Bible Ballistics: Perfection or Perseverance???? Vol. 4 #16

Some of us wrestle with “perfectionism’ and whether or not that is what God is asking of us. As you can see from the definitions below—there is a difference between striving for perfection and perseverance. Perfection is trying to be ‘without fault’ and we all must admit we can’t accomplish that. But God calls us to perseverance—to press on by, with, for and to His glory. Let’s see what we can learn about this from scripture. I would like to simply highlight and briefly comment on the scriptures that God has laid on my heart today. There are a few lengthy passages but let God lead you through His truth today as we seek to know Him through HIS Word!! What are you seeking?

Perfection: “the state of being free from all flaws or defects”

Perseverance: “steadfast in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success”

1 John 1:1-10, “ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that

God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

**7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.**

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

**9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.**

**10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”**

How did this all come about? Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, for our SIN—for MY SIN. And His sacrifice enabled the imparting of the indwelling Holy Spirit—the NEW COVENANT!!

Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord

;** I will put my laws into their mind,

and write them in their hearts:

and I will be to them a God,

and they shall be to me a people:**”

Hebrews 10:16, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord,

I will put my laws into their hearts,

and in their minds will I write them;”

Both of these passages refer back to Jeremiah & Ezekiel, where God made the promise of the ‘New Covenant’, which was the promise not only of the Redeemer, but also of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who would enable us to ‘walk in the Spirit…..not the flesh’

Jeremiah 31:31-24, 33:15, 32:37-40, and Ezekiel 11:19-20

In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus told His disciples to… “Wait for the ‘promise’ “,

“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.”

The New Covenant equates to the indwelling Holy Spirit—He enables us to know God’s Word, His will and His way—every day in all circumstances.

This promise fulfilled by Christ’s work, and the Spirit coming at Pentecost, results in our being able to walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16,18, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

:18, “ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:24-25, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Because we have received the Holy Spirit of God/Christ, we are partakers of the New Covenant and He enables us to forsake the flesh and overcome by the Spirit. But we also have a part in victorious living. Paul helps us understand what we are to do, and also to avoid.

2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.“ Feast on the good and avoid the ‘profane’. I don’t need it–neither do you–God said so!!!!

Neither does God leave us guessing about what we are to study and why.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.“ (Perfect here meaning mature not flawless)

Study Scripture,

to be instructed,

to grow to maturity—

so that we can yield to God

and His good works

seen through us.

The Psalmist also reveals to us how faithful our God is to meet our needs and grow us into the “image of His Son”. (See Romans 8:28-29)

Psalm 19:9-14, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

**14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.**”

Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

The decision is yours. Will you depend on God and persevere in HIS power by the cross? Or will you strive to appear to be ‘perfect’ to others—flawless, but lost.

Ephesians 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #88 Rivers of Living Water In YOU??

We talked about water on Wednesday and I’d like to continue in that vein of thought. I was reading in Oswald Chamber’s “My Utmost for His Highest” this week, and he referred to a phrase in John caught my eye.

John 7:37-39, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

I’ve read this passage numerous times but the Lord brought a new thought to my mind as I read it again. This is not a one time event—I believe and it’s done, but I believe, I believe, I believe!!! –Yesterday (back to the day of my conversion/salvation), today and tomorrow– I BELIEVE!!!

I did—

I do—

I shall!!!

But it doesn’t stop there!! Because I ‘AM’ a believer in my being—I ‘SHALL’ have ‘rivers of living water’ flowing out of me!! By the presence of the precious Holy Spirit that Christ has given us at our salvation, we have HIS water within (the Spirit), and are to let it flow in all we do.

What about you? Do you have Jesus? Have you yielded to His Lordship, and bowed the knee before Him and believed on Him for YOUR salvation? If not—please call on Him today.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Today is your day.

If you have Jesus, if you have given Him your life and allegiance, then you have that river within you. Have you dammed it up? Are you keeping the goodness to yourself? Then I have but one thing to say—

“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

So?? Here’s our shot for today.

Let the river flow—

Let God spill over in all you do—

Everywhere you go—

All the time!!!

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #87 Fresh Springs or Foul Stagnation??

Years ago I was visiting my sister in Kentucky, where they lived in a rustic old 2 story farm house. I decided to rinse out a new lacy blouse I had just gotten, so I went to the sink, put the blouse in, and turned on the water and walked away for a minute or two. When I came back to turn off the water and finish the job, imagine my horror when I saw ghastly black flecks all over my new, white, lacy blouse!!! I couldn’t imagine what had happened to my blouse, so I called my sister, who began to laugh as she explained that the ‘cistern’ was almost empty and the water truck would be there later: but my blouse was now a spotted, ruined mess!!

Never having experience with ‘cisterns’, I learned very quickly from this encounter—and I didn’t like what I learned. Cisterns are dug deeply to keep rainwater or pumped in water fresh and cool so it won’t stagnate before use. But if the cistern gets low there are rock bits and slime that comes in the tap if you are unaware of the level of the cistern.

