Bible Ballistics: He Shall Prosper? Really?? Vol. 5 #23

Psalm 1:3, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

There’s a lot of teaching and preaching these days about “prosperity”—God wants you to have it “all”. Teaching that declares that we are “kings” and that means God will give us anything that we want, anything that we “claim with positive confession”, anything that we “believe for”—well scripture paints a different picture. Let’s take a look at scripture and reality, God’s reality. The reality of “bringing forth fruit” IN “His season”—not mine. As Jesus told his disciple in John 4:34:

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Jesus prospered, but not like many are thinking today. The verse from Psalm 1 says, “and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”. Well, what does that really mean? Just as importantly, what does it NOT mean? God’s definition of prosperity is not like ours. God judges righteous judgment. Job defended his righteousness before men, and he was by God’s own testimony a man unparalleled in the earth, a perfect (mature, complete) and upright man in his doings, and one that feared God and hated evil!!! Yet God saw fit in His sovereignty and foreknowledge to allow Job to be tested.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Job 1:8

Even Job’s ‘so-called’ good friends insisted that Job’s situation proved that he had sinned or he would be in ‘prosperity’ at the very time he was in distress!

Job 8:6, “If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.”

I’ve often said that Bildad was the first “prosperity” preacher in history. He has directly, of his own wisdom and presumption, declared to Job that he is NOT pure and upright, or else God would prosper him!!! Yet God has already declared that Job was upright (or righteous). What you see isn’t always what you think you see. Let God and His Word say what it says, and don’t presume on God, His Word or His will !!!

God is God and we who claim to know Him, should let Him be so. The whole idea that we are ‘entitled’ to dictate to God the when, where, what and how of our own lives and circumstances, flies in the face of scripture. Let’s begin with a simple example that everyone knows:

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:9-11

Jesus gives us a ‘prototype’, if you would, of our prayer life and where our desires should take root:

“Our Father”—we are to honor our ‘Father’ and seek to please HIM, not ourselves.

“Hallowed by thy name”—reverence, awe and submission are the order of the day NOT demands.

“Thy kingdom come”—His ruler-ship NOT mine!

“Thy will be done”—Again His will NOT mine!

“in earth, as it is in heaven”—NOT my will on earth stamper approved in heaven, but His will from heaven accomplished in me, as I yield to His Spirit!

“Give us this day our daily bread”—NOT give me all I want to consume upon my own lust, but daily depending on God’s provision.

In fact James has something to say about that very thing, and a very apropos warning to our culture—this is written to believers:

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  Ja:1-4

So, my friends, what are you desiring for yourself, God’s will or your own? Do you trust God and His sovereign will to care for you? Do you trust Him to send His rain upon the just and the unjust? As Elihu spoke to Job.

“By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” Job 37:10-13

Are you so wise as to know what God’s eternal purposes are? This righteous man Job didn’t know God’s purposes but he came to understand the total sovereign will, provision and trustworthiness of his God. Do you know that God may be working some great and wondrous purpose through your suffering or the suffering of someone you love? He may be working for “correction, or for his land, or for mercy”!!! As the popular refrain of the day says, “let it go”!! Let God be God and trust HIM!!!

Proverbs 3:5-8,

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;

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

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the Lord,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.” 

He will provide in His way, His time and for His glory and your good!!! Just trust HIM and don’t presume on His grace or His sovereignty!

Consider for a moment with me a few folks who seem to fly in the face of the ‘prosperity’ teachers and preachers:

Dietrich Bonheoffer: A powerful man of God with an amazing grasp of God, His Word and His dependability. Slain in his prime. But what a powerful testimony he ignited in his martyrdom. He gave Himself totally to God! He didn’t prosper materially, He died—but he died trusting God!!

Joni Eareckson Tada: A quadriplegic who prayed for healing but instead was given a very powerful platform to reach disabled people for Jesus, and bring attention to the needs of people across the globe. A platform she probably wouldn’t’ have had in healing. But she trusts God to this day and has affected countless thousands of lives, with her testimony, her writing, singing, painting and advocacy for the disabled.

