Bible Ballistics: Memorial to Whom?? Vol 4 #3 May 25, 2014

As we spend this weekend honoring those in our military services, our thoughts go to those who now, and in the past have given themselves to guard and protect our freedoms. To honor those who made what we call the ‘ultimate sacrifice’. I’d like to take that thought and go in a different direction. While we are thankful for our servicemen and women, there is one who made the truly ‘ultimate’ sacrifice, who died to give us not only political freedom but eternal life and forgiveness of sin, for all who will trust Him.

Of course we are talking about our Lord Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice at the ‘Cross’. I’d like us to look at several scripture passages, and one rather lengthy passage, but well worth our attention. Jesus came, not to be a good example, though He was one, not to be a good teacher, though He was that also. All the good things that Jesus did: healing, teaching, preaching, leading, are good things but they are not why He came.

In the gospel of John, the apostle emphasizes the “I Am’s” of Jesus. One is John 10:9-11 and it reveals this same truth.

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Jesus shares here that He is the ‘door’, and only way ‘in’, and that He gives ‘abundant’ life. That He is the ‘shepherd’ who gives HIS OWN LIFE for the sheep. The same principle that He proclaims in John 14:6,

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

And John 3:14-19, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 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. 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.”

Jesus came to be lifted up—to give His life for us, that we can escape the condemnation of sin, yet only in Jesus. Because as Romans tells us, ‘all have sinned’, and ‘the wages of sin is death’, but ‘the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…”. Yet men still reject the light and cling to their evil deeds and the darkness, knowing that Jesus gave His life for all who will believe: His light for man’s darkness of sin. Knowing that God…

“….. hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 ONLY IN HIM.

The death I deserved was put on Jesus—the sinless one. He, who created all of glory, put it aside to take on flesh, live a perfect life, and die a substitutionary death for ME—for YOU. Now let’s just look at the passage in Hebrews and see what it reveals about life in, with and through Jesus. Let God’s Word speak truth to your soul. His life for my death.  Because His death bought my life in HIM..

Hebrews 10:5-22, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

He taketh away the first,

that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified

through the offering

of the body of Jesus Christ

once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man,

after he had offered

one sacrifice for sins for ever,

sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath

perfected for ever

them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 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;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way,

which he hath consecrated for us,

through the veil, that is to say,

his flesh;

21 And having an high priest

over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Just as John wrote, ‘….the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin’. (see 1 John 1:7). Things to ponder as we celebrate the sacrifice of our troops, and the sacrifice of our Lord, whose Holy Spirit writes Christ’s ways on our hearts when we come to Him in repentance and faith. May God bless, comfort and direct your steps to grow each of us in HIM.

As Paul called Timothy to do in 2 Timothy 2:1-4,

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Good soldier or AWOL???

Thanks for sharing your time and comments with me. You all are a blessing to my soul. ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow’, past, present and future. What will you do with the ‘sacrifice’?

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #6s   Seeking What Pt. 2 ?????

As we shared Wednesday, God is concerned about our hearts, that we’re seeking Him not the things of the world. Paul spoke important words to the church of Ephesus, as he left them for what was probably the last time. This is His warning to the “church”:

Acts 20:29-32, “ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Paul knew, and we should also, that it may look like a duck, it may quack like a duck, but if it doesn’t align itself with the ‘whole counsel of God’—it ain’t a duck”. As Jesus himself said, we’ll face wolves in the world, and in the church—beware of who or what you are settling for, trusting and following:

Luke 10:3, “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” The world will be after us whenever and wherever Christ sends us out with the truth.

Matthew 7:15-16a, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. ……..?”

2 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

They won’t just be on the outside; they’ll come into the fellowship. Check it out by the word, measure it true!!!

That is why we MUST read and study God’s word for ourselves. You can’t accept what someone says because they are charismatic, charming or alluring. Read the entire chapter of 2 Peter 2. You must know the word and stand on it. How?

By knowing Him and His Word.

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.”

That means YOU and ME. Dig in and live it out. So you’ll know who is ‘wrongly’ dividing it!!!!

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Keep your eyes on Jesus—

seek HIM,

don’t settle for the deceptions and lies.

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #61   Seeking What?????

There are so many people around us searching for so many things. Fame, money, popularity, power, knowledge, influence. There is nothing wrong with any of these things; in and of themselves, but when they are our primary focus there is trouble. We all think that we are to be independent and providing for ourselves—especially Americans (well, some Americans)—but is that the right thing to seek for? Let’s see what we can find in God’s Word.

Wise men came to Jerusalem seeking a newborn king, and stirred up confusion.

Matthew 2:2, “ Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

These men had one thing on their minds, to find the newborn king they had been ‘seeking’. Yet not one person followed them to Bethlehem to see if they found him. Why not? They apparently weren’t ‘seeking’ the Messiah.

John 12:20-21, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.”

A group of Greek men had come to Jerusalem and having heard about Jesus, came ‘seeking’ to worship HIM. Why? The religious leaders weren’t seeking to worship him, but to kill Him. Why were these men seeking Jesus? We’re not told the details but one thing speaks for itself, these who had come to Judaism to worship the true God, recognized the Messiah more readily than His own people.

