Category Archives: Obedience

A Struggle To Focus??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #559

29 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Distractions, Encouragement, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, It's Your Choice, Obedience, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #559     A Struggle To Focus???

 

I just had an issue come up this morning as I was working on this post, and it reminded me of the challenge it is to keep our focus on God and keep our ways right before Him.  So, I’d simply like to share a few things to help us to keep our focus!

“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.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

In other words, “Looking unto Jesus” will help us to think right and live a consistent holy life, knowing what our salvation cost our Lord! Just as when we drive, we have to keep our eyes on the road, or we find ourselves veering off the road, we must “fix our eyes” (the NASB version) on Jesus in our daily walk to stay on track (and I’m to run “MY” race not yours or anyone else’s).

I try to begin each day by putting on the “armor of God”, so that I will be prepared for the battles of the day (for we are in a continual battle with the enemy of our soul—and he is an expert at ‘distraction’!). Paul talked about this ‘spiritual warfare’ in several of his letters, and we’ll consider a portion of a couple of them to encourage our hearts as we press on with, through and for JESUS!

“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.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.”  Ephesians 6:10-13

Paul clearly tells us that we are in this “wrestling” match with our enemy, so we must be aware of the enemy and keep our heart and mind ‘suited’ up in our armor.  Spend some time today rehearsing that armor in verses 14-18—it’s a worthwhile practice to pray it on every day!  We need it!  And there’s another important passage in regard to this ‘spiritual warfare’ we are in, we must actively, diligently and faithfully bring our thoughts captive to “the obedience of Christ”.  And believe me, I have just as much trouble with my thoughts, as you do with yours—because the battle is in the realm of our minds, thoughts and focus!  Our walk in the flesh is determined by our success in the spirit!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare

are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself against

the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”   2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Living a victorious Christian life requires more than spending a couple of hours in ‘church’ one day a week!  It requires a daily, moment by moment walk with Jesus; learning to recognize the “wiles of the devil”, knowing that we can be victorious when we keep our eyes on Jesus; but that takes diligent effort and awareness of God’s presence in every step we take, and keeping right thoughts at every turn.  One key verse that I rehearse regularly, to remind myself to think right is from Philippians 4. (And a right thought life, will manifest itself in our choices—just as a wrong thought life will show up eventually in our actions!)  May these help you today!

“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.”  Philippians 4:6-8

As Martin Luther was reported to have said:

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”!

Amen and Amen!!!

Others May But I Cannot??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #521

09 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Bloom Where You're Planted!, Choices And Consequences, Conviction, Obedience, Still Will I Trust HIM

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #521   Others May But I Cannot???

 

I read a tract many years ago, in fact I still have it, that impacted me and brought conviction and a comfort– that what God asks me to do, He may not ask you to do; or vice-versa! While we are all saved “by grace…through faith” we are not called to the same work of ministry, the same convictions, or the same responsibilities! God calls us all to bear the “fruit of the Spirit” in our personal ministry, but he also calls some to places of responsibility, burdens, convictions and trials that He doesn’t ask of others.

“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.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:22-25

And when we walk in The Spirit, it is a walk of faith and obedience—even when others don’t understand the constraints that God has placed upon us personally. I have learned through the years that when God calls me to something, or even away from something, I must obey even, in fact especially, when others don’t understand. And sometimes it causes hurt, because people will think that we are hard-hearted or unfeeling, but the call to obey God is our prime objective. Oswald Chambers says it best in his amazing book “My Utmost For His Highest”—that is our goal (and if you’ve never read this book I encourage you to get it and read it through this year, it is one of my ‘go to’ books that I’ve read through on many occasions!). Just as Ezekiel was called to be a ‘watchmen’ to his people, yet he wasn’t very popular, but he did what God asked him to do—even strange and seemingly crazy things, he obeyed. So must we come before God with that kind of heart?

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:

therefore hear the word at my mouth,

and give them warning

from me.

18 When I say unto the wicked,

Thou shalt surely die;

and thou givest him not warning,

nor speakest to warn

the wicked

from his wicked way,

to save his life;

the same wicked man shall die

in his iniquity;

but his blood

will I require at thine hand.

19 Yet if thou warn the wicked,

and he turn not

from his wickedness,

nor from his wicked way,

he shall die in his iniquity;

but thou hast delivered thy soul.”   Ezekiel 3:17-19

There are lots of “fluff” preachers and teachers today, but those who are calling people to repent of sin, and turn to Jesus in faith are not the ones being lauded today! But it’s the message that God has delivered throughout HIS Word and throughout history! Who’s listening to the watchman? Not many! But when God gives a call, a conviction, a ministry, an understanding of truth, then we must “stay by the stuff” regardless of the responses of others! I/You must seek to obey Him no matter the response of others. Our kindest attempts can and will often be met with disregard or even rejection, but we must do that which HE calls us to do! Even as Job endured!

“So thou, O son of man,

I have set thee a watchman

unto the house of Israel;

therefore thou shalt hear the word

at my mouth,

and warn them

from me.” Ezekiel 33:7

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain

mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

And Job and Ezekiel could do what they did because their confidence was in their GOD not their circumstances—Ezekiel was captive in a foreign land, Job was tested in ways that he couldn’t understand, yet they stood fast in their call and their GOD for they knew He would deliver and their reward wasn’t necessarily in this life!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:” Job 19:25 Amen!

Our call is to faithful trust and obedience, and when we draw near to our God He will always prove Himself faithful, even when we face obstacles of misunderstanding, rejection or even as Job proclaimed—“yet will I trust him”! You see it isn’t dependent on our popularity, or the acceptance or rejection of others, our spiritual ‘success’ is dependent on our God, who will “supply all your need…by Christ Jesus”! Oh what glory!

May we continue to deliver the message, fulfill the ministry, follow the call, or, as Oswald Chambers calls it, continue in the ‘mundane’ that God sets before us! It’s all about HIM, and our objective is calling others from the broken cisterns of their lives to the “living water” that IS Jesus! Jeremiah gives a vivid picture that parallels the message of Jesus!

“Hath a nation changed their gods,

which are yet no gods?

but my people have changed their glory

for that which doth not profit.

12 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 2:11-13

“But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water springing up

into everlasting life.” John 4:14

Amen and Amen—go forward in your Lord’s call, regardless!