Jim Elliott: A young man totally committed to righteousness, devotion to God and missions. His life snuffed out by the very people he had gone to share the gospel with.  He died trusting his God!  A useless waste, right? No, not at all. His death and the deaths of his friends sparked a revival across America and the world, which encouraged countless numbers of young people to surrender to God’s call to missions. A mighty work resulted because these men and their families trusted God even in death. A mistake? I don’t think so.

So in conclusion today, what or who are you serving? Prosperity? Worldly success? Fame?   Recognition for your accomplishments—whether for God or man? Yourself and your dreams, goals and desires? Or have you completely humbled yourself before the Lord and sought His will, direction and purpose for your life and perhaps the life of you family? I leave you with one of my favorite passages in all of scripture:

 Philippians 2:5-13:

“ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved,

     as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will

and to do of his good pleasure.”

Won’t you humble yourself and trust it all to HIM? Today?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #151 Only ONE WAY???

I just have a simple word today. Just because a “preacher”, or a “famous person”, or for that matter, when “anyone” says something they claim that Jesus and the Bible says, teaches or proclaims—it doesn’t make it necessarily so. It may sound cute, or nice or tickle the ears of the hearers, but you better be sure it’s the truth.

Yes, Jesus loves the world. Yes, Jesus died for the deliverance of all. God’s love is totally unconditional, but His forgiveness that cleanses and saves IS NOT!!! Salvation and forgiveness are conditional—conditioned on repentance and faith in the saving, atoning, substitutionary blood of Jesus. It doesn’t matter what your sin is—if keeping your sin is what you want to do, God will allow you to keep it. But you can’t hold on to your way and receive God at the same time. Here are a few scriptures– you check them out for yourself.

Luke 13:2-5, “And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Simple—repent or perish.

Paul, speaking of Jesus and salvation,

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:13-14. Redemption and forgiveness are only found in the blood of Jesus!

Jesus tells us again in John that it’s His way or no way:

“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:23-24  Believe in His saving blood to save you from you sin!!!

And in conclusion:

“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

FROM SIN!!! It is sin that separates us from God—Jesus came to deliver us FROM THE SIN THAT DESTROYS.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:1-3

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 ALL HAVE SINNED! That’s ALL! Any sin! Every sin!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23  Lord meaning the one before whom you bow!

Sin destroys!!! Cling to your sin and die. OR let go of your sin, repent and receive life in JESUS!!

“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 1:10-13

Born again of God, NOT man and his sweet-sounding lies.

As Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…….Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Portions of John 3:3 & 5

So??? May you look to Jesus today to save YOU FROM YOUR SIN? Repent of your sin and open your heart to believe in Jesus death, burial and resurrection for your SIN, and be saved today. He loves you and so do I—enough to tell you the truth even if it hurts or offends.

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #150 Why Do You Want Heaven???

Portions of Revelation 4 and 7, “…behold,

a throne was set in heaven,

and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald…..

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings…….

and they rest not day and night,

saying, Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

which was,

and is,

and is to come……

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever…..

10 The four and twenty elders fall down

before him that sat on the throne,

and worship him

that liveth for ever and ever,

and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory

and honour

and power:

for thou hast created all things, and

for thy pleasure

they are

and were created.”

7:15, ”Therefore are they before the throne of God,                     

and serve him day and night in his temple:

and he that sitteth on the throne

shall dwell among them.”

It’s a lengthy passage, but one that declares that in Heaven, GOD is GOD. Not only is He God but He is acknowledged as such, He is praised and honored and worshipped as such CONTINUALLY! He is served willingly, lovingly and CONTINUALLY!

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Why would you want to go to heaven?

You don’t acknowledge God’s authority NOW!

You don’t want to spend time with God NOW!

You don’t want to hear God NOW!

You don’t want to obey God NOW!

You don’t want to read God’s Word NOW!

You don’t care about pleasing Him NOW!

You don’t bow before Him NOW!

You don’t serve Him NOW!

You don’t submit to His power NOW!

You don’t give or bring Him glory, or honor NOW!

