Category Archives: Obedient or NOT?

God Knows YOU??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #8 Bible Ballistics

18 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in God Is In Charge, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God Still Reigns, Lord, Obedient or NOT?, One Foundation, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Possession or Pretense?, Power of The Cross

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God Knows YOU???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #8                                                   Bible Ballistics

Just a brief word this morning that I hope will remind us that God IS just that—GOD Almighty, the sender of HIS “Only Begotten Son” to restore us to relationship and fellowship with Him!  Only One Way—Jesus.  You are either HIS or NOT HIS!  ‘Nuff said!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 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.”  1 John 1:5-7

And Paul’s clear truth of God’s knowledge of HIS own:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

Also, Jesus’ own declaration of truth about our life reflecting the truth of whose we are—whether we have chosen the “narrow road” or the “broad way”—the consequence for each has been set by The God Who KNOWS! (See Matthew 7:13-28)

“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

The choice is yours but choose wisely there is a test!  And the “examiner” is on HIS way!  I pray that you will call upon HIM while you have opportunity!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

I’m Stumped??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #788

08 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Are You Ready, Believe IN Jesus, Bibe Study, Blessed by God, By His Grace, Choices And Consequences, HOPE, Obedient or NOT?, One Day Too Late?, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Possession or Pretense?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #788       I’m Stumped???

I am truly stumped as I look around and see things going on that grieve my heart –things that I can’t help but believe also grieve the heart of God.  Let’s peruse scripture and see what we find.

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,

that will I do,

that the Father may be glorified

in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing

in my name,

I will do it.

15 If ye love me,

keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world

cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you.”  John 14:13-18

Here, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure to the cross (His resurrection and ascension, although they couldn’t grasp the import or reality that HE would die {first}, and be resurrected), even though they couldn’t grasp it all at the time.  Yet, there are some simple principles that we seem to miss, overlook, or simply neglect and disregard.  I have no desire to debate the issue of “which” commands we are to follow, for in its simplest form, Jesus is calling us to heed HIS word/words and receive and learn from the precious Holy Spirit, whom HE would send at Pentecost some 50 days later.

Jesus called His disciples to understand that they would approach the Father from this point forward on the basis of` Jesus’ name, and the work that Jesus is about to accomplish on the cross—His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN, that would completely fulfill the promise of redemption through the Messiah! Jesus was, is and ever shall be the true Messiah—the soon-returning Messiah and King—and HE is the “way” to The Father, in “spirit and truth”!  But there seems to be a presumption on God today that says, we dictate “in the name of Jesus” and God must comply!!!  NOT!  Jesus makes it clear that what we ask is to be asked, done, and accomplished “that the Father may be glorified in the Son”!   He is directing our hearts and minds to understand that we are working in, through and for the glory of God, not ourselves-either individually or in some corporate way-for Jesus clearly calls us to “love” HIM and express it by being willing to “keep my commandments”!  Not very hard to understand, but seemingly today it is!

It seems that we live in a “pick and choose” world where we claim the name of Jesus yet, pick and choose what parts of His Word, His will, or His way, that we will comply with.  We aren’t willing to align our lives to biblical principles, nor does it seem that we are willing to follow The LORD in love and obedience.  I’m stumped?  “If ye love me”?  Do we?

In my opinion, Jesus’ words hold the answer, and while we can’t look at all of “His words”, let’s look at a few key things that should shed some light on the true principles and expectations of scripture and its author (Jesus).

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and

came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.”   John 8:42-43

This is part of a great confrontational discourse with the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, in fact the last few weeks of His earthly journey.  Jesus is making it clear that if they didn’t truly know God—they had no personal relationship with The Father, through faith in the coming Messiah; in fact, the Messiah who had come and was standing in front of them—they didn’t know HIM!  BUT they didn’t believe so they accused Him of being false!  Jesus made short work of their “smart answers” and plainly claimed that HE had come from God.  He also implied that they couldn’t hear because they had no “spiritual ears” to hear.  He goes even farther by making an angering and abrupt statement—we’d say, “not very nice”, but Jesus spoke only truth—in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons.  How will you respond to HIM?

“44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin?

