Bible Ballistics: BBs #79    Are You Strong Enough????

One of my favorite passages, a prayer of Paul’s, is one that I pray for myself and for others. It’s found in Colossians 1. If you’ve never looked at the prayers in scripture, it would be a profitable study to undertake this summer. Let’s look at a portion of Colossians 1 and observe what we can learn from this prayer.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 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:”

Just a few highlights for our consideration:

Fill yourself with the Word and Prayer=do right

       Do right—Act right—Live right=grow more

       Live in God’s strength=develop patience and endurance

       Be grateful and recognize God’s work to save us=

              Delivering us from Satan’s power and–

              Translating us into the kingdom of Jesus the Son–

Redeeming us and forgiving our sin–

All purchased for us by the blood of Jesus!!

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

Endure with God’s strength and

persevere with His power.

So you can not only stand and persevere—

but do it with joyfulness!!!

Ouch!!

With joyfulness?

Yes!!

When we grow in our knowledge of God’s will and His ways, we will gain strength and confidence to stand fast “in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…” (Ephesians 6:13)–

       With joyfulness–“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4)

Won’t you join me in pursuing ‘joyfulness’ in our Lord? The road will be long, but it’s all in HIS hands. Let’s trust HIM and rejoice!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: Is Anybody Watching?????? Vol 4 #11

There’s a lot of talk and concern these days about energy. Do we have enough to go around? Where will we get it? Wind turbines, coal, natural gas, and other options seem to be consuming people’s thoughts and energy. But where does energy come from? The Apostle John gives us some food for thought in 1 John 1:1-7, let’s examine it together today.

“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.”

John calls us to walk in the light? But what light? John says in verse 1 that the ‘light’ was from the beginning. We know from Genesis 1 that God (Elohim) was there, and we know that the Holy Spirit was there, where was Jesus?

Gen 1:1-3, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

God created all that is, we know that –and John tells us in his gospel as well as the 1^st letter he wrote, that Jesus was also there in the beginning. The 1^st chapter of Hebrews also speaks to this question. Genesis 1 says the Spirit ‘moved’ (KJV a word connoting movement, or hovering, kind of like a hen quivering her wings to gather her chicks). The Spirit moved, or hovered over the mass that would be made into the earth. The creative power (energy) of Jesus (with His Father) accomplished creation (energy)—being the defining element of all. Now, I know we’ve stirred up some of your ‘little grey cells’, so to speak, so let’s look at scripture and see what we can learn from the whole counsel of God.

Firstly, we know that the ‘light’ created on the first day was not the ‘sun’, as it was created on the 4^th day. So it seems that this first ‘light’ was the imparting of ‘energy’ to create what would follow. I think this is a parallel to the creative power that Jesus brings to bear on us when we are saved. He births us into the kingdom of God by His power, the power of His sacrifice. (See John 1:12-13 and note the word ‘power’)

Hebrews 1:1-3, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:”

God spoke to us through Jesus during His time on earth, but He existed before that. He was there at creation, “by whom also he made the worlds;” doing what He does –creating!! Physical and spiritually—Jesus creates life-energy!!! He is the one who is “upholding all things by the word of his power”. The source of energy that holds all things together.

John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

In John 1:1 and 1 John 1:1, the Apostle confirms the eternal nature of Jesus. He didn’t begin at the incarnation, for Jesus was always there. He simply took on flesh in order to become the sacrificial Lamb, in order to pay for our sin. He brought His ‘energy’ to bear on ‘sin’. Yours and mine.

Jesus, the “Word”, was in the beginning—with God, being God. How did God create all that He created, in what way? By “speaking”—by the ‘Word’—by Jesus. All things were made by Him—the Son.In HIM was life (energy), and the life was the ‘light’ of men. The light that shines in the darkness. But also true is the fact that men can be blind and refuse to see this light. Kind of like the phrase people use when a situation or topic is totally obvious but those present refuse to acknowledge it. We call it the “elephant in the room”—it’s there but no one wants to deal with it. Jesus is that way!!! He is the light; He shines in the darkness, yet men and women, boys and girls, refuse to acknowledge HIS light. Why? Jesus gives us that answer also.

