Bible Ballistics:New Year Advice! January 5, 2014 Vol.3 No.8

As we are jumping into this new year of 2014, I’d like us to revisit a topic that will help us face the challenges we face each year, each day, in fact.

First, let’s remember who delivers us.

Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  

Jesus, our substitute, paid the debt we owed because He loves us. God ‘laid on HIM the iniquity of us all’.  As an old song says, “I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe.  I needed someone to take my sin away…”  Jesus willingly became that “someone” for me?  Have you called on Him for yourself?  If not, He’s waiting for YOU.

Once we know Him, we don’t begin a walk in the rose garden, instead we become soldiers of the cross and we must arm ourselves accordingly.  That’s what I’d like to talk about today.  Our need to ‘put on our armor’ to be able to ‘stand fast’.  Of course, our scripture to address this issue is Ephesians 6:10-18. I encourage you to memorize these verses and literally put on your ‘armor’ every day.  I do this every morning before I get up.  We must prepare-let’s go.

“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” 

Depend on God’s strength not your own.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 

Who’s power are you depending on?

“11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” 

We have an enemy of our soul and we CAN resist him,

1 Peter 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 

All Christians are in the battle! Are you AWOL?

“12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  

The battle we are in involves the unseen and we must keep our eyes on GOD—not our circumstances.         

2 Cor. 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal?”   

Are you looking at the temporary or the eternal?

“13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” 

We MUST put on our armor–

God instructs it,

He provides it and

He will direct our use of it.

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.” 

Are you suited up?

“14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” 

Truth and Righteousness—

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.”   

JESUS IS TRUTH?

2 Cor. 5:21, “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

 Is JESUS your Truth and your RIGHTEOUSNESS?

“15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

JESUS IS the GOSPEL OF PEACE–peace with God.

Do my footprints show the way to peace with God?

“16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”   

It’s not just my ‘faith’

but it’s the OBJECT of my ‘faith’.

Phil. 3:9 says, “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:” 

JESUS—is HE the object of your FAITH?

“17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” 

Salvation and the Word.

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

ONLY JESUS SAVES!

2 Timothy 3:15-16, “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.” 

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

JESUS IS THE WORD—

Do you know Him,

read His Word and

will you stand with and

for HIM?

“18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” 

Prayer is KEY—So PRAY!!

Colossians 1:3, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”

1 Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” 

And Jude 1:20-21, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” 

Jesus prayed,

shouldn’t I be diligent to pray?

To live Romans 11:26, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

It’s all about JESUS—

of HIM,

through HIM and

to HIM…..

So, –Suit up,

stand up,

speak up—

FOR JESUS!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”   #23  Happy New Year

Here we are celebrating a New Year’s Day again.  I’d like to share a few verses today and give us some food for thought as we go into 2014.

Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

To number our days?  Well I don’t believe this is a reference to “counting” our days, or to keeping a running tally, or even keeping a current palm pilot (or whatever the newest scheduling device is).  I think God is talking about something much closer to home—MY HEART!!   To have my heart

continually aware of each day—

to have my mind conscious of each opportunity God places before me—

to keep my eyes “fixed on Jesus”,

that I might be a child of God who is “wise as a serpent….

and harmless as a dove..”

To know that today is all I have to live.  Proverbs 27:1,

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” 

To ask God to,

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

And to remember that,

“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.”  Psalm 37:23-24.

So???  Here’s our shot for the day!!

Live in TODAY—it’s all we have.

Appreciate TODAY—tomorrow may not come.

  Seek God’s way for TODAY—His way never fails.

Delight in God TODAY–He ‘upholds’ His own

with HIS hand.

So???  “…look up,

 and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28b.

Jesus is coming!!

A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU!!!

Bible Ballistics: Q&A Time- December 29, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 7

***NOTE—Today is our first “Q & A” article.  Please feel free to submit your questions via email, Facebook message, or blog message.***

As we bring 2013 to a close I’d like to share a thought with you today before we look at our first Q&A time.  As we all think about a ‘new’ year, a new beginning, a time to review the old and anticipate the new, I was convicted about ‘WORDS’ today, and I’d like to share a few thoughts that God has laid on my heart.

First, an old adage, ‘Watch your words, and keep them sweet, you never know which ones you’ll eat.”  We do often speak in haste and live to regret our words or at the least, the way in which they were delivered.  So what can we do?  I think a couple of short verses can help us think about the import of our words.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:35,  “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”

Matthew 15:18-19, “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:”

And Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and myredeemer.”

