Bible Ballistics: BBs #163 Remember Those Who Gave!!!

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

Jesus laid down His life for us!!! That is an historical fact, and I praise God for the salvation He has given to us through the willing offering of the blood of His Lamb on the cross at Calvary. Why would Jesus do that for sinners like us? HE gave because HE loves us. HE loved us then, HE loves us now, and HE also calls us to love one another.

How? By the truth and power of God’s love which is given to us at salvation—not  the world’s ‘love’—but the “love of God”.

That ‘agape’ love: unconditional love, that which always does what is the best for the recipient. And we can only do that when the “love OF God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost”!!!

Romans 5:5-8, “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.”

And we are compelled to share what we have received—the gospel of Jesus Christ– with those around us. But remember, we can only share that which we possess:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

As the popular proverb says: “all gave some, some gave all”, we know that Jesus gave all for us. And when we receive the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives, we are then compelled to “give all” for Him by serving others.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (purchased with the blood of the Lamb!!!)

It’s not always easy,

in fact, it’s seldom easy.

It’s not always convenient,

in fact, it’s seldom convenient.

It’s not always without cost,

in fact, it almost always costs us something

to ‘give all’ to Jesus

through service to others.

I am so grateful for the men and women who have given themselves to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that it reached me!!! I am also grateful for those men and women who have given all to purchase our American liberties and the liberties of millions around the world. May we ever carry the torch of truth—God’s truth?

“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.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Simply put,

“And as ye would that men should do to you,

do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31

May we remember the sacrifice of others and:

“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

 

Bible Ballistics: What Crop Are You Expecting??? Vol. 6#02

Many in our area of the country are connected with agriculture in one way or another. There are farmers who plant crops-corn, wheat, sorghum, and other grains for human and animal consumption, as well as those who raise livestock of varying kinds. There are also some who plant produce for direct human consumption—tomatoes, beans, squash and other fruits and vegetables. Agriculture has a simple principle that every farmer or rancher follows, and that is simply, ‘what you put in, you get out’. Or in Biblical terms:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Sow a lot and you generally reap an abundant crop. If you are stingy with the seed, then you’ll receive a much smaller harvest. This is a true spiritual principle as well. Our choices can be the seeds we sow, yet God’s principles of the harvest hold true:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”  Galatians 6:7-8

In other words, ‘junk in, junk out’. You only get out of something what is in it. Sometimes it’s what we’ve put into something that we get out, and sometimes what is already within something will naturally come out. If you squeeze a lemon you expect to get ‘lemon’ juice out of it, but if the lemon has dried up or is bad you won’t get anything of value out of it. Scripture teaches us that what is ‘inside’ will come out. This is an oft-ignored principle and idea within our culture, even in Christian circles. We want to go our own way and yet retain the blessings of God. We want to ‘claim the name of Jesus’, while we ‘live like the devil’!!!

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:17-20

Our words and our actions reveal what is in our heart. What do my actions say to the world about me? About You? Are we choosing wrong and still expecting ‘right’ results? It will never work out that way!!! Let’s look a little closer at the message from Galatians 6:7-8:

 “Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

 that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

We have the God-given right to choose in this life, but we cannot separate our choices from the consequences that will be produced. Scripture makes clear that we cannot circumvent God and His sovereign rule over this world. God has established His principle of ‘choices and consequences’, which simply put, says that we are free to choose but we are NOT free to set or choose our own consequences. Scripture is replete with references to choosing well, with the consequences in mind:

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19

And my favorite of all, from Joshua, as he gave his people a powerful challenge, and the call is as profound to us today as it was those thousands of years ago. Let’s consider the verses as we did above:

“ Now therefore fear the Lord,

  and serve him

in sincerity

and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the Lord.

15 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 24:14-15

Joshua made it clear that we have a choice, just as we saw in Galatians 6:7-8. We are free to choose but choices bring consequences.