John 1:10-11, “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…”

What are you seeking today? Jesus and His will for your life? Or are you going along to get along? Are you standing for the KING of Kings, even when He is being maligned or ridiculed? Or are you so open-minded that you have no real thought for the Lord Jesus or His kingdom? Jesus himself gave us our marching orders—consider this, and we will see more next time.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

So?? Here’s our shot for today??? What or whom are you ‘seeking’? It’s a question with eternal import. Consider your answer and take it to the Lord, and ask Him if your ‘answer’ needs some attention.

 

 

Bible Ballistics: Your Identify?? Vol 4 #2 May 18, 2014

Our identity is important to us. But where is your identity based?

Romans 6:3-6, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 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.”

Paul tells us here that we are to be identified with Jesus—in His death, and in His resurrection. As he stated 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.”

We are identified with Christ at the cross. He died for me, so that I could live with him, not only with Him but having Him living within me. The fulfilling of the new covenant—Colossians 1:27,

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

This is our identification—‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’.

I can walk “in the Spirit”, because of what Christ has done for me/us. He accomplished the work of Salvation at Calvary and brought full deliverance through the resurrection. Incomparable new life that Jesus bought and brought to us in His resurrection. As He told Martha before He raised Lazarus,

John 11:26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (now and in eternity)

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 OF GOD!!!

The question I raise today is “with whom are we identified?” Jesus? Or the world? We are to identify with sinners, but only in the sense that we, as redeemed sinners, are to call the world to Jesus; Because Jesus came to bring ‘everlasting life’ to those who will ‘believe’ in His atoning death. Christ in His death identified with us to save us, and I/we are sent to the world with the ‘good news’ of salvation in Christ alone. (see John 14:6)

Hebrews 2:14-16, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

Jesus became “flesh and blood” to deliver us not only from hell, but also from sin and the bondage of it. He came to die for our sin, not His own! Are we willing to die to self and live for Him? That is the question we consider today.

We must continually ask ourselves if we are identified with the lost state of mankind, or if we are immersed in sin because we have settled for what the world offers rather than the glory of the Savior’s transforming power? (See Col. 1:12-14).

Are we willing to follow Him and leave the world’s allure to draw nearer to our Savior? Why would we? What does scripture tell us?

First, we have power to live in an intimate relationship to Christ:

 Colossians 3:11b, “but Christ is all, and in all.”

Jesus is all sufficiency and He is in us via His Holy Spirit.

Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 6:14-15, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”

John 8:42, “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.”

We see here the power we have as a new creature, created in Christ Jesus. Are we walking in that power? Are we walking in His Spirit or our own flesh? It’s something that we wrestle with every day. That’s why we are called to continually, each day, put on His armor to stand fast (see Eph 6:10-18).

The alternative? God knows and so can we!!

Romans 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

James 4:4, “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.” What do our friendships reveal?

John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” 

As other scriptures tell us, ‘we will all give an account’..  (See Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Give it some time this week and ask God what He has to say to you. Have a profitable time taking it before the Master. Ask, seek and knock!!!! Are you in love with the light or the dark? What do you reflect? God or the world??? Food for thought.

Bible Ballistics: “BBs” #60   Gifts from God?????

It’s a wonderful spring morning; I have the doors opened up, smelling the fresh air and listening to the wind chimes, which I love. The grass is beginning to green up and I can’t help but praise my God gratefully, for all that He has given us to enjoy. Let’s think about it for a few minutes.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 says, “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

And Ecclesiastes 5:18, “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.”

James 1:17, “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.

All that is in this world is created by our wonderful God, His Holy Spirit, and His Son Jesus (see Gen. 1:1-2; Col. 1:16 and John 1:3). These passages remind us that our God is the giver of all creation itself. Consider! He’s given it to us.

Breath—God sustains our life each and every day. Without breath, life is impossible. Air wonderful fresh air, made just right to sustain our life.

Sight—With our eyes we are able to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

From the majestic mountains,

to the delicacy of an blossoming rose

or a newborn colt frolicking in the sun.

Touch—Who can deny the joy of feeling

the precious tender skin of a newborn baby?

Or sand between your toes?

Hearing—The ability to take in

the lovely warbles the songbirds,

a whippoorwill,

or the joy of a child’s first word.

Taste—The ability to

enjoy ‘chocolate’,

ripe peaches right off of the tree,

a sweet as honey strawberry,

salt on an egg.

Thought—Have you ever stopped to appreciate that God made us to be

able to process all the information around us

and respond with reason.

Made in the image of God to enjoy the creation of God to the fullest.

To know the satisfaction of a job well done.

To bring HIM glory.

So????   Our shot for today. Spend some time this weekend

breathing,

seeing,

hearing,

feeling,

tasting

and thinking

about the wonderful God who provided all these things for us to enjoy. And THANK HIM. And praise Him before the world…. Knowing that it’s all from Him, ‘from whom all blessings flow’.