Bible Ballistics: BBs #48   Bound Up in Him????

Whether we are ‘running’ to God for deliverance, or ‘resting’ in Him when we get there, I’d like us to look at Proverbs 6 to find out how to maintain that ‘running to’ and ‘resting in’ our Lord.

Proverbs 6:16-23, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

Simply put–what to avoid and what to pursue—as God clearly tells us what HE hates and how to avoid it.

Pride,

lying,

malicious violence,

a heart set on wickedness,

and malicious mischief,

a false witness (lying against others),

and sowing discord among brethren:

A clear and concise list of behaviors to avoid, but how?

Simply put—follow the instructions!!!

Keep our parents good instruction (godly parents),

bind them upon our heart,

and tie them about our neck.

If we’ll know and follow HIS WORD, then

wherever we go they will lead our steps—

protect us when we rest in sleep,

and direct us each day

where we need to be,

when we need to be there,

doing what we ought to do,

and accepting godly reproof.

So?? Here’s our shot for the day.

God’s commands are a lamp to guide us,

His law is light,

and the reproofs (convicting us of sin and error) are THE way of life….

The choice is yours—

stay in the Word so it can transform you,

or neglect it

and be defenseless against the lies of the enemy.

Take some time this week to read Philippians 4:8, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17, Psalm 37:23. Good verses to memorize (binding them in your heart and mind!!)

 

Bible Ballistics: Debt free??   April 6, 2014 Vol.3 #21

I’ve been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately. It’s something that everyone deals with. Some wrestle with it more than others, but we all deal with it regularly.   But what is forgiveness, really? Forgiveness literally means to ‘cancel a debt’. What does ‘debt’ have to do with forgiveness? Well, in a financial sense to ‘cancel’ a debt (some amount of assets that are owed) is to ‘forgive’ that debt, it is no longer owed.

When we bring that over into the ‘personal’, or ‘emotional’ realm, it has the same meaning but with a twist. If someone harms, hurts or injures our feelings, or our person, then they incur a debt to which we hold the note. They are ‘indebted’ to us to rectify the situation: To apologize, to restore what has been taken, to resolve some intense conflict—we feel entitled to be recompensed for the injury, whether real or imagined!!! How do we/I forgive without receiving that reconciliatory gesture, whatever it may need to be. Well, that’s where ‘forgiveness’ comes in.

1 John 4:19-21, “19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

Matthew 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 23:33-34, “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

The basis of forgiveness is God’s love for us, “because he first loved us”. I am loved and forgiven by God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen, praise HIS name!!

Colossians 1:12-14, “ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (fit) 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 am redeemed with that very blood that Jesus shed, as HE cried, “forgive them; for they know not what they do”. If Jesus can, IF He could, and yes, HE DID do that for me, what less can I practice as I encounter others and the sufferings of life?

Ephesians 4:22-32 reveals some of the things Christ expects of those who belong to Him and Paul sums it all up by reminding us that we are to ‘be ye kind’ ,‘tenderhearted’, and forgiving; in contrast to being ‘hardhearted’ and ‘cold’ toward one another, and especially those who have injured us!!!!

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Consider our own forgiveness and give in kind—through and like Jesus!!

As we look at Colossians 1, in Paul’s prayer, we see what we are to be—then do. The thing we must remember is that our ‘doing’ comes out of our ‘being’. You can’t ‘do enough’ to change your heart, but Jesus can change your heart to ‘become the sons of God’ (Jn 1:12). When I ‘be’long to Jesus then His Spirit is within me, and I have been saved by grace through faith to

‘be’ “……. his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Jesus on the inside ‘being’ will ‘be’ revealed in our ‘doing’ His work on the outside.

IN the beginning of this prayer in Col 1:9-11, Paul reminds us that we will need the knowledge of HIM to have the power to walk in forgiveness with

“all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

Why? Because people are people and they do cause us harm.

“….. 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;”

Patience refers to ‘abiding under’—our circumstances.

Longsuffering refers to ‘suffering long’—relating to people.

We must

forgive, and

release the debt to God

because He has called us to it and,

He will take care of the ‘debt’.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”   Romans 12:19.

I trust HIM!!! Do you?????

A question only YOU can answer.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #48   Resting??