So to make a long story short (which I seldom do!!!) we must choose wisely. What choices are you making today? Are you thinking ahead to the consequences? Are you trusting God to lead and direct your steps? He will!!! What do your actions reveal about your heart? What are you trusting in? Who or what are you following? Let’s look at Proverbs 3:5-8, as we sum up our time together.

“Trust in the Lord (how)

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

(and the consequences???)

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the Lord,

and depart from evil.

(and the consequences???)

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  (God’s direction & supply in our lives!)

Who are you choosing to serve? Your actions will reveal your choices. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve”! With Joshua, I’ll trust my ‘consequences’ to the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ as I serve and obey HIM!!!

“as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #162 The Peace Of God???

Praise God for His peace, which sustains our souls in days of trail and difficulty. While we missed the last post due to Internet problems from all the storms going on in Oklahoma lately, storms come and go in many areas of life—natural, emotional, spiritual and physical. Let’s spend some time today finding out what God has to say to us about having His peace in the midst of every storm!!! Jesus tells us that His precious Holy Spirit will bring peace, comprehension, confidence (in God’s sovereign work), and recall of God’s Word (which we have put into our hearts and minds), which will generate the peace of God.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27

Note that Jesus tells us that we don’t receive the “peace” that the world gives—not lackadaisical attitudes toward the things around us, not an attitude of compromise and ‘going along, to get along’, not even an attitude of complacency or unconcern over the evil about us; but Jesus tells us that when we are walking with Him, HE will bring peace in the midst of the chaos about us. Peace ‘in the midst of the storm’, not peace ‘from’ it. Philippians also reveals more principles of God’s peace with us:

“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.

(and my part is )

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.

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 4:6-9

When we walk in the peace of God’s Spirit, others won’t always understand. Why? Because, the “peace of God” is beyond the understanding of the world. It’s not the peace that the “world giveth”, but the peace of God that will “keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

It’s all about Jesus.

It’s all about God’s presence,

power,

and protection

as well as His peace

that will rule in our hearts,

when we yield ourselves to HIM.

So??? Here’s our shot for today. We trust and follow God, knowing that His Peace “passeth all understanding”. And we can learn from God’s recipe for HIS work and peace in our lives.

No matter the conflict,

no matter the controversy,

no matter the crises,

no matter the heartache—

God’s peace is ours, “through Christ Jesus”!!!

“And above all these things

put on charity, (love)

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another

in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts

to the Lord.” Colossians 3:14-16

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2a

Keep your eyes on Jesus—

not the lions circling around your feet!!!

There will be no BBs today due to internet problems. But I would share the verse that is on my heart. Psalm 126:4-5

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalms 126:5-6 KJV)

Bible Ballistics: What Righteousness??? Vol. 6 #01

Matthew 5:18-20, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven? How can we do that? By keeping the ‘Law’? Or is this is a higher call, a call to total ‘righteousness’–God’s righteousness, not man’s. Jesus goes on in this discourse:

Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

We are called to be ‘righteous’ but God also calls us to “be….perfect”. Impossible, you say? Yes and no!!! Can we be ‘perfect’ on our own? No way!!! Then how? How can we be more righteous than the Pharisees? How can we be ‘perfect’ before God? Let’s continue on and find the answer to these questions.

John 4:20-26, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

Jesus declares to the ‘Samaritan’ woman that true worship is ‘in spirit and in truth’? But what does that mean? Simply put, “JESUS”, is what that means—the great ‘I AM’ come to dwell among us! Unless we worship through the ‘Son’, and the Holy Spirit that is given to those who believe/trust in Jesus, we cannot worship God acceptably! Jesus declares Himself to be truth in John 14:6, and He also promised in that same chapter to send HIS Spirit, the comforter/Holy Spirit, to be with us after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Jesus was, is, and always will be the only way to see God, to know God and to worship God. He is the fulfillment of all Scripture—of all that God promised in His Word! He brought salvation by grace, and as John says in the passage below, Moses gave the Law (which pointed to Jesus) but Jesus brings (IS) grace and truth.