And if I say the truth,

why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God

heareth God’s words:

ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.”  John 8:44-27

Paul also commented on this truth in his letter to the Ephesian believers.  It all comes down to “parentage”!  Whose child are you?  Have you been born again and become a “child of God”?  Or are you still controlled by the enemy, who lies, deceives, and seeks to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy”! (See John 10:10)

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation in times past

 in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)”.   Ephesians 2:1-5

Paul also went on to remind us that while salvation is by grace through faith, it is a work of God, when HE calls us to become HIS own!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

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

And back to Jesus’ own words in John 14:

“He that hath my commandments,

and keepeth them,

he it is

that loveth me:

and he that loveth me

shall be loved of my Father,

and I will love him,

and will manifest myself to him.”   John 14:21

And in closing, another word of Jesus’ for us to ponder.  Are you claiming HIS name but not walking HIS way?  Do you claim the name of Jesus, but walk your own way, or will you truly yield to The Spirit of God and reflect the love, grace and truth that IS “Christ in you, the hope of glory”!

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made

by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life

was the light of men…

….. 10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world

knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:1-4 & 10-13

Won’t you come to Jesus?  Are you already His?  Do our lives reflect whose we are?  May we pursue God and His righteousness:

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Close But Yet So Far??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #776

03 Thursday Feb 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Obedience, Obedient or NOT?, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Samuel & Eli, The Word, The Word Or The World?, True Knowledge, Trusting God

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #776   Close But Yet So Far???

 

We talked recently about recognizing God’s truth, and I’d like us to revisit that thought with a bit of a twist.

“Have ye not known?

have ye not heard?

hath it not been told you

from the beginning?

 have ye not understood

from the foundations of the earth?”   Isaiah 40:21

Isaiah called his people to examine themselves and see what they had done with the truths of God.  That question is still pertinent for us today, in fact possibly even more urgent than it was back then, for we have spent so much time diminishing the import of The Word of God, perverting what God has said, and changing the truth for lies of convenience.  In fact, we have done the same thing that Israel had done during Isaiah’s day.

“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 5:20-23

Woe is a strong word from God, and we need to be paying attention, whether we are genuine believers or those who claim the name of One they don’t know.  We find one of the most important warnings to both in the story of Samuel and Eli (the high priest).  If you remember, Samuel was the young son of answered prayer that Hannah received from God. She then gave him back to God for HIS service; when he was weaned, she took him to Eli as a servant of the tabernacle (the temple wasn’t built at the time)! Without listing all of the scriptures in this story, let’s peruse some of the highlights and see the danger of not walking “close” to our Lord, and thinking disobedience and neglect are OK.

“Now Hannah,

she spake in her heart; only her lips moved,

but her voice was not heard:

therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her,

How long wilt thou be drunken?

put away thy wine from thee.”   1 Samuel 1:13-14

This portion of the story is important to understand the outcome; Eli rebuked Hannah because he thought she was ‘drunk’, yet she was only deeply in tune with God in prayer for a child.  Eli missed what was going on, and Hannah had to correct him, and then he blessed her for her obvious devotion to seek God for her needs.  God did answer her prayer and when the time came, she returned the child Samuel to serve God for a lifetime. It would seem that Eli judged her by the standard of his sons.  In time God spoke to Samuel and called him into his service with a message of “woe” to Eli, and the reason makes what happened with Hannah, most ironic, puzzling, and very insightful as a lesson we should learn from.

“And she said,

Oh my lord,

as thy soul liveth, my lord,

 I am the woman that stood by thee here,

praying unto the LORD.

27 For this child I prayed;

and the LORD hath given me my petition

which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also

I have lent him to the LORD;

as long as he liveth

he shall be lent to the LORD.

And he worshipped the LORD there.”  1 Samuel 1:26-28

Hannah came to worship, as Samuel began his service to God, and when God called him personally, he replied in obedience to a hard task.  Yet Eli, on the other hand, was unwilling to correct his sons, who were reprobate before God, and he knew what they were doing!

“Now Eli was very old,

and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel;

and how they lay with the women that

assembled at the door of the

tabernacle of the congregation

23 And he said unto them,

Why do ye such things?

for I hear of your evil dealings

by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons;

 for it is no good report that I hear:

ye make the LORD’S people

to transgress.

25 If one man sin against another,

the judge shall judge him:

but if a man sin against the LORD,

who shall intreat for him?

Notwithstanding they hearkened not

unto the voice of their father,

because the LORD would slay them.

26 And the child Samuel grew on,

and was in favour both with the LORD,

and also with men.”  1 Samuel 2:22-26

Eli understood the principles of ‘obedient leadership’ but apparently not enough to deal with his own sons’ immoral and wicked behavior.  The New Testament confirms the call of obedience for all.

