Category Archives: Salvation

Leading To Or Following What??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #407

01 Wednesday Nov 2017

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #407 Leading To Or Following What???

 

“Be ye followers of me,

even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

We are to be followers of Jesus, and as part of the body of Christ Jesus, we are to lead one another to the cross. Paul called those he had influence over to be followers of him, “as I also am of Christ”! And friends, that is the only thing that we can trust in. As we follow anyone, the litmus test must be “Are they following Jesus and His Word?” It’s truly all about Jesus, and He calls us to testify of His Gospel, and to encourage and call each other to the cross!!!

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

We are to be iron sharpening iron—helping one another! We are called to be iron, not plastic—changing shape with every wind of change around us.

“For when they speak

great swelling words

of vanity,

they allure through the lusts of the flesh,

through much wantonness,

those that were clean escaped from them

who live in error.” 2 Peter 2:18

There have always been false teachers and leaders around:

“But there were false prophets

also among the people,

even as there shall be false teachers

among you,

who privily shall bring in

damnable heresies,

even denying the Lord that bought them,

and bring upon themselves

swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

We must beware of those who twist the Word of God, and to do that we must know The Word for ourselves, so we won’t be led astray. In fact, one of the words used in this passage to describe these false teacher’s words, is a root that we get our English word “plastic” from! In other words they “molded” their words to fit the listeners! We must know truth to discern whether others are speaking truth or error!

“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

And we can only gain maturity as we dig out the truth for ourselves, by searching the scriptures.

“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

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica,

in that they received the word

with all readiness of mind,

and searched the scriptures daily,

whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed;

also of honourable women

which were Greeks,

and of men, not a few.” Acts 17:11-12

May we be like the Bereans, who “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”; measuring everything we hear and read by the Word of God, to know if any person is speaking the truth or error. We are not to be blind to the lies of false teachers, but know the truth so as to recognize and discern the things that we hear and see, whether it’s truth or error.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14

Rather than blind, we are to have our eyes opened by truth.

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:18

May we have only one message—the truth of Jesus Christ our Lord and His Word (Which IS Jesus! See John 1)!

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”   2 Corinthians 4:5

Who are you following? Who are you leading? Where? We are either leading people “to” the cross, or away “from” it! Are you on the broad road or the narrow? There is a test!

That’s NOT Compromise Is It? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 16

29 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Changed Lives, Compromise, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Salvation, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.16 That’s NOT Compromise Is It?

 

“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

Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ”, and many find that an extreme idea. What is Paul calling us to do? He, along with our Savior, has called us to live a life that is “crucified with Christ”—a life that is lived in the power of the cross! The cross, an instrument of death; a method of execution that our Savior endured for you and me! Yet we so easily disregard this call to the crucified life, believing that God is more concerned about our “happiness” than our “holiness”! God is concerned with working in our lives that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son”! And my friends, that isn’t a painless journey!

Even Jesus addressed this idea of the “crucified” life.

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross

daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself, or be cast away?”    Luke 9:22-25

Jesus clearly tells us that anyone who will “come after me” must “take up his cross daily” to follow Jesus! And taking up “your” cross means dying to self, because “Christ liveth in me”! And if Jesus lives “in me”, then I can trust Him to enable me to live out my faith in HIM, because I now can “live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”! Jesus gave it all on the cross for you and me, He brought in the “New Covenant”, which is the imparting of the indwelling Holy Spirit to every believer. And if I will yield to HIS work and directing in my heart, I can walk in obedience and victory by HIS power!

So what does this have to do with “compromise”? Well, compromise has many meanings, but the one that we will consider today is:

Compromise: to make a dishonorable or shameful concession.

When we settle for anything less than that which The Holy Spirit is leading us to know, be or do, it is a concession to something less than God’s best for us. Paul reminded us of the high calling of the cross.

“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

God calls us to be a “living sacrifice” unto HIM!!! That is the crucified life, which we can only live successfully through the “mercies of God”—His power working in us by HIS Holy Spirit, our “reasonable service”! He also calls us to “be not conformed to this world”! Conformed means shaped like, in other words, we not to allow the world to make us into its image—because we are being “conformed” to the image of Jesus! You can’t do both!!! Anything less than the “transformed” life IS compromise, for transformed means “made new”—it’s from the Greek word that we know as “metamorphosis”, a caterpillar being “transformed” into a butterfly! Are we renewing our minds with God’s Word? Are we yielding to His Spirit and dying to our fleshly desires? Not easy, but by God’s mercies and His Holy Spirit we can live a crucified life victoriously!