John 3:18-20, “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. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

And who is this light? Let’s make it plain, right from the mouth of our Lord.

John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (not just walk in it but also HAVE it—within)

 Jesus shines His light upon us, we can believe and be saved, and receive eternal life. Or we can reject Him, in word and deed (and either one is enough) and have the condemnation of death and hell, instead of life.

So, my questions are:

“Is anybody watching you?”

Are you watching Jesus?

Are you saved and walking in HIS light?

Has Jesus become your own personal ‘light of the world’?

Or are you contented in the dark.

Do you think no one sees?

May we follow Him and not only walk in the light but also exhibit that we “have the light of life”– before all those who may be watching YOU and ME.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #78 Who is Worthy????

When I think about salvation and living for Jesus, my mind goes to the question of ‘Who is worthy’? Sometimes we get caught up in the hierarchy of ‘church’, ‘denominations’, ‘theological persuasions’, and forget who it is that’s worthy of our total abandon. Oswald Chambers talks a lot about ‘abandon’ and it’s always to Jesus—not a doctrine, not another person, not even to an ideology—but to Jesus.

Revelation 5:4, 9-12, “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

Jesus is worthy of all our praise, adoration and allegiance, but He is also worthy of our total ‘abandon’. We can fling ‘fate’ and ‘chance’ to the wind and give our all to HIM who is worthy. Why? Because HE died to give us life and the ability to serve God faithfully, totally and in holiness. He makes us able to be ‘holy’. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21)

He has delivered me not only from ‘hell’ and its torment, but also from sin and it’s power right now–in the today that I live in. I can have victory because Jesus bought that victory at Calvary for ME!!  For YOU!!

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29b  For all…who will believe!!!

So? Here’s our shot for today.

How could I live any other way than for HIM?

He who gave it all for me–

What less can I give to and for HIM?

HE IS WORTHY!!!

Am I living like I believe that?

Am I living like a child of the KING—

not in arrogance

but in total abandon to HIM.

‘Not my will by thine by done’–in all?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #77 Praise Who ????

It is a rare day in Oklahoma. I am sitting outside this morning writing this BBs article—it’s some 66 degrees and feels like fall. We rarely get this kind of morning in July and I’m so thankful to God for this marvelous blessing.

Colossians 1:12-14 says, “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:”

I love Colossians, especially chapter 1. It paints such a lovely picture of what Jesus has done for us, and is still doing. God initiates salvation—He chose us, because He loves all mankind!! Jesus said in John 3, that “God so love the world, that HE gave…..”. How can I not thank this God who loves us that much.

In this passage, Paul reminds us that we are to give thanks to the Father—because HE has ‘made us fit’ (meet means fit) to be “partakers of the inheritance”. But how did he make me/you fit? Good question, and he answers it for us.

Through Jesus—we have been:

“delivered…from the power of darkness” (Satan’s power)

“translated….into the kingdom of His dear Son”

How? By the blood of Jesus, which redeems us because, His blood paid the price for my sin!!! Praise His name. I’ve been ‘translated’, which means: to change, convert, conform. Jesus gives NEW LIFE to those who trust Him in faith. Oh, what a beautiful morning!!! It is God whom I praise—not man, not the government, not even the weatherman. Why? Because my God delivers, saves and keeps by His outstretched arm. HE gives us lovely blessings like cool, out of season mornings, and I thank HIM for it!!

So? Here’s our shot for today.

Spend some time today praising God with Me. You fill in the blank. I thank you Lord for_______________________!!!!

After all:

“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.” Revelation 4:11.

 

Bible Ballistics: Climate Change???????   Vol 4 #10

We’ve all heard the banter regarding ‘global warming’, or as some people put it, ‘climate change’. There is debate on both sides and drastic differences in opinions over the interpretations of the scientific data. I’d like us to look at a different ‘climate change’. Besides references to the weather, climate also can mean: ‘the prevailing trend of public opinion or of another aspect of public life’.

This is the meaning I’d like us to consider today. Are we allowing ‘public opinion’ and/or ‘public life’ and trends to dictate how we, as believers, think and behave? Are we also allowing the world into our churches, even inviting and welcoming the world’s ways into our churches?