“And that servant,

which knew his lord’s will,

and prepared not himself,

neither did according to his will,

shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not,

and did commit things worthy of stripes,

shall be beaten with few stripes.

For unto whomsoever much is given,

of him shall be much required:

and to whom men have committed much,

of him they will ask the more.

49 I am come to send fire on the earth;

and what will I,

if it be already kindled?”  Luke 12:47-49

“My brethren,

be not many masters,

knowing that we shall receive

the greater condemnation.”   James 3:1

Eli had been given the title, the privilege, and the responsibility for the spiritual welfare of Israel, yet he didn’t even take care of the spiritual welfare of his own family.  Now, don’t misunderstand—we can instruct, train, and set a good example before our children and family, but as adults, each person is responsible for his/her own choices.  In fact, scripture says even children are accountable.

“Even a child is known by his doings,

whether his work be pure,

and whether it be right.”  Proverbs 20:11

But Eli was not just a parent, he was the high priest, and his sons were also priests by Gods’ call to the sons of Aaron, as spiritual leaders to Israel.  But Eli apparently did not take his responsibility seriously enough, and was allowing his sons to behave immorally, with complete disregard to the import of God’s instructions for the sacrificial system and its use in building a relationship to God, and yet he did nothing!  God’s Word settles it!

“So then every one of us

shall give account

of himself to God.”  Romans 14:12

God gave Samuel a heavy load for his first commission, and he proved faithful, for God had already been preparing Eli for the coming accounting!

“Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith,

I said indeed that thy house,

and the house of thy father,

should walk before me for ever:

but now the LORD saith,

Be it far from me;

for them that honour me

I will honour,

and they that despise me

shall be lightly esteemed.

31 Behold, the days come,

that I will cut off thine arm,

and the arm of thy father’s house,

that there shall not be an old man

in thine house.

32 And thou shalt see an enemy

in my habitation,

in all the wealth

which God shall give Israel:

and there shall not be an old man

in thine house for ever.

33 And the man of thine,

whom I shall not cut off from mine altar,

shall be to consume thine eyes,

and to grieve thine heart:

and all the increase of thine house

shall die in the flower of their age.

34 And this shall be a sign unto thee,

that shall come upon thy two sons,

on Hophni and Phinehas;

in one day they shall die

both of them.

35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest,

that shall do according to that

which is in mine heart

and in my mind:

and I will build him a sure house;

and he shall walk before mine anointed

for ever.”  1 Samuel 2:30-35

A previous prophet gave a warning to Eli, then God sent Samuel—I think not only for Eli, but for Samuel to know that he was being called by God to lead Israel back to Himself, to restore truth and God’s presence before them.

“Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD,

neither was the word of the LORD

yet revealed unto him…

…..8 And the LORD called Samuel

again the third time.

 And he arose and went to Eli,

 and said, Here am I;

for thou didst call me.

And Eli perceived that the LORD

 had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel,

Go, lie down:

and it shall be,

if he call thee,

that thou shalt say,

Speak, LORD;

for thy servant heareth.

So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called

as at other times,

Samuel, Samuel.

Then Samuel answered,

Speak; for thy servant heareth.

11 And the LORD said to Samuel,

Behold, I will do a thing in Israel,

at which both the ears

of every one that heareth it

shall tingle.

12 In that day

I will perform against Eli all things

which I have spoken

concerning his house:

when I begin,

I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him

that I will judge his house for ever

for the iniquity which he knoweth;

because his sons

made themselves vile,

and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn

unto the house of Eli,

that the iniquity of Eli’s house

shall not be purged

with sacrifice

nor offering

 for ever.”   1 Samuel 3:8-14

What a heavy load for a young boy, but God reminds us of the sufficiency of HIS provision.

“I know both how to be abased,

and I know how to abound:

every where

 and in all things

I am instructed both to be full

and to be hungry,

 both to abound

and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:12-13

While Samuel’s task was a difficult one, he pressed on with respect for Eli, and regard for the message of God.  We can learn a lot from these two men of God—one drew near to God as He heard His voice—the other had allowed his own permissiveness toward his children to cause him to fail his God!  Yet, I do believe God allowed him to ‘redeem’ some of the time he had wasted, to have a second chance with Samuel—a chance to make a difference in this young boy’s life—and it would seem that he used it wisely and set an example of humble submission to the judgment of God!  How about you and me?  How do we respond to the call of God, and/or his judgment and discipline?  Samuel revealed the truth of God to Eli—I believe with a broken heart, but a humble, submissive heart that spoke the truth in love!