John 1:10-18, “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. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the “Law”. When we are ‘born again’ into Jesus Christ He makes us alive unto God (See Romans 6:11-13). But this cost the greatest price in all of creation—the death of our Lord Jesus Christ–The promised Messiah–The Lamb of God–The deliverer—The Son of God!!!   And when this was done He made the greatest cry and proclamation in all of time and eternity—“IT IS FINISHED”!!!

John 19:28-30, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” All done so that we could become God’s children.

Why this way? To satisfy the Holiness of God, to satisfy the ‘Righteousness’ of God, who could not tolerate sin. Jesus fulfilled the ‘Righteous’ Requirements of God’s Law—not just the Law of Moses—but also the Law of God’s perfect holiness, perfect justice, perfect righteousness. And because of HIS perfect love for us, God gave “His only begotten Son” to be lifted up and die for ME!!! To die for YOU!!! God’s love is amazing and unconditional, He so ‘loved the world’, that He gave Jesus. While His love is unconditional, His forgiveness and salvation are totally conditional upon our repentance toward our own sin, and faith in this atonement that Jesus Christ bought at Calvary! Nothing else would do. Only a ‘perfect’ sacrifice would do! And only Jesus, come in the flesh could be that perfect sacrifice for us. Remember, God didn’t need a sacrifice, He could have just sent us all to hell—the just dues for our own sinful lives!!! But praise God that He ‘so loved the world, that He gave….’!!!

When God delivers us from sin, and when we are truly saved by God’s grace and re-birthing power, then we are delivered from not only the eternal penalty of sin, but also the very power of sin, we have new life because we are ‘born again’ in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, “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.” The answer to our “how” questions regarding being ‘perfect’ and totally ‘righteous’!!! It’s “in him”, I repeat it’s “in him”!!!

Not by the ‘Law’ of Moses but by the “Law of God” that paid for our sin! The law of just recompense and reward. The justice that sin requires death (see Ro. 3:23 & 6:23), and only Jesus’ payment of that debt brings deliverance–not because HE owed it, but because I couldn’t pay it—which fulfills God’s demand for perfect justice! Jesus was and is the ONLY ‘perfect’ sacrifice, and the only way that I can receive the ‘perfection’ through His payment applied to my sin debt. Not because I deserve it, earn it or work for it, but because Jesus has already done it all and I simply (but not easily) must believe and trust in HIM for my salvation. To acknowledge and see my sin as a total affront to God; to repent of that willful, selfish, greedy sin that controls my life, and turn to Jesus in faith, believing that God can and will change me into the ‘image of His Son’ (Ro 8:28-29). And He promises to equip us to live this ‘new birth’ life!

John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

He places His Spirit within us to accomplish HIS work in us. The “new covenant”, as promised in Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Jer. 31:31+ and Ezk. 11:19 & 36:26), gives us the ability to walk in that ‘spirit and truth’ which Jesus revealed to the woman at the well. The promise that He spoke of in Acts 1:4-5,

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

And because God always keeps His promises, we can now ‘walk in the Spirit’ and obey God from our hearts not from tablets of stone.

Galatians 5:16,25, “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.”

Have you come to Jesus? Have you bowed your knee before the King of Kings who died for you? If not, won’t you call on Him today in repentance and brokenness for your own sin, and bow before His throne, and receive the life-transforming work of salvation? Not a flippant, presumptuous formula of ‘name it and claim it’, but a true realization of the vileness of my sin before a Holy God, with sorrow and gratitude for what He did at Calvary. He is standing and waiting for YOU today.

If you know Him, won’t you commit anew to yield yourself to HIS Spirit and live what you claim to posses? You can claim a lot of things, but God knows the truth, and just ‘saying so won’t make it so’!!! Only Jesus—“the way…the truth…the life…” can make it so for YOU and ME!!!

2 Timothy 2:19, “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.”

If you’ve claimed His Righteousness for your own through the blood of Jesus—then live it—every day!!!