Our conclusion? It’s not just the words that are the potential problem–but it’s my HEART!!!  A good heart, and that’s only a heart indwelt by Jesus’ Holy Spirit, brings forth good things. I need to guard my heart, to make sure that the ‘meditation of my heart’, is acceptable in God’s sight.  Then my words will be beneficial.  Maybe not always welcomed by others but beneficial regardless.

Now, our question for today from Peter: ‘Is divorce God’s will for a trouble-filled marriage?’ 

This is a most appropriate question for the New Year.  We see families all around us falling apart at the seams.  We need to help homes and families to know God’s will through HIS Word, and to be more ready to face the attacks against the God-ordained family on every hand.

There is more material in regard to this subject than we could address in one session but we’ll be as concise as possible.  I’ll just list the verses and sum up with a few comments at the end.  You check it out.

Portions of Genesis 1:27-28, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 …. and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:…”

Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Matthew 19:4-6 (Jesus speaking), “…. Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Matthew 19:7-9, “They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Suffered=allowed, permitted)

Portions of 1 Corinthians 7:10-15, “And unto the married I command…. Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I… If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. …. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”  (Speaking to believers)

Malachi 2:16a, “For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away:”  (putting away=divorce)

1-God established marriage for one man and one woman for all time.  That’s why he hates divorce, because one can’t be divided without causing harm to each half.

2-God hates divorce!!  That should affect my choices.

3-The man is to cleave and love, the woman is to respect and love.  The ideal that each of us should strive for.

4-Jesus says that GOD didn’t command divorce but it was allowed to protect the innocent, because of the HARDNESS of men’s/women’s hearts.

5-Believers come under a holy expectation—we are to stay with a believing spouse, or depart and not remarry.   Those who became believers, and whose spouses did not, are not to leave but are permitted to remarry if the unbeliever departs due their faith.

6-Marital unfaithfulness CAN be grounds for divorce and remarriage. But a believer is not compelled to divorce an unfaithful spouse but they may, and re-marriage is implied as permitted (this is but the summation of much study).

7- So in conclusion, God’s answer to a “trouble-filled” marriage is NEVER divorce, but we must understand that either spouse is only ONE person of this unit and decisions are often made by one which the other is compelled to live with.

As a believer I am to pursue God’s will, which is intact homes, but I can only give 100% of myself, I can’t demand that my spouse respond in kind.

In closing, remember what Paul said to the Galatians,

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” 

Am I

walking “in the Spirit” or

the “lust of the flesh”?

Remember those “WORDS”…..

keep them sweet!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU PRECIOUS FOLLOWERS…  WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU.

 

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”

As we’ve experienced the snow and ice storms in recent weeks, there have been intermittent and extended periods without “power”.  Inconvenient?  Yes.  No lights, no heat, no internet, no computer.  All because we had NO power!!  We were restricted to that which candles, oil lamps, and batteries provided.

The Lord reminded me how often we walk around “power”less spiritually.  We often allow ourselves to become “unplugged” from God.  We drift away from Him in busy-ness.  We get pre-occupied with activity!!  Have you felt “power”less lately?

Depressed?

Desperate?

Disoriented?

Despondent?

These are signs that we aren’t ‘plugged’ in!!  What do we do? We need to check our “power” source.

Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

James 4:8  “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Simple, but profound advice.

Draw near to God,

cleanse our hands,

purify our hearts,

be strong in the Lord,

and be strong or “empowered” by HIS MIGHT.

Put on your armor!! All of it!

So?  Here’s our shot for the day!!

Suit up,

look up,

pray up,

read up (the Bible of course),

so you can STAND up.

So??????  Keep looking up!!! Spend time with GOD!!

Dan. 11:32b “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” 

Get to know HIM better.

Stay plugged in!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS 

Happy Birthday Jesus.  We are so glad YOU came to save us!!!  Oh, I think that’s part of a song. Thank you, Jesus for loving us enough to come to us–Emmanuel.

Although we are the ones receiving gifts on the day we celebrate your birthday, Lord, may we be faithful to share YOU with others.  Today may we not only have joy and laughter, food, fun and fellowship, but also think about and thank YOU.

May our lives honor you as we remember that without this wonderful gift of your incarnation to purchase our salvation we would have no hope.  YOU ARE THE GIFT.  The greatest gift.

Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

John’s words say it all for me and may they bring joy to you on this wonderful Christmas day.

John 3:13-21, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 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.” 

Merry Christmas to you and yours.