Category Archives: The Only Way

Counterfeit Faith??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #505

02 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Faith, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Seeing Truth, SIN, Spiritual Warfare, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #505      Counterfeit Faith???

 

We’ve talked recently about ‘people of faith’, and I’d like to take a bit of a turn today. I’ve been seeing a lot of billboards, ads and social media input lately that I want to call our attention to because genuine believers are often gullible and naïve when it comes to what we hear and see, especially when it claims to be from “people of faith”. What I want to call us to consider today is ‘the counterfeit’: just because it “walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and even have feathers like a duck”, it may not really be a “duck”! Just like Jesus reminded us, not every thing that says, “baa baa” is a real “sheep”!

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you

in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:15

Counterfeit sheep–Jesus warned us that we must beware of whom we listen to, trust, and believe—especially in regard to faith. The issue with “people of faith” is that some claim one thing but have an agenda that is 180 degrees opposite of what they are ‘selling’ (or giving away!) and their real goal is to lead people away from biblical, authentic, and righteous ‘faith’ in the ‘blood of Jesus Christ…..that cleanseth us from all sin’!

We need to be careful and always aware that there are a lot of claims floating around from so-called ‘people of faith’ who are pushing a ‘faith’ in a ‘gospel’ that is totally foreign to the biblical Gospel that calls sin sin, and calls people to repentance and faith in Jesus alone, as the Only Way to God–the only way to be saved from sin, and its penalty (death and hell) to live a pure and holy life before God and man. These counterfeit ‘people of faith’ promote (in Jesus name) everything from abortion and sexual immorality to a debauched life and almost anything that is the opposite of a holy, righteous lifestyle conformed to biblical standards! Scripture calls us to examine things before we jump into them, for not every ‘spirit’ that speaks to our hearts and minds is from GOD!

“Beloved,

believe not every spirit,

but try the spirits

whether they are of God:

because many false prophets

are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 

Just because something sounds ‘good’ on the surface, we need to ‘dig a little deeper’ into the source, whether it’s a sign on a billboard, or a cute ‘meme’, or an invitation to something ‘new’ and/or life changing! We must recognize that Satan is extremely busy these days, and we must inform ourselves of the things we encounter, always being ‘ware’ before we join or support anything or anyone who claims to present some new “ministry”. Checking out the “facts” before we contribute our time, money and energy into something that may turn out to be diametrically opposed to the very Savior whom we love and want to serve.

It’s important to know The Word, so that we can recognize the false when it comes along—and my friends, it is coming along in boatloads today—on TV, radio, books, newspapers, billboards and of course on social media. We must be sure we are trying every ‘spirit’ to see if it is “of God”, for not everyone is speaking (or writing) truth!

“For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers,

transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel;

for Satan himself

is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing

if his ministers also be transformed

as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end

shall be according to their works.”    2 Corinthians 11:13-15

I don’t mean to belabor the point, but we must, we simply must know truth to “…withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand…” (See Ephesians 6:10-19) We must keep God’s Word before us and examine the things we see and hear before we buy into what may be lies—as the old adage sums up so aptly, “look before you leap” (or believe, or follow or give!)!

“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

We must “try the spirits” that call to us every day and examine them in light of The Word, not the by the “cutesy”, eye-catching pictures, ads and slogans that they are using to mislead people—even genuine people of faith. We need to take special care as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are coming, beware of who you give your money to—you can check them out online to see how much of their ‘donations’ go to the people or causes they claim to be collecting to support and relieve—you might be surprised. I’ll simply leave you with the words of Jesus:

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore

wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”   Matthew 10:16

Amen and Amen!

 

 

Trendy Or Truth??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #494

26 Wednesday Sep 2018

Posted by in Follow Jesus, SIN, The Only Way, Trendy Or Truth, Trials, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #494  Trendy Or Truth???

 

“And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free…….

34 Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not

in the house for ever:

but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free

indeed.” John 8:32 & 34-36

This is a portion of the discourse that Jesus had with some of the religious leaders as well as some who believed in Him. It is one of my favorite chapters in John (Along with so many others—John is such an amazing book!). If you read it through, you’ll find that it is a great turning point in the ministry of our Lord Jesus, as He clearly delineates the difference between popular opinion and truth, and Jesus IS truth—in His person, His nature and His words—whether we believe and accept Him or not!