“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.”    Galatians 5:16-17 & 25

We are to walk in the Spirit not the flesh, because the flesh will compromise every time! But when we die to ourselves and live unto Jesus, we can have HIS power for every day living, we can live daily in “newness of life”!

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him

by baptism

into death:

that like as Christ was raised up

from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk

in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together

in the likeness of his death,

we shall be also

in the likeness

of his resurrection:” Romans 6:3-5.   (This whole chapter would be beneficial to read!)

We can walk in resurrection power, when we yield to The Holy Spirit of God/Jesus. We can walk in that newness of “life”—the “life” of Jesus in us.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

So our question for today is, “Are we living the crucified life—the new life in Jesus Christ?” Or are we so caught up in the compromise of the world that we’ve missed the crucified life? Are you following Jesus or your flesh; Jesus or the world; Jesus of popular opinion? Only you can answer these questions, but I’d like to leave you with a few scriptures to think on this week, a few verses to help you assess your living by The Word Of God.

“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. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”    Romans 8:28-31

“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

“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 4:8

If you will “think on these things” you will find that you will grow and learn to recognize “compromise” which you may not be seeing now. God calls us to live the crucified life because it is a wonderful life to live in union with His Holy Spirit, who dwells within every genuine believer. Are you following Jesus? Are you following the world? Are you allowing the world to shape your life into its mold? Satan is busy in these last days, but we can have victory IN JESUS!

“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.

5 They are of the world:

therefore speak they of the world,

and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God:

he that knoweth God

heareth us;

he that is not of God

heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth,

and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another:

for love is of God;

and every one that loveth

is born of God,

and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:4-7

Blessings on your week as your pursue the crucified life instead of compromise! For “greater is he”!!!

Changed Lives??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 15

22 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Changed Lives, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Free Indeed?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.15      Changed Lives???

 

A shorter article today than I normally write on Sundays, but I’d like to share a topic that’s dear to my heat. While we live in a culture that minimalizes the gospel and churches that promote a gospel of convenience and meaninglessness, the Gospel of Jesus is the Gospel of transformed lives—lives, hearts, souls and minds set free from sin.

We aren’t set free from the presence of sin yet, but we are set free from the power of sin in our lives as we will yield to the Holy Spirit of Jesus! God had promised The Messiah throughout the entirety of the scriptures, and Jesus was/is the fulfillment of all of those promises! Yet He wasn’t the promise that would save people “in” their sin, but “from” it!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus was coming “save his people from their sins” by paying the price for SIN; and through His atoning, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross He would give His Holy Spirit to dwell within HIS own. Jesus came to be “God with us”! He was and is the fulfillment of the New Covenant—the Spirit of God within us, far beyond tablets of stone.

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant

that I made with their fathers

in the day that I took them

by the hand

to bring them out of the land of Egypt;

which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant

that I will make with the house of Israel;

After those days, saith the LORD,

I will put my law

in their inward parts,

and write it

in their hearts;

and will be their God,

and they shall be my people.”    Jeremiah 31:31-33

Jesus death and resurrection accomplished the New Covenant, which paid the price for sin, and enabled the Holy Spirit of God to dwell within each believer. When we claim to belong to Jesus (and Him to us) yet still relish the sin that He saves from (without any discipline from God), we might want to check what we think saved us, for the blood of Jesus saves the sinner from their sin and makes us a new creation. Jesus revealed HIS ‘New Covenant’ to his disciples before He went to the cross.

“And he took bread,

and gave thanks,

and brake it,

and gave unto them, saying,

This is my body

which is given for you:

this do in remembrance of me. 

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying,

This cup

is the new testament

in my blood,

which is shed for you.”    Luke 22:19-20

The blood of Jesus IS the New Testament—not the 2nd portion of scripture– but the New Covenant that Jeremiah and Ezekiel promised! The New Covenant in the blood of Jesus, through repentance and faith, makes new creatures.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,

that if one died for all,

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves,

but unto him which died

for them,

and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

after the flesh:

yea, though we have known Christ

after the flesh,

yet now henceforth know we him

no more.

17 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 5:14-21

Ephesians 2 reminds us that what we ‘were’ we no longer ‘are’—we were “dead in trespasses and sins” but through he blood of Jesus we are now “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”!!! Changed lives are the testimony of a true and supernaturally regenerate life. Life that only Jesus can impart through His blood! Its evidence being our service in “good works” which ‘God’ has purposed for us—not to earn our salvation–but as the testimony of our being saved “from” our sin!!!

“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;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 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 2:1-10

Changed lives are a testimony that we really belong to Jesus! Has He changed your life? May we ever live and reflect HIS truth before a lost and desperate world! Amen!!!

