Category Archives: Knowing God’s Word

Praise God, It’s Today!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #378

21 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Praise God Today!, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #378      Praise God, It’s Today!!!

 

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

I want to share a word of encouragement this morning—this ‘today’ that we have been given by God. God made it and has given it to us to use to His glory, for our good, and for the good of others as we have opportunity. And whatever ‘opportunities’ lay ahead of you and me, we are to see them as the gift of God. The question remains, ‘What will we do with them?’ Will we even see them as ‘opportunities’?

God has left nothing to chance—HE is working in our lives each and every day; and He has a goal and a purpose. It’s not an erratic happenstance, but a loving, intricate pattern that God is weaving in your life and mine. And dear friends, we can count on HIM to lead us where He wants us to be, if we will but hear and obey—and “rejoice and be glad in it”, praising Him in all things for His gracious and glorious plan for us.

“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

God is ever at work conforming us “to the image of his Son”, helping us be a reflection of His glory to a lost and dying world—to a hurting and desperate world. And we who follow Jesus, and have received the saving grace and salvation that Jesus bought at Calvary, are the only hope for the world. Yet we have allowed the world to distract us from our purpose! Let’s return to the passion of living for Jesus in all we do. Let’s stop allowing the world to shape us into its image, and stand fast for and with Jesus.

“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

We are transformed by The Word of God—getting into it, and allowing it to get into us, becoming a reflection of God’s glory to the world around us. And when yield to God’s work in and through us, He will continue to make us more and more aware of His hand in everything that we face!!!Then we can truly “rejoice and be glad in it”; living out the call in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

“In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

TODAY!

Do You Hear What I Hear??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.2

16 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, The Word, Walking With Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.2  Do You Hear What I Hear???

 

Joshua is one of my favorite Bible characters because he was a faithful servant of God and of Moses. He served as Moses’ “assistant” for some 40 years, and an obedient servant of God. We’re not told much about his early life, but like the rest of the Israelites he was born into slavery in Egypt, but he saw the hand of God along with the Israelites, but he was different from may of them—he believed God. He didn’t just go through the motions of following Moses, crossing the Red Sea, seeing the miracles of God, he believed. And ‘belief’ is necessary to ‘hear’ God!

“While it is said, To day

if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.

16 For some,

when they had heard,

did provoke:

howbeit not all that came out of Egypt

by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years?

was it not with them that had sinned,

whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom sware he

that they should not enter into his rest,

but to them that believed not?”    Hebrews 3:15-18

God reminds us that just being a part of “the crowd” isn’t what saves—only being born again by faith in Jesus saves!!! Salvation for those who believed Messiah was coming to save them, and since the cross for all who believe in His coming, His death, burial and resurrection for our sin!

“For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Jesus did it all for us—and it’s no coincidence that Jesus and Joshua are different forms of the same name!! Joshua served as God’s deliverer of the people into the Promised Land. Jesus was, is and ever shall be God’s deliverer from sin to the ‘Promised Land’ of eternal life–that which Jesus provided at Calvary!

While Joshua wasn’t “The Messiah”, he was the deliverer whom God called to serve him in a particular time and place. And like you and me, he wasn’t always sure of how to do God’s will; and while he didn’t always succeed, he did always pursue God, and even when he failed, he made things right when God revealed his failures and called him to correct them. Joshua stepped out in faith and trust in the God he had followed for 40 years, learning to go where God led, even thought it wasn’t always easy.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass,

that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead;

now therefore arise,

go over this Jordan,

thou, and all this people,

unto the land which I do give

to them,

even to the children of Israel….

5 There shall not any man be able to stand

before thee all the days of thy life:

as I was with Moses,

so I will be with thee:

I will not fail thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage:

for unto this people shalt thou divide

for an inheritance the land,

which I sware

unto their fathers

to give them.” Joshua 1:1-6

As Joshua heard the call to lead God’s people into Canaan, he was also called to “Be strong and of a good courage”; more than once God reminds Joshua of the need to depend on God’s power and provision, not his own!