Romans 12:1-2 says, “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.”

God calls us to NOT be ‘conformed to the world’. When we give our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives as a ‘living sacrifice’ to Him; which means we are to live for Him not ourselves. When we belong to Jesus (also a wonderful song by Dennis Jernigan) it should be seen in a yielded heart, mind and soul, given to Jesus’ control: not letting the world shape us with it’s mind-numbing gadgets and trends. We can choose to be water shaped by the ice tray (the world)—completely incapacitated by it, or we can yield ourselves totally to God and watch HIM do a mighty work that can ‘change’ the climate around us. How? Only in God!!

“And being confident of the very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.

God is working to transform YOU and ME, in all things.

As Philippians 2:12-13 says, “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.”

As we talked a few weeks ago, we are to yield to God and work out what He has put in. To let HIS work shine!!

Ephesians 5:17-18 is a marvelous word picture of this.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

To be filled with the Holy Spirit! Filled can also be translated ‘Pervaded’: ‘to cram full, to fill to overflowing’. We are to be filled with (or pervaded by) the Holy Spirit not worldly lures. We all understand that drunkenness, short-circuits control of mental and bodily actions—they are out of control. The liquor controls them. Paul warns us NOT to be controlled by wine (or any element, substance or alienation of our devotion to God), but we are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of Christ. We are to behave (walk), according to the Spirit’s direction in our hearts and lives. Then the world will see Jesus when they look at our character and behavior.

Matthew 5:15-16, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

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

Walking ‘circumspectly’, (referring to straightness or perfectness) before the world. Also ‘redeeming’ the time—the time we are given by God, the time in which we live here and now. To redeem: ‘buy back, or rescue from loss’. God calls us to walk (live) straightly before the world and to rescue our time from loss. Those twenty-four hours that we are all given each day, are to be ‘bought back’ from worldly desires and given to God. I know I can get wrapped up in an old movie, a video game or just daydreaming and waste hours that I could have used to please and serve Jesus. No, I’m not talking about balanced times of leisure or diversion, but letting our passion for ‘things’ rule our lives.

We are to walk with Jesus everywhere we go, and in all that we do–every hour of every day—to be HIS for the using. To display the character of Jesus,

as an employee,

boss,

helper,

mother,

father,

son,

daughter,

neighbor or friend.

To ‘work out’ all that Jesus wrought ‘in’ for us at Calvary. Do people see Jesus in me

at the grocery store,

the bank,

or just out running errands?

Am I living out God’s presence in me when I encounter

trials

and conflicts,

billing errors

or a flat tire?

Do I let the ‘climate’ around me divert or reshape my devotion to the Lord?

Romans 12:1-2 presents a contrast between conformity and transformation.

Conformity—to be shaped like or by something. In contrast transformation is–a change in form or appearance.

The Greek word translated ‘transformed’ is ‘metamorphoo’: the word from which we get our English word ‘metamorphosis’: The process whereby a worm changes into a butterfly. Not just a temporary mask or imitation, but a permanent change of form.

When God redeems us we are made new. As 1 Corinthians 5:17-18 says,

“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;”

Are we reconcilers or alienators?

As we are ‘transformed by the renewing of your mind’ we are empowered to live out the ‘good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God’ before the world. But the cost is the sacrifice of our own will to God’s. To allow His awesome, ‘transforming’ power to be displayed to a lost and dying world that needs Jesus.

How?

By yielding to His word

as He transforms our minds,

and our lives.

Feasting on it continually.

I’ll close with a few verses to think about this week.

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.”

Living the crucified life!!!!!

Yielding to Christ’s Lordship in ME!!!

Phil 2:5 & 8b, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:…..he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Read all of chapter 2 to see the beauty of His servant life)

So does your ‘climate’ change with the world?

Are you standing fast with Jesus?

Does your speech betray our Lord?

Do your actions call into question your devotion to Him?

The world tells us it doesn’t matter, but Jesus says it does. He has called us to

be transformed

by His redeeming power;

to trust to His unchanging hand,

and be a mirror of His redeeming power to the world.

No climate change here!!!!

We are being ‘transformed’!!!

To the image of our Lord!!!