Ok Blanche, what does this have to do with us? Well, friends it’s just a picture to help us understand something that God said to Israel long ago–A message that is so apropos to us today.

Jeremiah 2:11-13, “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

What about America? Have we “changed their glory for that which doth not profit”? We have abandoned the God of all creation, the “fountain of living waters”, the God who has blessed America: and in His place, dug for ourselves, “cisterns, broken cisterns, which can hold no water”. Not just cisterns, but broken ones, cisterns that won’t, that can’t hold water—but we expect to sustain ourselves on ‘stagnant water’. Foul water that is not only harmful but also insufficient, as our cisterns can’t even contain it for our continual sustenance.

So??? Here’s our shot for today. What are you depending on? Fresh, clean living water that God supplies, or foul, stagnant water that you have supplied for yourself? The choice is yours, but think on these words of Jesus as we close:

John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Revelation 21:6, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

John 7:37-38, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Think on these things!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: Are You Guarding Your Heart???? Vol. 4 #15

I wrote on this same subject just a few weeks ago and yet I fell burdened to write again on this same matter. After a recent conversation with someone very dear to me, this subject began to haunt my mind and soul again, then hearing someone else refer to Philippians 4:8 in regard to the things we say, and write, and do, I felt compelled to write again on this issue.

I think we have become so desensitized to the influence of the world on our hearts and minds, that we have forgotten to put on our armor and defend against the onslaught of the enemy of our souls. (See Eph. 6:10-19) Satan is trying to destroy the purity, fruitfulness and power of God’s own children, and he is often using the world around us to do it.

Yes, of course we can find forgiveness when we fail, whether it is in speech, print or action, but we MUST recognize that those things are issues of the heart, not just the outer, fleshly part of the man, woman, boy, or girl—but the heart!!

Jesus himself addressed this issue when He said that it’s not what goes in our mouth (food) that defiles us, it’s what is in our heart!! And what we allow in our hearts WILL come out. So how do we remain pure and faithful? We take action. I’d like to share some scriptures to remind us and be a guide for how we are to take care of our heart, and thence our words, and our actions.

Psalm 141:3-4a, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity:” We must rely on God’s provision through His Spirit and we can walk in righteousness. (See Gal. 5:16 & 25 “walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”)

Matthew 15:17-19, “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….”

We MUST keep our hearts pure from the corruption and vile speech of the world. If we accept and repeat the vulgarity of the world, we have either allowed ourselves to be overcome by the evil around us or we are so deceived and weak-minded that we are being of no use to God because we have forgotten the Lord who calls us to ‘holiness’.

Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

All men, saved and lost, will give an account. (See 1 Corinthians 3:13 and Romans 14:10 & 2 Cor. 5:10 for the saved and Rev 20:11-15))

Philippians 4:8, “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.”

Check those thoughts at the door of your mind, and if they don’t pass this 8-fold test—refuse them. If it’s not from the Spirit of God, it’s usually from the enemy. Remember our enemy comes to ‘steal, to kill and to destroy’—don’t allow the enemy to ruin your testimony and influence for Jesus by worldly vulgarity and loose morals.

James 3:10-12, “ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

Remember that your words are telling the world what you have inside! Are you a blessing or a curse to those around you? What kind of fountain are you spilling forth on the world? Check your heart.

There’s a story told of a little boy who said bad, vulgar words one day to and about others. When caught and corrected by his father he apologized and was truly repentant and sorry for his misdeed (sin). The next day the father gave him a feather pillow and cut the top of it and had the boy scatter the feathers outdoors and bring the cover back. The father smiled and took the ticking cover and set it aside, saying nothing. The next morning he called the boy and sent him out with the ticking to recover the feathers he had strewn the day before. The little boy returned home with his heart saddened and distraught, as he came home with no more than 1/3 of the case full of feathers and told his father he had recovered all he could find. The wise father told him “It’s that same way with your words, once they are spoken and carried by the winds, damage is done that you can never undo.” We need to learn with the boy and remember the lesson in regard to our words as well. Our Father certainly forgives when we repent and seek His forgiveness, but just as you can pull a nail out of a board—you can never eliminate the ‘hole’ left behind.

1 John 1:9 declares that boldly. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Our God forgives and cleanses but He doesn’t always undo the scope and results of our sin on others. A word once spoken and cast into the heart of another can never be ‘undone’—forgiven, yes—but never undone!!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds😉 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

It’s a spiritual battle, but we have the tools to win!! We must bring every thought captive to Jesus before it goes out of our mouth, our keyboard, or back into our minds and hearts through media influences.

Guard your heart–be protective of what is allowed into your heart!! What you hear, what you see and watch on TV, what you feed your mind with. Remember—garbage in—garbage out. If I’m redeemed and put God’s Word in—His words will come out. But if I don’t put HIS Word in—what I do put in will produce a crop.

Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” What crops are you planting?????? They will bring a harvest.

“Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go,

keep you longer than you wanted to stay,

and cost you more than you intended to pay.” Source Unknown

And remember the tongue out of God’s control sins.

James 3:6, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

Are you on guard?? Amen and Amen.