We live in a world that is much more concerned with “trendy” than with “truth”—and my friends we must be on our guard all the time for the lies that abound around us. Jesus clearly tells us that if we “shall know the truth”, and remember HE IS the truth (See John 1:1-14, and John 14:6), that He/Truth “shall make you free”! He didn’t say that we would be “set” free, but that He would “make” us free—in fact, in the change of our heart and relationship with God, that will be seen in our actions and reactions toward the things around us. He even goes on to repeat this principle in verse 36:

“If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free

indeed.”

When Jesus makes us His child (by being born again of His Spirit, See John 3:1-21) we are endued with His Spirit and His power to recognize, resist and reject sin—and while we can’t escape it’s presence, we can overcome its power through the power of His Holy Spirit. Paul gives us a great picture of this in Romans chapter 8, and we’ll peruse some portions of this letter. (Take some time and read the entire chapter for yourself for an amazing blessing!)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit

of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit

of bondage

again to fear;

but ye have received the Spirit

of adoption,

whereby we cry,

Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory which shall be

revealed in us.

……21 Because the creature itself

also shall be delivered

from the bondage of corruption

into the glorious liberty

of the children of God.”  Portions of Romans 8:14-21

Trendy says if you know Jesus and have enough faith you won’t suffer, you won’t be sick, you won’t have financial needs, your won’t be persecuted for your faith—Truth says:

“the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed

in us”

Jesus Himself gave us the truth that “the servant is not greater than his lord”! (See John 13:16)

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you

out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things

will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him that sent me.”   John 15:17-21

Jesus reminds us that when we are His, we will experience the same rejection and ridicule that He did, because the world “hates” the things of God—including Jesus and His truth! So we must choose whose praise we are longing for and pursuing. If you want the world’s praise, then simply do the “trendy” new thing that the world promotes; but if we want the praise and approval of God we must live our lives pursuing holiness and truth in the power and provision of our Lord Jesus Christ—HE IS TRUTH!

We must take up our cross and follow Jesus wherever He directs our steps, regardless of the response or consequence. May we ever seek the rewards of heaven rather than the popular trends of the world!

“Lay not up for yourselves

treasures upon earth,

where moth

and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through

and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”   Matthew 6:19-21

Where’s your heart? Fixed on the “trendy” or the “truth”?

Who’s On First??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 05

16 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Follow Jesus, Free Indeed?, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love, The Only Way, The Word, Who's On First?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 05 Who’s On First???

 

I’m sorry for the lengthy absence, but I’ve had some health issues and just haven’t been up to par, and certainly not up to writing anything that could make any sense. But I am feeling better and we’ll see what we can come up with today; hopefully something that will speak to each of us and draw us near to the presence of our Lord! I’ve been looking at Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus and His call to us to maintain our relationship with Him—a love relationship that keeps Him in the first place in our hearts.

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;

These things saith he

that holdeth the seven stars

in his right hand,

who walketh in the midst

of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works,

and thy labour,

and thy patience,

and how thou canst not bear them

which are evil:

and thou hast tried them which

say they are apostles,

and are not,

and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne,

and hast patience,

and for my name’s sake hast laboured,

and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat

against thee,

because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore

from whence thou art fallen,

and repent,

and do the first works;

or else I will come unto thee quickly,

and will remove thy candlestick

out of his place,

except thou repent.”  Revelation 2:1-5

This first of the seven letters that Jesus had John send to seven specific churches in Asia (The Asia of biblical times), and its message is sometimes elusive, but we are going to dig in and try to see what it has to say to us today.

First of all, let’s consider a bit of context to help us understand the message from our Lord Jesus; there are some uniform things in each of the seven letters: how Jesus describes Himself uniquely to each church (You’ll find these descriptions are also in chapter 1)—how He commends and/or reproves each church—how He knows exactly who ‘we’ are and where ‘we’ are (all the time and at any given moment in each of our lives)—how he has an answer for each situation, whether good or bad—how He also holds us accountable for our choices and responses to HIM. We must recognize His call to, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”, reminding us that we are to hear, receive and respond to “what the Spirit saith unto the churches”! The same message that Paul gave to the church at Galatia:

“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

The gift of the Holy Spirit IS the New Covenant into which we come when we are born again—born “of the Spirit”!

