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.

Christmas Fortnight Day 14

MERRY CHIRSTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS! 

We’ve all heard about the “fake” interpreter that was found out at the recent Mandela funeral.  He appeared to be interpreting for the deaf but in reality he wasn’t. Yet when the real deaf people and genuine interpreters saw what was being done the ‘truth’ about the ‘fake’ was brought to light.  How often do we do things that are “fake” hoping no one will find out?

Jesus came to earth—God in human flesh. Emmanuel!!  He was, is and ever shall be the “real deal”, so to speak.  There are many voices claiming authenticity today but Jesus is still the ‘real’ Savior.

The ‘real’ Messiah.

The “real” one sent to save us—

the ONLY ONE sent to save us.

The only one who can save us.

John 14:6 declares this very fact in the words of Jesus himself, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by ME”.

This babe born and laid in that manger was the

Son of God—

The Word—

The Light of Life—

The Bread of Life—

The Good Shepherd—

 The LAMB OF GOD.

Jesus.

 Emmanuel. 

Messiah. 

Savior.  

Lord of Lords.

 King of Kings.

I could go on without end, but the question I’d like us to consider is this, “What are you doing with Jesus?”

Have you left him in the manger?

Have you left him on the Mount with the Beatitudes?

Have you left Him walking on the water?

OR have you opened the door of your heart

and bowed before the King

in repentance and faith and

invited HIM in.

Rev. 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” 

Is Jesus standing outside of your heart?

Is He knocking at your hearts door?

Won’t you let Him in?

The choice is yours.

Leave Him in that manger of straw,

or invite Him in,

to save and transform your life.

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

Won’t you receive the greatest Christmas gift ever given—the gift of eternal life???

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”  

MERRY ‘CHRIST’MAS FROM THE BRITTAINS…..

HE IS LORD!!!

May your Christmas be full of joy to your heart,

delight to others and

 “glory to God in the highest”—Christ is KING!!!

 

Christmas Fortnight Day 13

Continuing our look at some of the people connected with Jesus’ birth, today I’d like to look at the ‘wise men’.

We’ll look at portions of Matthew 2:1-12, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 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….9 When they had heard …, they departed’ and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was…..10 …..they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 ….they saw the young child….and fell down, and worshipped him: and …..presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh……12 And being warned of God…..they departed into their own country ….”

Not keepers of the sheep, nor lowly men but ‘wise’ men.

Men who:

       Had great wealth,

              came from afar, and

                      brought gifts of great value.

Men who:

       Sought HIM diligently

              Rejoiced to see the star and find the Babe, and

                      WORSHIPPED THE NEWBORN KING!!!

How about you?

If you don’t know Him—seek Him and HE will be found, in fact He’s looking for YOU.

If you do know Him—

Seek Him, His ways and His will diligently and obey.

       Rejoice in Him always.

              WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING!!!!

                      WORSHIP THE SOON COMING KING!!!

                            The one born to die for You and Me!!!

Bible Ballistics: The Prince of Peace? December 22, 2013 Vol. 3 No. 6

 ***NOTE—we will begin our “Q & A” articles next week.  I already have several questions that have been submitted, but please feel free to submit your questions via email, facebook message, or blog message and we will answer questions at least once a month, on the last Sunday of the month.***

This week we look at the last of our names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, ‘Prince of Peace’.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” 

Probably the most recognized of the names in this verse, I think the “Prince of Peace” is often the most misunderstood.  I say that because many use this name to advocate political “pacifism”, but I think this refers to something far greater.  Yes, it tells us here that the “government shall be upon His shoulders”, and when Jesus takes HIS earthly throne, there won’t be any wars under His reign.  But, I think we can find a different intent of this name.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Here we see that we are justified (made right with God) by faith in Jesus, and being justified ‘by” Him, we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Chrsit“.  So much more than freedom from political conflict, this “peace” means we have received a right standing with God.  We have been made “SONS” (and daughters) of God,

John 1:12, “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.”

Now, going back to Romans 5, we see how much we need this “Peace” with God, and why.  Romans 5:6,8 & 10-11 are so clear,

“6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly….8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the  atonement.”

WOW!!!

We were:

without strength

              ungodly

sinners

enemies of God

the reason that Jesus died

reconciled by Jesus death (made different, not enemies any more)

lost-but now saved by His life

in need of atonement (He paid our sin debt).

WOW!!!  All this because

“…God so loved the world that HE gave…..”  (see John 3:16)

He gave/sent Jesus to restore us to ‘sonship’.  Not to simply alleviate our conflicts.

Colossians 1:12-14 says, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which had 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:”

Jesus sacrifice not only paid for my sins,

but brought forgiveness to me and  for me before God.

Gave me an inheritance in light—

God’s light forever

within and ahead for us.

He has delivered us from the ‘power of darkness’—and ‘translated us into” His kingdom.  If you would, He has changed my nationality, my language and my mindset.  We are  “strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (see Hebrews 11:13).  We have our minds on heaven and glory is our future in Jesus.

That is ‘PEACE WITH GOD’—

regardless of the conflicts or wars going on around us here on this earth.

I have this “PEACE” no matter my circumstances.

As the angels proclaimed on that night of His birth,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

Oh, dear one, GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!!!  How we ought to praise our God for His most marvelous gift of all gifts.

JESUS—

THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR—

THE MIGHTY GOD—

THE EVERLASTING FATHER—

THE PRINCE OF PEACE.

Our ‘peace with God’—

bought at Calvary.

Worship this newborn KING—

born to die for ME.

For YOU.

Merry Christmas.

Glory to the newborn King.

HE is my ‘Prince of Peace’.

Do you know Him?

If not seek Him today.

He is still calling for you.