Bible Ballistics: I Don’t Have Any Strength??? Vol. 5 #20

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

These people of Nehemiah’s day had worked to rebuild their city and it’s wall. They had struggled and endured hardship and when their task was done Nehemiah called them to rejoice together—to know that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”!!! We all have days that we feel weary, tired and unable to take another step. We can become so overwhelmed that we can’t seem to put one foot in front of another. Times when our strength is drained and we don’t know how we can go on! Where do we turn? You can ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (by Helen H. Lemmel). Keep:

“Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

We must keep our eyes “looking unto Jesus”—the one who saves us, the one who keeps us, the one who will direct our every step—even the difficult ones!!! How about you? Do you need this “joy of the Lord” kind of strength? We all do!!! God makes it clear in His Word that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Paul tells us about His experience with God’s provision.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Paul, this great man of faith and power, prayed for God to relieve His situation, yet God answered him in a most unexpected way. God told Paul NO!!! And sometimes He tells us the same thing—NO!!! Why? Because our weakness is God’s platform to show HIS POWER to us and to the world!!! When I am weak—HE is strong!!! His provision can always bring us strength. Strength that comes from my joy and delight in my Lord. My confidence in HIM and HIS provision make my heart able to rejoice in difficult circumstances.

Remember the children’s song, “Jesus loves me………they are weak, but HE IS STRONG….”!!! Moses and the children of Israel saw God’s great provision in their abject inability to escape from the Egyptians, and they sang a song about God’s strength and provision-they were weak but:

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying,

I will sing unto the Lord,

for he hath triumphed gloriously:

the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength and song,

and he is become my salvation:

he is my God, and

I will prepare him an habitation;

my father’s God, and

I will exalt him.”   Exodus 15:1-2

God’s power and our confidence in it, can produce joy in the most unlikely situations. Have you ever been backed up against the wall? A wall of water maybe, with nowhere to turn? If so, know that our God is a strong source for your needs. Do you need somewhere to run?

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 There is safety waiting for YOU!!!

Run to the Lord God Almighty in your weakness and weariness. Run to Jesus, His Son in your time of need. He is our ever-present help.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

“The Lord is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2

And our strong help is always there:

Psalm 121:1-2, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

 

The everlasting creator is our source of help and YOU can count on His faithfulness. Jesus went to the cross to be our

faithful Savior,

our faithful High Priest,

our faithful intercessor—

And HE IS THERE for YOU!!!

 

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

 

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

 

This very Son of God died for us, that we might have life!!! He saves us “to the uttermost”, and not only does He save us, but “he ever liveth to make intercession for” us—YOU and ME. I praise HIM for His abundant love and grace toward us. How about YOU and that JOY?

 

Even if you think that “I don’t have enough prayer warriors” lifting you up, remember that you have the Son of God making continual intercession for YOU. You can know and rest in the truth that the “joy of the Lord is your strength”!!! You can have HIS JOY!!! God’s eternal joy, and that joy will even continue into glory with our Lord. It will be our eternal state with the one to whom we belong.

 

Matthew 25:21 & 23 repeats twice our confidence:

 

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

 

What makes a “good and faithful servant”? The who has received Jesus and follows Him devotedly and in trust and confidence that HE is sufficient:

 

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #146      The Mind of Praise!!!

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;                    

Praise Him, all creatures here below;                            

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;                                

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

DOXOLOGY     By Thomas Ken (Set to various tunes)

A very simple song that we used to sing almost weekly, but which is currently in the state of many of the ‘old’ songs—set aside for ‘newer’, ‘bigger’, supposedly ‘better’ things. Well, I’d like us to consider the beauty, validity and integrity of this precious, simple song of praise.

First it sets our minds on God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It pictures what Jesus taught us about the focus of praying:

“Our Father which art in heaven…………

Hallowed be thy name…..

Thy kingdom come…… Thy will be done……

“For (because) thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever.” Matt. 6:9,10,13b

We are to set our hearts on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit continually: Our triune God–three persons in one—worthy of our praise. He is our creator and the sustainer of all, and we are to live praising HIM—in ALL we do!!!