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man, but

of God.” John 1:12-13

“That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.” John 3:6-7

When we are born of The Spirit, we are to hear and heed His voice, the work and the direction of God’s Holy Spirit within us! It’s HIS Spirit that enables and empowers us to yield our lives to HIM!

But back to the message to the church at Ephesus; what does Jesus mean when He calls the church to “Remember ….repent…..and redo” the works they did at the first, to do them in view of their love relationship not just the “doing” of works, but “being” in love with Jesus and being yielded to His love and His Spirit’s work ‘in’ and ‘through’ us! When you go back and read Jesus’ commendation to this church, it wasn’t “not” working, but it also wasn’t ardently in love with her Savior. It’s HIS love ‘in us’ that makes us who we “are/be”—we must “be” in love with Him, before we can “do” that which will totally glorify HIM!

“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.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.” Romans 5:5-11

We must remember that it’s God’s love that works in us—not the ‘love’ that is of the flesh—but it’s all about Jesus! And when we remember what He has done for us, is doing in and through our lives, as well as what HE is going to bring us to—HIS heavenly glory—how can we but lavish our love and devotion on HIM through all we do.

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

When I think of loving God first, my mind often goes to Job and his devotion to The Lord God Almighty he loved despite his circumstances and his so-called friends. When we love God and place our total trust in Him, we can walk in confidence resting in HIS love and power!!!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”     Job 13:15

When we love Him first and foremost, we can be confident that our “lampstand” will stay where God put it and not be removed due to our careless disregard of our love relationship with HIM. Oh to join with Job and declare our love and confidence in our soon coming KING! (And remember, Job’s confidence was before the cross!!! WOW!!!) I know that I know that I know!!! How about you?

“For I know

that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh

shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold, and not another;

though my reins be consumed within me.”  Job 19:25-27

Amen & Amen

Is Truth Still True??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #488

29 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Seeing Truth, SIN, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Transformed life, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #488 Is Truth Still True???

 

“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!”   Isaiah 5:20-21 

Sometimes (in fact much of the time) I hear and see things going on around us—things that touch and affect the hearts and lives of those we care about, and we often wonder “why” are ‘things’ this way. This passage in Isaiah often comes to mind as I ponder the situation that we seem to find ourselves in. How did we get here? How did those that we care about get where they are? I think God gives us the answer to those questions?

We live in a culture that has willfully, if foolishly, chosen to walk in a way (as well as away—pun intended) that has abandoned the moorings to God and The Gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a culture that has changed what it means to be a believer in Jesus—a Christian, if you would—to something most foreign, in my mind, to biblical Christianity. We have made our own ways, and are now reaping the consequences of going “that way”, rather than the way of The Holy God, who gave us His Holy Word to follow, even with all of His warnings of the consequences of walking “away” from Him, His Son and His Word!

“There is a way that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”   Proverbs 16:25

We have failed to acknowledge the truth and are now reaping the consequences of our choices—of believing the lies of the enemy that we are “entitled” to do our own thing, our own way. There is an old (really old) country song that offended me when it was new and still offends me to this day, but a song that clearly describes the cultural direction that we have chosen; “Me And Jesus” was written by Tom T. Hall, and basically summed up what most people are living today, “Me and Jesus got our own thing going!” Well, I’ll have to beg the pardon of Mr. Hall—Jesus has the only “saving thing” going, and it’s found at the cross—and only at the cross. A cross where we come face to face with our sin, repent in faith, trusting to the cleansing power of Jesus substitutionary (He took my place), atoning (He paid the price of my sin-death), sacrifice (His blood was given for me)!