Daring To Be Different??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 14

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Living Right, Made like Jesus!, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Will Be Done, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.14 Daring To Be Different???

 

My husband and I took a trip to be with my brother in his church yesterday, and we were listening to some music as we drove. One of the songs that played as we traveled really spoke to my heart and resonated with the truths of the word in my heart, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about it today. The song was “I’ll Dare To Be Different”, by the McKameys, and it struck a chord in my heart!

There is a time in my remembrance, when people who claimed the name of Jesus, people who were born again, were most often found to be different from the world. Sometimes they were different in their appearance, but you almost always saw a difference in their behavior before the world—in their character, in their speech, in their treatment of others and often in their habits and companions. But today, we have accepted a “Gospel” of ‘inclusion’—anyone can just use the name of Jesus to get a ticket to heaven, but there is no cost or demand of that person to repent of obvious sin or to “be conformed to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29)!

When God calls someone to Himself, He calls us to come “Just As I Am”, but He loves us too much to leave us there—in fact Jesus came to save us “from” our sin—never “in” our sin!

“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

We are called to follow Jesus, and that will always demand a change, because before we come to Jesus, we were going our own way—and that is never God’s way! In fact that is why repentance is essential—repentance is turning around, going a different way.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

That’s what sin is, missing God’s mark, going our own way, falling short of reflecting God’s glory—but sin has a high price! Apart from the blood of Jesus—the only thing that cleanses us from sin—we can’t be saved from death.

“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 1:7-10

This is why Jesus said we can be salt and light—because we can’t “be” light unless the “light of the world” dwells in us! It is that “blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”, which enables us to live a holy life before the world as well as before God. But if we never face our sin, why would we ever need a Savior? Only when we recognize our sin and turn to Jesus will we be able to live a life that is transformed by that very “blood of Jesus Christ” to reflect His love and glory to a lost and dying world. Yet it is only in dying to “self” and living a life sacrificed to the will of our Lord that we can make a “Jesus” difference in this world. Compromise is cheap and easy, but standing fast in the “evil day” is a work that demands our all by the power of God.

It is Jesus Christ Himself — “the truth”– who saves, delivers, and changes the hearts and lives of lost sinners into ‘saints’! Yet transformation isn’t just putting a new coat of paint on an old barn—it’s a change of nature and character that only the sacrifice of Jesus—His blood– on the cross could accomplish and deliver! And it shows!!!

“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

Oh, that we could truly return to a place of true worship of God—and I’m not talking about music, but a life lived in devotion and obedience to the will of God each and every day. A life that “is” a song of the love of Jesus before the world in all we do—not just on one day a week! It ‘is’ a life lived as “a living sacrifice” unto the One who gave His life for me! What less could we give for the One who gave it all that we could have life and miss death and hell for all eternity—for all who will believe and follow HIM!

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

And if “all have sinned”, then all need a Savior, we all need someone to pay the debt that we can’t pay—and only Jesus has done that!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Only Jesus can deliver us from this penalty of sin, and just as the simple John 3:16 says, God loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to come and die for us, that we might have “eternal life”—starting now!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

Without Jesus, we can’t be truly different. Lots of people can be “different” for a time, or for a reason, or to impress others; but what’s inside will eventually come out! What’s inside of you/me? If it’s not Jesus, then Jesus won’t be seen in you/me! For without HIS Spirit within, we aren’t HIS! And without being “HIS”, we can’t do HIS work, for HIS kingdom! And HIS is the only Kingdom that is an eternal one! It’s all about HIM, not me, but He will work in us!

“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

So we arrive at the conclusion that being different isn’t an issue of ‘me’, but of ‘thee’! ‘Not my will, but thine be done’, is the mindset that we must embrace! It is the call that Paul gave to the Galatians, and it’s still the call that we must answer today!

“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

But what’s to be different about us? Is measured in terms of men or of God? Of course it’s God’s standard that we are to seek to meet—the standard of a heart right before God, not a dressed up ‘pig’, trying to win a county fair. We can wash, clean up, fluff up and parade the pig before the judges at the fair—we can even win first prize! But when we get that pig home, she’s going to head right for the mud! Why? Because she’s still a pig! And when we try cleaning up our own “act”—that is all that happens—an “act”! Jesus doesn’t just dress up “pigs”, He transforms lives—He makes us new in HIM! He puts His Spirit within all those whom HE saves—no Spirit=no Jesus!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10

Jesus brings that which was dead in sin, into new life.