“7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest……. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid,

neither be thou dismayed:

for the LORD thy God is with thee

whithersoever thou goest.”

“17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:17-18

We can learn from Joshua that God calls us to strength and courage to depend upon Him. When we will hear God, as Joshua did, we will find Him just as sufficient in our weakness. Paul also reminds us to stand up for Jesus. Let’s peruse some passages to help encourage us all today.

“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.”     Ephesians 6:10-11

No matter our need, God is sufficient to meet it!

“The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”    Psalm 18:2-3

God is our strength, the One in whom we trust; He is also the sovereign God of all, and can be trusted in all things—even those trials and puzzles of life which we often don’t understand—yet!!! He is completely trustworthy and it is HIS strength and understanding we can rely on. One of my favorite passages, one I rely on continually, compels us to trust HIM not ourselves.

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When we commit to trust God, He provides in every way, even when we face those things beyond our capacity to understand (yet). Paul, one of the great men of God, faced a situation, an affliction, and he sought the Lord’s provision to deliver him from it. But God gave him an answer that he probably wasn’t expecting—nor what we often expect. But God is trustworthy and faithful in every way, both then and now! We need to hear His voice—and heed the message!

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore

will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ

may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,

in reproaches,

in necessities,

in persecutions,

in distresses

       for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

God has promised to be our strength, and He is the provider of our salvation, because we are helpless to save ourselves. He always cares for those who will come to HIM by faith in Jesus! Have you heard His voice? Do you hear Him now?

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.” Romans 5:1-10

Jesus transforms us from enemies of God into the children of God!!! His blood paid for our sin, and saves us from the penalty of sin (death), the power of sin (temptation), and eventually He will return and deliver us from the very presence of sin. Until then, we can depend on HIM to strengthen us and direct our steps; we can give Him our doubts, our worries and fears, knowing that God is ever at work conforming us “to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29). And we can have victory today!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us

unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11

God is ever at work to grow us in faith and power by His Spirit, His Word because of the blood of Jesus! Are we hearing and obeying the call of faith?

“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 11:6

Yet we can come to God any time, with any problem.

“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 11:6

So my question for us today is, “Do you hear what I hear?” Are you walking with God and learning to “Be strong and of a good courage”? Are you leaning to hear His voice, studying His Word to recognize truth, and standing courageously for Jesus? May we join Joshua today?

“….choose you this day whom ye will serve; …… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21

Snippets For Friday??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #376

14 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Knowing God's Word, The Word, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #376   Snippets For Friday???

 

“Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me.”   Psalm 23:4

We often see this passage quoted or read at times of grief or sorrow, at funerals or just when we need comfort in times of difficulty. But I’d like to take a different approach to it; I’d like us to recognize something that is often overlooked—this person IS walking. He’s not sitting down and unafraid, he’s not lounging, or twiddling his thumbs, and unafraid—he IS ‘walking’! He is on the move with the Lord, and when we keep on walking with the Lord, and He with us, we can truly “fear no evil”, for He IS walking with us. The key being, we must ‘walk’ with Him, not sit on our ‘pew’ and wait for others to ‘get moving’, but be “walking” with Jesus!

By the same token, there is a time when we are to wait! We are to “wait upon the LORD”! Another familiar passage and again I want us to peruse a different focus than we usually have in this verse. While the Lord will renew our strength, and we will mount up—there is also (again) the clear indication that we are to be movement!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

While we are waiting on the Lord it is to be as a servant “waiting on” their master. This servant isn’t expected to idly sit by and “wait” for something to do; wait for his name to be called; wait till someone is watching; wait till he’s ‘in the mood’! No, “I must be about my Father’s business” continually (Luke. 2:49). God expects us to be ‘walking’ in His ways, then as He leads in a particular way or time, HE will provide the strength to “run and not be weary”, to “walk and not faint”, through the mundane, routine walk of living a holy, righteous life before a dark and wicked world. Too many of us are sitting around waiting to “mount up”, when we aren’t even moving! Even Jesus in His childhood knew that serving the Father was an active, participatory relational activity. What about you?