Scripture clearly tells us that:

“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 

Paul clearly told the Romans what this “new” life looks like and it’s not “our own thing going”—but it’s me going “HIS” way and doing “God’s Work”! (See John 4:34)

“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

I am to be a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”, and that my friends doesn’t match the world’s definition of Christianity. Let me mention a few things that have changed, in my humble opinion. We have professing Christian parents and grandparents, (and well-meaning friends) justifying their children’s immoral behavior—funding their illicit behavior, allowing their children to live in sin under their own roof (my momma would have called that ‘shacking up’—it’s not marriage, but adultery for the young or old!). We enable these young ones to continue in their sin—enabling their rebellion against God, never holding them accountable for the consequences of their own choices, often intervening to pay those consequences for them—teaching them what? Teaching them that “SIN” is ok as long as you go to church, pay, or ‘pray’ or impress others! In other words if you have children who have no means of support, and you are enabling them to live immorally, whether it’s in a sexual relationship, smoking, drinking, drugs or anything else that requires money and you provide that money for them—YOU are a part of the problem NOT the solution. And forbid it be, that you allow them to spend time in a jail or other facility for their just crimes!

God has called us to live holy lives, and to impart that holy living to our own offspring—to call them to a higher standard than that of the world. Instead we lower the standard at every turn, so as not to “loose” our children—well, my friend, if you’re not leading them to Jesus for salvation, and the Word of God for the standard of living, your have already lost them, with very little hope of them finding the truth that saves! We must wake up and turn this tide before our entire culture falls to anarchy!!! Look around my dear ones—we are watching our culture fall now, and very few are sounding the alarm. I pray that this message has offered no offense, for there is none intended from my heart, but rather a heartfelt burden for we who claim the name of Jesus to wake up and turn back to The Word of God for our standard not the world’s movies, music, books and anything that brings immorality into our homes and our hearts! May we repent, wake-up and see the signs around us, and make a difference in the lives of those God has placed in our circle of influence. Please, I beg of you—let’s make a difference while we can?

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree;

When his branch is yet tender,

and putteth forth leaves,

ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye,

when ye shall see all these things,

know that it is near,

even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but my words shall not pass away.”   Matthew 24:32-35

Amen and Amen!!! Praying for YOU!!! The time is NEAR!!! Join me in asking God to “deliver us from evil”!!!

Not I But HIM!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #483

10 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, Humility, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Seeing Truth, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Trust God, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Heart?, What's In Your Mouth?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #483 Not I But HIM!!!

 

“But God forbid that I should glory,

save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world is crucified

unto me,

and I

unto the world.”   Galatians 6:14

We talked last time about “surveyors”—keeping our eyes on Jesus—the prize that Paul referred to in his letter to the Philippians.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 3:14 

Oh that we could understand the import of walking with Jesus—totally pressing toward HIS “mark”—totally desiring the “prize”, which is Jesus Himself. Oh, if we could stop being satisfied with that which is fleeting and pursue that which is eternal. It’s what Jesus expects us to do!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures

upon earth,

where moth

and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

break through

and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures

in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”     Matthew 6:19-21

So my simple question for today is, “Where is your treasure?” Have we bought into the modern cultural idea that “I” am the treasure and the world revolves around me? Or have we recognized the truth that only Jesus can satisfy the soul, the heart and the fulness of who God created us to be? ONLY JESUS! And He cares for us—HE gave Himself that we might have “abundant life” IN Him!

“Fear thou not;

for I am with thee:

be not dismayed;

for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee;

yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee

with the right hand of my righteousness.”    Isaiah 41:10

He will uphold me because I am HIS own, but I must remember something too:

“What? know ye not

that your body

is the temple

of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”   1 Corinthians 6:19-20

There’s an old song by George W. Robinson, called ‘I Am His, And He Is Mine‘, and the last line of each verse says, “I am His and He is mine”! Oh that we could remember that as we go through each day, “ye are not your own….. ye are bought with a price…… therefore glorify God”! I fear that we live in a world that would rather sing:

“To ‘me’ be the glory—

  Great things ‘I’ have done—

  So love ‘I’ myself that God calls me ‘sun’—

All this because ‘I’ believe that–

 ‘I’ am the center of the universe

To ‘Me’! (and everyone else)”

A sad commentary that grabbed my heart just this morning as I was pondering what to share with you today, may we look up and pursue our Lord not self-aggrandizement! (Look it up!)

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise thee,

and not thine own mouth;

a stranger,

and not thine own lips.” Proverbs 27:1-2

All I can say to that is, Amen and Amen!!!