So??? Why would you want to go to heaven where that’s all we will do day and night—

acknowledge,

spend time with,

hear and obey,

know the reality of His Word,

care about what pleases Him,

bow before Him,

submit and serve Him,

and bring Him glory and honor forever.

I want to GO!!!  Won’t you bow before Him now?

 

Bible Ballistics: Are You Resurrected???    Vol. 5 #22

As we are in the mind of celebration that Christ Jesus was raised from the dead on the First Day of the Week, I’d like to call us to consider our own ‘resurrection’. How you might ask? Well, only in being “resurrected” with Christ can we have eternal life with Him—after sharing His crucifixion.

“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: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:4-12

Well said. When we die to self in repentance and faith, we receive new life in Christ Jesus—that eternal life that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about in John 3. Have you found this life of Jesus!!! (See John 3:1-21)

Only one way to God—

to life—

to eternal life—

to eternity with God!!!

The power of God can be within us, if Jesus lives within us. It is the New Covenant promised by God, and accomplished by Jesus at Calvary, through His burial and HIS glorious “Resurrection”!!! Victorious over sin, death and hell! And because of HIS sacrifice and victory we can declare with Paul:

“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. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21

When I live the “crucified” life with Jesus, by His Spirit within me, I can ‘walk in the Spirit’ and ‘not fulfill the lusts of the flesh’. The Promise of God—

“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. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

Jesus bought our forgiveness and salvation and only by trusting in Him and receiving the ‘Promise’ can we walk in that “newness of life”, all by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

Forgiveness and salvation is in Jesus alone. And the “Promise” is our assurance and power—His Spirit within us. Have you received the ‘resurrection’ power of the Lord and Savior? Have you been empowered by Jesus to “walk in newness of life”? It’s found only in HIM!!!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” Jesus body and blood were broken and poured out for YOU!! Won’t you look to Him and receive eternal life and the promise of His Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5 & 8, “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.……. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

So one simple question, have you bowed before the Savior and found life at His Cross? If not, HE is still calling and awaits your response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-6, “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:

5 And that he was seen

of Cephas,

then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;

of whom the greater part remain unto this present,but some are fallen asleep.”

Just be sure you have real faith, not ‘vain’ faith!!! The question is of eternal import. Jesus still saves. You can have ‘resurrection’ life today.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #149 To Dye or To Die???

“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

Jesus and Jesus alone died, was buried and resurrected for our salvation—according to the scripture (see 1 Cor. 15:3-5). Jesus alone, not anyone or anything else is worthy of our devotion and worship. To belong to Jesus Christ means we have died to ourselves and walk in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, who enables us to do that by God’s power, not our own. Empowered and expected to:

“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

Only by the blood of Jesus can I do any thing that God calls me to do in. ONLY through Jesus Christ and His Father, and ours, can we accomplish anything godly, or of eternal value. We are called to serve Him–not ourselves or the lusts of this world. The pull of this world is strong and we live in a culture that ridicules and rejects the call to holiness and separation from the world. While we are to live in the world we are not to be of it.

Jesus prayed for us just before He went to Calvary, will you heed His words?

“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”  John 17:13-15

Are we choosing evil over good? Are we more concerned with fitting in, than being fit for HIS service? These are hard questions, and only you can answer them. I simply ask that you examine the things you do and practice and measure them by the Word of God and the let His Spirit direct you. The choice is yours; just check whose glasses you’re looking through:

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:15-18

What does all this have to do with “dye” or “die”? A lot really, because as we look at the activities of this weekend of celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord, I notice that we have often become so entwined in the world that we look more like them than the ‘body of Jesus Christ’. More people are ‘dying’ eggs, than ‘dying’ to self for HIM!!!

James was very clear to the people of his day, how much more do we need to heed his words and consider the choices we are faced with?

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:4-10

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Are you dyeing (being crucified) to self and living for Jesus, or are you so busy dying (coloring) eggs that you’ve missed the Savior who calls us to be holy and separate from the world. Are we so busy with the “holiday” that we’ve forgotten the “HOLYday”? It’s a question that only YOU can answer. Let’s celebrate and worship HIM EVERY DAY!!! To God be the glory—great things HE HAS DONE!!! What will you do?

“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 6:16-18