I believe God may have to say to us.  I have seen a lot of information on social media and a lot of scripture posted—some in context, some not so much.  Because of that I want us to consider one of the passages that I have seen and what it may be saying that we don’t want to hear.

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him,

I have heard

thy prayer,

and have chosen this place

to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command

the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send

pestilence among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn

from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes

shall be open,

and mine ears

attent unto the prayer

that is made in this place.

16 For now have I

chosen

and sanctified

this house,

that my name may be there

for ever:

and mine eyes

and mine heart

shall be there perpetually.”  2 Chronicles 7:12-16

This truth was given to Solomon as he was in the midst of the dedication of the temple that he had completed in Jerusalem.  God came and told Solomon that this place would be a place that represented HIS very presence, and that when the people strayed and forsook Him, they could come to this place (or even look toward it) to seek Him again.  But there are some ‘if’s’ here that we often ignore or try to diminish their import.

The first is “if” “my people” will do…., then what?  Who are God’s people?

“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 1:12-13

And Jesus Himself told Nicodemus “who” was His!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

… 17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:3-7, 17-19

Jesus came that we might have life—eternal life—new life IN Jesus!

“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.”  Romans 8:28-29

Jesus did the work, we receive the work, God glorifies the work as He conforms us to HIM.  Whose are YOU?  Who are you allowing to work in your life?  God or Satan? (See Eph. 2:1-10)

“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

When we come to Jesus, we are “born again” of His Spirit, and He imparts to us not only His precious Holy Spirit, but also His love which “is shed abroad in our hearts” (see in Romans 5:1-11), but what have we done with that gift?  Are we living in His love or the fear of our circumstances?  Are we living in the Spirit or the flesh?  Is our life identified with Jesus or is there so little resemblance to our Father God and Jesus The Son, that people can’t tell any difference between us and the world?  That “if” that God mentions to Solomon is referring to “my people”—for Solomon that meant the true worshippers of Jehovah God, who looked forward to the coming Messiah who would deliver them from sin not just cover it up from year to year.  We who are on this side of the cross have seen and received the completed work of salvation, and we don’t have to go to Jerusalem or a physical temple—for we are the temple by the redeeming power of Jesus’ blood shed for us.  But how are we treating that temple—His temple?

“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 who have received Jesus’ saving grace, ARE the temple of God—yet we see professing believers, who claim to know Jesus, adopting the so-called ‘morality’ of the world—they say it’s ok to “shack-up” without benefit of marriage, everyone is doing it!  They condone promiscuity, for who can live without sex—it doesn’t have an “on and off” switch to use only when we’re married, does it?  Well, in a word, YES it does—it’s called “self-control” and obedience to God; and God calls His own to live holy and pure lives.  Many people who claim the name of Jesus have justified almost all things that once were seen as sin—drunkenness, immorality, foul language (I am so tired of hearing vulgar words come out of the mouth of those who claim the name of my precious Savior—even taking His name and The Father’s name in vain!), dishonesty (it’s ok to steal, lie, cheat, fudge on the truth, lie on reports, steal from your employer {and not doing your job, is the same as stealing the wages you say you are ‘earning’ when you don’t work}), bullying, treating others with disrespect, mistreating others, cruelty….the list could go on endlessly.  Yet, God called HIS people to recognize their own sin, not just the sin of others, and turn from it and draw near to HIM!

God calls us to “humble” yourselves.  That means to ‘bow’ before God, recognizing that HE IS the Sovereign God of my heart—of all creation for that matter.  And to bow, is to acknowledge that HE IS God and I am not!  We are called “by (His) name”, but we aren’t called to BE HIM!  Yet much that is going on in Christendom today is simply idolatry of “self” dressed up in ‘church clothes”!  Humility means I recognize my own inability and depend on HIS ability working in me.  Taking up my cross—which means dying to self and living unto Jesus in all I/you do!

“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

Have you been “crucified with Christ”? (See Matthew 16:24-26) Or are you living your own life, and trying to tag His stamp of approval on it?  When we are saved, we ought to recognize our own “death” to sin and self for we are “raised to new life”!

“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

Let’s go on; the next thing God calls us to do is to “pray”—seeking God’s way not mine.  Prayer isn’t dictating to God, rather it is seeking to know my Father and what He desires; Jesus told us how!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

Prayer is seeking to glorify God in all we do; seeking God’s Kingdom; seeking God’s will on earth.  Rather than seeking our own will and wanting it continually– stamped with God’s heavenly approval, of course….that is totally NOT prayer!

God calls us to seek HIS face—that’s real prayer and earnest recognition of who God IS?  Then, God steps on the real issue—we are to “turn from” our “wicked ways”!  That means “ME” and that means “YOU”!  We can’t erase God’s Word with the ‘vote’, or popular ‘polls’, or by “legalizing sin”.  God says sin is still sin, and we MUST turn from it.  Believers must stop sinning and calling it something else—God says we must turn from it—agree with Him that it is sin and STOP IT!  That’s what the Apostle John meant!

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:6-10

To “confess” here means to agree with God about our sin—and as long as we deny our sin, we will not repent (which means to turn away/turn around from; an about-face, if you would!)  As long as we keep justifying our sin with whatever excuse we are using; we will never find forgiveness and cleansing.  Just as John goes on in verse 8 to remind us, to say we have no sin, is to deceive ourselves; and if I may say so, we live in a culture that is doing its best to erase sin by ‘legalizing’ it.  God’s way has never before, still hasn’t and will never, ever change!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

So, the question is the same today as it ever has been, are you willing to “turn” from your way and go God’s way?  Or will you cling to your own sin and reap the consequence.  Isaiah dealt bluntly with this same issue!

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities

have separated

between you and your God,

and your sins

have hid his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.”  Isaiah 59:1-4

Sound familiar?  Even as Paul told the church at Galatia, and God told Solomon, when we pursue God and do things His way, then HE has promised to “heal their land”.  And folks, our land certainly is in need of healing, and I don’t mean just the COVID-19 virus!  We are in need of a real heaven-sent, sin-forsaking, heart changing, move of God!  A revival of God’s own, that the lost may see Jesus in us and come to His cross in repentance and faith to be saved from their sin.  But that’s not likely to happen until God’s own start sowing righteousness and love for God and His way, rather than the lust of the flesh!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”  Galatians 6:7-8

I’d like to bring this all to a close with one of my favorite passages, where Jesus makes it clear that “saying so” doesn’t “make it so”!  Are you talking a ‘talk’ that you can’t walk because you don’t possess Jesus?  Have you been born again, yet you are not walking in “the light”?  Or are you burdened for the broken, lost and suffering world that we live in?  May we truly search our hearts and build our “house on the rock” of Jesus Christ The Lord—the only way to God.  Jesus Christ The Lord, who gave Himself to be our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin; it’s what He came to be and do!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

Yet Jesus’ warning to us is still valid today, what will you choose, The Rock or the sand?  Have you been saved “from” your “sins”?  Jesus saves, delivers and transforms?  What about you?

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it…

 .. 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,

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.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended

these sayings,

the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them

as one having authority,

and not as the scribes.”                                    Portions of Matthew 7:20-27

So, as you read or post things from scripture, especially 2 Chronicles 7:14, you might want to take some time and be sure you are living what you’re posting!

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”  2 Corinthians 13:5

Are you calling others to do the same and:

“…speaking the truth in love…”  Ephesians 4:15a

What “ifs” are you wrestling with?  May God do HIS work in us, that the world may KNOW that Jesus is Lord and King!!

Amen and Amen!!!