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

The life of God’s child is to be one of living praise to Him, “From whom all blessings flow”

Psalm 149:1, “Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.” Alone and with others!!

“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”   Ecc. 3:13 With gratitude for all He gives!!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 With eyes looking upward!!

Every blessing is from God—So praise HIM always. All creatures, praise Him because He is worthy.

“All creatures here below” … Jesus himself said:

Luke 19:40, “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

We should join the heavenly chorus of PRAISE: “Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host“:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8b Praising at His return!!!

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Let’s just praise HIM!!

Praise Him in the morning…….

Praise Him in the noontime………..

Praise Him when the sun goes down!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #145      The Mind of Jesus???

Ephesians 6:17-18, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

How do we serve and speak for the Lord faithfully? We must have the armor of God on—especially this helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—“which is the Word of God”—the Bible. We must approach the scriptures with the Mind of Christ to receive, understand and recall them to good purpose. Without the mind and heart of Jesus I cannot understand and apply God’s Word appropriately—with grace and salt.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”   1 Corinthians 2:14

Only God’s Spirit can reveal His Word to those who are His, because the discernment to understand God’s Word is imparted by His Holy Spirit alone. He also gives me the ability to apply them to my life and everyday living!!! Through Jesus, I can speak right and well.

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”  Colossians 4:6

And taking this helmet of salvation means that I keep my mind on Jesus. As Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5 & 8,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:….. 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

The mind of Christ Jesus was humbly obedient–unto death, and I must do the same!!! I must die to ‘me’ and live for, with and through Jesus Christ’s power, wisdom, strength and courage. I can do this only as I follow Paul’s advice in Galatians 2:20:

“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.” Give me to HIM!!!

And when we think about the life that Jesus lived, how did He ‘go about’?

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” Matthew 9:35

Jesus went about preaching repentance and “the gospel of the Kingdom” of God. And just how did he do that? When we study the gospels, we see that Jesus used scripture—from the beginning of His ministry when He called John to baptize him to “fulfill all righteousness”, to the temptation in the wilderness, where He answered all of His temptations with scripture. Even when people asked questions, He often answered them from the scriptures, either in pointing them to God’s exact Word or the principles from it.

We must learn that it is

God’s Word, which will empower us,

through the working of God’s Holy Spirit,

to walk right,

speak right and

behave in a Holy manner.

There are things that I could do, that I don’t because of my love for Jesus and my longing to have a holy testimony for my Lord Jesus.

There are words I don’t speak because they don’t bring honor to my king.

There are places that I don’t go because I would dishonor the one who lives within me. Why?

Because God saves and calls me to do all for HIM.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

My life filled with His Spirit,

filled with His Word,

ready and empowered by His Spirit,

to be His witness

wherever HE leads me.

Oh precious Lord, may we ever be ready to live and work for you—through you! It’s what YOU have called and equipped us to do.

 

“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.” Acts 1:8

Everywhere!

Always!

So??? Here’s our shot for the day.

Are you HIS witness?

HIS empowered witness???

Do others see Jesus in you???

Or something or someone else???

Put on your helmet of salvation,

get into His Word

and HE WILL bring it out.

That’s the problem with most of us—what we’ve been putting in does come out, and it’s not Jesus or HIS Word!!! What about YOU??? What are you putting in?

Bible Ballistics: Instant Preacher???   Vol. 5 #19

Well now that I have your attention, I just want to say I’m not offering a new “instant” pill for preachers, but I do want to talk about Paul’s command to Timothy:

“I charge thee therefore before God,

and the Lord Jesus Christ,

who shall judge the quick and the dead

at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word;

***be instant

***in season,***

***out of season;***

reprove,

rebuke,

exhort

with all long suffering

and doctrine.

3 For the time will come

when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts

shall they heap to themselves

teachers,

having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears

from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things,

endure afflictions,

do the work of an evangelist,

make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5

I used our ‘examination’ format so that we can see that Paul called this young preacher boy to stand fast. Paul gave Timothy one central focus!!!  Preach the WORD!!! BE ‘be instant in season, out of season;”—means to stand upon something, to be steadfast. Not only preachers, but also every believer is to stand upon the Word of God—to be steadfast as Paul called the Corinthians to:‘be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding’…..