So how do we move and wait at the same time? We simply press on with Jesus, going in one direction (His direction!) until HE changes our marching orders.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

And last but certainly not least, we “study to shew thyself approved unto God”! We stay in The Word and feast on the truth of God—both the living Word, Jesus, and the written Word, the Bible.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”   Psalm 119:105

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

There it is again, a path—indicating movement, and my feet—walking! Even Paul calls us a “workman”—that’s pretty clear. So get up, get going and follow wherever HE leads you today, having NO fear “for thou art with me”!!!

What’s That In Your Mouth??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #375

12 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Knowing God's Word, Not By Bread Alone, The Word, The Word Or The World?, What's In Your Mouth?

≈ Leave a comment

Bible Ballistics: BBs  #375   What’s That In Your Mouth???

 

“And when the tempter came to him,

he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones

be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.”     Matthew 4:3-4

Most of us are familiar with the “temptation” of Jesus in the wilderness, and the Devil who tempted HIM! I’d like us to take just a few minutes today to consider this first of the three recorded temptations of Jesus. First we notice that the “tempter” came to Him, and He is ever coming to us with subtle and misleading calls to go in some particular direction, and unless we have our hearts and minds set on Jesus, we can fall for his lies, tricks and deceit. We must be on the lookout at all times.

“Be sober, (be awake, pay attention, be wise)

be vigilant; (always on your guard—continually)

because your adversary (your enemy)

the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour: (eat you!)

9 Whom resist

stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”     1 Peter 5:8-9

We must be aware of the tactics of the enemy, and Peter warned his readers of the danger of falling for the lies of the enemy, Satan. He seeks to destroy our lives and our testimony—what he’s selling isn’t as cheap as he claims.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.”    John 10:10

Jesus came to give life to all who will believe and trust in Him. Satan, the Devil, comes to steal, kill and destroy. And we must be aware of his tactics—they are all lies, half-truths (which are just dressed up lies) and deceptions. Look at what he said to Jesus, “If thou be the Son of God”; Satan knew (better than anyone on earth) who Jesus was, but he came to the very Son of God and tried to make HIM doubt and veer from His commitment to follow and obey His Father’s will. Satan hasn’t changed in all these years—he knows who belongs to Jesus, and he comes to stir up doubt in our hearts and minds, and convince us to act independently of God: ‘It’s not a biggy’, he says, ‘go ahead and make this choice. It won’t hurt a thing’!!! Liar, liar, liar! He wants is to destroy us, why do we listen to him? We must refuse his way that “seemeth right unto a man”, and take the sure path of God. We must hear, heed and yield to the continual work of The Holy Spirit within us.

“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.” Galatians 5:16 & 25

And to walk in the Spirit, we must remember what Jesus did, He spoke The Word to defeat and resist the enemy–“It is written”! This is one of the reasons we must immerse ourselves in His Word! Jesus goes on to quote from Deuteronomy 8:3, where Moses reminded the people to keep their heart and mind on The One who had delivered, led and provided for them every step of the way through the wilderness. And that same God and His Son Jesus Christ, delivers, leads and provides for us today. But we must rely on Him and His Word rather than our own resources to meet our own needs—spiritual or physical. What’s that in YOUR mouth? Are you trusting God to supply, or have you stepped out to change YOUR own stones into bread?

“And he humbled thee,

and suffered thee to hunger,

and fed thee with manna,

which thou knewest not,

neither did thy fathers know;

that he might make thee know

that man doth not live by bread only,

but by every word

that proceedeth

out of the mouth

of the LORD

doth man live.”    Deuteronomy 8:3

What are you living on? Imitation ‘Stone Bread’ or by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God? Who will we choose to hear and obey—His Spirit and His Word, or Satan and self? The choice is yours. What’s that in YOUR mouth? God’s bread or the ‘gravel’ of the enemy?