Let’s go a step farther than running today. What do we find when we ‘run’ to God? Run, not only in those difficult times, but every day, moment by moment?

With a pulled muscle, I’ve been down and unable to walk very far unassisted, and I have experienced firsthand, the need to ‘rest’. Literally, I have had to rest in the Lord (and lean on my precious husband), as I can’t do much more than recline. I was reminded to:

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” Psalm 37:7.

‘Running’ to God, I find ‘rest’ in HIM. He IS trustworthy.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10.

I can trust to His ability to

keep,

comfort and

protect me.

In other words, I am safe there. So often when we ‘run’ to the Lord, we check in, and then check right out. God is my source and I should remain in His presence.

‘Resting’ is our privilege as well as ‘running’, and God gives us the choice to stay or go,

“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isaiah 30:15

So?   Here’s our shot for the day.

Run to,

rest in, and

remain with

the Father who cares.

Because–He cares for YOU.

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

He’s there, where are you?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #47   Running??

We all go through times of pain and suffering, heartache and grief and I know so many are wrestling with so much I just wanted to visit this issue again today. Are you hurting today? Is pain a part of your life? Can Jesus meet your needs? I heartily and confidently say YES!!! He can, He does!!! Because Jesus cares, when no one else does—Jesus does.

Hebrews 4:14-16, “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.”

We have a Savior who knows and understands. Who walked this earth like us, who got tired, had to face frustrations, had pain and sorrow, “Jesus wept”. Read the Gospel of John sometime to see the heart of the “Great Shepherd”, who cares for the sheep. Who cares so much that He gave His own sinless, perfect life to save my sinful, imperfect life and transform it into His image (see Rom 8:28-29). How do I know? ‘….the Bible tells me so…’.

Look at what our verses tell us:

My Savior is the SON OF GOD!!!

My Savior is my HIGH PRIEST;

but not a feeling less one, so high above that he is untouched with my pain.

My Savior, God and High Priest took on flesh to actually

feel my pain

and die so I could live

(though in a broken world for now),

and know the Savior

who had been touched with my feelings and

could help me bear and overcome them.

He bought victory at Calvary. (See Hebrews 2:14-15).

So?? Here’s our shot for the day.

Run “boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

He’s there to hold you,

to comfort and

encourage you.

Yes, even to cry with you.

Run, don’t wait.

Run to your loving Savior NOW—

He’s never off duty

or too busy for YOU!!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: Alert? Pt. 3, March 30, 2014 Vol.3 #20

Since this week would be our regular Q&A time I’d like to write just a short follow-up in regard to being on the alert. We have so much going on around us and we need to be on ‘spiritual alert’ for our Lord. As Peter closed his second letter he reminds us of the necessity to keep a true perspective and to “be diligent ….”. Let’s walk our way through.

2 Peter 3:11-18, “ Seeing then that

 all these things shall be dissolved, (earthly things)

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, (be ready)

wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

 according to his promise,

look for new heavens and a new earth,

       wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, (SO)

seeing that ye look for such things,

be diligent that ye may be found

of him

in peace,

without spot,

and blameless.

 

15  And account that  (take notice)

the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;

even as our beloved brother Paul also

according to the wisdom

 given unto him

hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles,

speaking in them of these things;

in which are some things hard to be understood,

which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,

as they do also the other scriptures,

unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved,

seeing ye know these things before,

beware lest ye also,

being led away with the error of the wicked,

fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace,

and in the knowledge

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

In other words, pay attention to the ‘Word of God’. Remember that this world is ‘temporary’ and will not last, so make sure you are investing in the eternal. Don’t fall for all the lies of the enemy/the world but know truth and share it.

How do I do this?  By walking with Jesus.  Paul gives a great lesson about walking diligently in Philippians 3:7-15,

“But what things were gain to me,

 those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for

the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through the faith of Christ,

the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend that

for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, (mature)

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.”

So, forget the past,

keep your eyes on Jesus

and press on toward HIS MARK—oneness with God (See John 17:21).

Seeking God’s gain, not the world’s—‘lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’ (Matt 6:18-20) not on earth. God never forgets your work for Him, and His accounting is always correct.  (Is 59:18 and Romans 2:6).  Have a blessed week watching for and listening to God’s Spirit as He speaks and leads your steps.  Be on the ‘alert’, be diligent, every day! Today!