 

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Unfortunately, in many cases, we have lost this focus and sought after the ‘wisdom of this world’ rather than trusting to and following the ‘wisdom of God’. We seem to have decided that God’s plan of preaching the Gospel isn’t sufficient to do God’s work. I must beg to differ!!!

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-21 & 25 & 31, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe….. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men….. 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

God chose the “the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”. God’s plan NOT man’s! We can’t come up with a plan that will replace the supernatural work of salvation in the hearts and lives of people. I truly believe that this is one reason most churches are powerless– because they have wanted to see something bigger, faster, cuter, and more appealing to the world than “just the preaching of the gospel”. We depend on plans, programs, men’s designs, best selling books, surveys, polls and opinions to reach a lost and dying world, when God declared clearly in HIS Word what HE will use—HIS WORD, about HIS SON—the Gospel of Jesus Christ with and in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT!!!

 

John 16:7-11, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

 

John 6:44-45, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

 

Only the Holy Spirit can convict and reveal to men their own lostness and bring them to salvation through Jesus death, burial and resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:3-6). Our job is to preach, teach and share the truth of God’s Word—not try to save people by our own programs and plans. I think this also accounts for the powerlessness of our churches. Our buildings are full of people who haven’t been regenerated by the Spirit of God, but who are trusting to some “decision” that man brought them to. They have never come to Jesus for the new birth—the supernatural work of God that makes us ‘sons of God’.

 

John 1:12-13, “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.”

Born again by the power of God—not the devices of man!!! Touched and called by the Holy Spirit of God to receive “the foolishness of preaching” and to believe the Gospel and accept God’s work “to save them that believe”!!! And when God does the work it is real!!!

 

Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that

he which hath begun a

good work in you

will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

 

So what can we do? We must return to the truths of the Word of God and declare God’s truth in power and love and let God do the work in people’s hearts and lives. We simply, and in the power of the Spirit, call people to repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We stop trying to please men, impress the world and imitate Hollywood. We return to the Lord’s blueprint for reaching people–simply read through the book of Acts and see how many times the words preach, preacher and preaching appear. You may be amazed. It’s high time we returned to the Word of Our Lord and leave the ‘wisdom’ of the world to the world.

 

So, will you be an “Instant” preacher, teacher, singer, helper or follower of Jesus? Or will you settle for the wisdom of men rather than the “foolishness of God”? May we return to the preaching of the Word of God? Spend some time this week checking out the ‘preaching’ in the book of Acts. Maybe if we get back to the truth, we’ll see the power of God fall on us—and oh how we need it to fall on us. Even so Lord Jesus.

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #144      Someone Who Knows???

We talked last time about the God who cares, and I’d like us to consider that He not only cares, He cares in spite of what He knows about us—every one of us!!! And I’m so grateful that He does!!!

“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 5:6-11

Oh, how I love that phrase, “But God”!!! “But God” loved me in spite of myself—He knew what I was—a lost and dying sinner. He knew all my sin and failure and yet He sent Jesus to make the ‘atonement’ (payment) for MY sin and YOURS!!! He ‘knew me, yet He loved me’—what a glorious thought. But that’s not all God knows. He knows those who truly belong to Him, and He knows those who are just hypocrites and imitators.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

And HE will make the truth known in HIS time:

“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 7:21-23

But, you may ask, what is the standard of judgment? God knows and He’s told us what it is. While God knows the ‘end from the beginning’ (see Is.46:10), we must decide for ourselves, if we will accept, believe and submit to His standard, or go our own way. But remember, HE still knows, and we will all give an account.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:12-13  (His spoken word, the written word, and HIS Son the Word)

So??? Here’s our shot for today!

He knows! All things naked and open before HIM!!!

We will face Him one day!

Will you face Him as your Lord?

Or your Judge?

It’s your choice!!!