“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

Because God loves us so much—He reaches out to those (all of us) who are dead in sin!!! We are under the penalty of death, and only Jesus can and will save us and give to all who come to Him, eternal life—new life IN Jesus—Jesus IN us!

So my question is, “Who am I living for?” Am I still living in sin, doing my own thing? From where do I get my strength? Am I depending on the ways of the world or the power of Jesus? When I’m in need, where do I go? Do I run to a wine bottle, a bottle of pills, food, sex, shopping, gratifying the flesh in some other way, running to and with the world? What is your “comfort-food”, so to speak? Do you have to be like the world to find your satisfaction, peace and/or gratification? When people look at us, do they see Jesus or something—anything—else? Are popular culture and fads more important to you and me than “holiness” before our God? Or are you drawing closer and closer to the King? Do you bask in His presence, or does thinking on spiritual things and the Word of God make you uncomfortable? In fact what does make you “UN”comfortable, the things of the world or the things of God? Ouch? Do I measure what goes into my heart and mind by the Word of God or the Neilson ratings? Do I listen to things, or watch things that are offensive or even blasphemous to my God? Does the world reign in my home or the One whose shed blood “cleanseth us from all sin”? It is an evil world around us, and we must be diligent to know God’s Word so we can order our steps according to its principles.

New or old? What life are you living? May we simply ponder the words of Paul, who dared to be “different”, to be “a new creature” in Jesus. It cost Paul a lot to follow Jesus, what price are you willing to pay? Or have you already decided that you don’t want to “stand out” or “Dare To Be Different”? Choose wisely—we are accountable to God!

“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 Amen and Amen!!!

Precious Or Vile??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #402

13 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #402       Precious Or Vile???

 

“Therefore thus saith the LORD,

If thou return,

then will I bring thee again,

and thou shalt stand before me:

and if thou take forth the precious

from the vile,

thou shalt be as my mouth:

let them return unto thee;

but return not thou unto them.”    Jeremiah 15:19

We are living in a time when God and His Word are being minimalized every day. As a culture, we have rejected God’s ways and replaced them with our own. We place no value on life or truth, and children are simply an inconvenience and an interruption to ‘self gratification’—both in the avoidance of conceiving children as well as a commitment to love, enjoy, grow and instruct them in biblical truth—passing the torch, if you would!

God has warned us that we must be aware of the draw and call of the world; that we must be diligent to ‘stand fast in the evil day’! God also warns us that we need to practice separation—not separation from being salt and light to a culture of corruption and darkness—but to be aware of the dangers of compromise with sin and becoming a part of the problem rather that offering the solution of The Cross! We need to be calling others out of danger, not walking into it ourselves:

“And of some have compassion,

making a difference:

23 And others save with fear,

pulling them out of the fire;

hating even the garment spotted

by the flesh.” Jude 1:22-23

Much like Jeremiah and Jude, Paul knew that we needed to be aware of our surroundings as well as those whom we choose to surround ourselves with! Often taken only as a caution of not marrying outside of the faith, Paul’s message to the Corinthians is also a general caution to “guard our hearts” by guarding our lives and our choices of our intimate companions. Here are two of his warnings, which we need to consider in all our ways!

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness,

and sin not;

for some have not the knowledge of God:

I speak this to your shame.”     1 Corinthians 15:33-34

 

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ

with Belial?

or what part hath he that believeth

with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God

with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said,

I will dwell in them,

and walk in them;

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”    2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Many accuse followers of Jesus of being “exclusivists” and in a way, that is what God calls us to be—not untouchable, arrogant or ‘holier than thou’ toward others; but a compassionate people of The Word who will call sinners out of the darkness into the light, (and we’re all sinners, we who follow Jesus are saved and redeemed sinners—being transformed by the blood of Jesus which “cleanseth us from all sin”!) leading them to the cross through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, as well as a life lived in communion and obedience to Him and His Word! We can only do that when we know what God’s Word says!

“These six things doth the LORD hate:

yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked

imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies,

and he that soweth discord among brethren.”    Proverbs 6:16-19

Kind of sounds like the front page of the news doesn’t it? So how are we walking? Are we walking humbly before God and men, speaking truth, caring for the innocent, pursuing good activities and goals, avoiding fruitless mischief, not acting in jealousy and causing harm by false accusations, and also spreading peace rather than discord? Wow, what a list!!! We must continually determine to “think on these things” rather than that which “God hates”! Simple but not easy!

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.”    Philippians 4:8-9

Amen and Amen. And may “the God of peace…..be with you” as we each pursue holiness and God’s ways rather than the haughtiness of the world’s pride! May we ever “take forth the precious from the vile”!