“And Samuel told him every whit,

 and hid nothing from him.

And he said,

It is the LORD:

let him do what seemeth him good.

19 And Samuel grew,

and the LORD was with him,

and did let none of his words

fall to the ground.

20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba

knew that Samuel was established

to be a prophet of the LORD.

21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh:

for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel

in Shiloh

by the word of the LORD.”   I Samuel 4:18-21

So, my question for each of us today is, are we so compromised that we have missed the task that Jesus has called us to, or are you one who talks about the master but doesn’t know HIM personally?  The choice is yours, and truly there is a test.  Are you walking in God’s “way”—Jesus (See John 14:6)?  Or are you choosing to go your own way as Eli’s sons did.  Or maybe you’re a parent who has failed to correct and lead your children to know and do God’s truth. There is a word for each of us if we will but heed the message God is speaking to our hearts.

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

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

“So then every one of us shall give account

of himself to God.”  Romans 14:12

Will your account be that of one drawn close to the Father, or have you walked so far away that you have lost sight of God and His truth, or never really known HIM?  I join with Joshua even today!  How about you?

“And if it seem evil unto you

to serve the LORD,

choose you this day

whom ye will serve;

whether the gods

which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

 in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

 we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:15

Paul sums it up concisely:

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head, even Christ:”   Ephesians 4:14-15

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas Ponderings #6??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 07

12 Sunday Dec 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All things that pertain to life and godliness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Obedient or NOT?, Patience and Longsuffering?, Wait on the Lord, Wait upon the Lord

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 07   Christmas Ponderings #6???

 

This may seem like a strange “Christmas Ponderings” topic but the thought hit me between the eyes and I’ve learned that if it hits me, it will probably hit others, so I’m going to share this brief word and pray that it will help and encourage each of us!

“Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint

and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall:

31 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 40:28-31

Let’s just walk through this and see what we can draw from God’s word to encourage, help, and strengthen us for the days before us.

What’s your answer to these questions?  Have we “not known”?  Have we “not heard”?  Have we allowed the hustle and bustle of life to rob us of what we truly know about our God?  I find it amazing that so often I am distracted by the struggles of life, by the issues that come upon us when we least expect them, by things that I want to change but are often out of my control, or my realm of responsibility.  It’s so easy to allow the happenings of life to rob us of the joy of “living” life to the full!  God reminded Israel just as He’s reminding us today, that we need to remember WHO HE IS, and WHAT HE can do!  HE is truly our “all in all”; and I’m so glad that “Christ is all, and in all.” (See Colossians 3:11b)

Peter says is nicely:

“Grace and peace be multiplied

unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us

to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious

promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world

through lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4

We have great promises that God has made and given to us who will believe –will you trust and believe God’s Word to you?  I pray that we will each examine our hearts, minds, and lives to see if we are living in obedience to God’s Word or flying by the seat of our own way (pants)—our own emotions—our own ideas—our own plans and designs?  How easy it is to be swayed by those around us—be it the people around us, the media influences or just plain old ‘our own’ personal stubbornness—rather than relying on the truths of God’s Word!

Oh, Lord, teach us to lean on your “power…and… …strength” for all those things that assail us and try to get us off kilter—even more importantly—off balance from YOUR Word!  Oh, how I want to learn to “wait upon the LORD”, to live with the confidence in my God that expresses itself in what Paul prayed for the Colossians:

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

and increasing

in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks

unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints

in light:” Colossians 1:10-12

As we think of being one who will “wait upon the LORD”, I find Paul’s admonition pretty doable, in part; I’m ok with the “might” and “power” of The Lord, and I can even make progress on the “patience and longsuffering”, but I do find a hitch sometimes in the “with joyfulness”!  Maybe you have problems with being joyful in the areas that demand patience and longsuffering; while many think these two things are the same, there is a subtle difference and I think it worth mentioning so that we can understand that God understands humanity!  All of it—remember, Jesus came and lived a sinless life amongst all the trials and temptations of real life; so, one of these words is dealing with difficult circumstances and the other with difficult people.  Which do you have in your life right now?  I just want to remind each of us that God is still faithful to every trial.

Will you join me in committing to strive to be more diligent to “wait upon the LORD” in every situation.  To let God direct not only our “steps”, but our words, our actions, our desires, and responses in every situation—regardless of whether it involves circumstance or people or both!  And remember:

“Ye are of God,

little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he

that is in you,

than he

that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

Praise God!!!  Amen and Amen!!!