Bible Ballistics: “BBs”

Just a reminder today—we are in a battle.  We who belong to Jesus are in enemy territory and we can stand because of our confidence in Jesus and what He has done for us.

Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us our marching orders…..

”Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”—Remember God is our source of strength.

‘11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil’.—Satan is your enemy.

‘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’.—Your battle is mainly spiritual not physical, though it often involves the physical .

‘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.’—You MUST have on your armor NOW.

‘14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;’—You MUST stand in Jesus’ –HE is truth and righteousness (see Jn 14:6 & 2 Cor. 5:21).

‘15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace’;—Jesus ALONE gives us peace with God and of God (see Romans 5:1)

‘16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked’.—Make sure your faith is in the right place, in Jesus’ power not your own (see Philippians 4:13 & Hebrews 11:1,6)

‘17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:’—The battle is in your mind & heart, guard them with the Word.  If you’ll put it in, God will bring it out at the right time (see John 14:26 & Phil 4:7).

‘18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;’—Remember, prayer is your lifeline—keep the line open and active continually.(See 1 Thes. 5:17, Rom 1:9, & 2 Tim 1:3).

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—?????  Suit up—be ready.

So?  ??????  Keep looking up!!!

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”                     09/04/13

Philippians 4:1,4-7 “1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved… 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Paul reminds us of our relationship to one another—beloved. He called his beloved to “stand fast in the Lord”. Let’s consider this call today.  Stand fast dearly beloved. How?  Well, since we have a “therefore”, we ask ‘what’s it there for?’  When we refer back to chapter 3, we see it’s because of our soon returning KING, Jesus.  We can do all that we are called to do because of Jesus:

• Stand Fast IN THE LORD.

• Rejoice in the Lord always…..and AGAIN…Rejoice (we need repetition).

• Live a life of moderation—not given to extremes in our behavior and interactions with others, visible moderation—self-control.

• Why?  Because the LORD IS AT HAND.

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—!!!!

• Be careful for nothing—don’t worry!!!

• but pray about every thing gratefully! (notice it’s not everything but ‘every thing’—each step, every step)

So?  The results –the incomprehensible “peace of God”-which shall keep your hearts and minds—through Christ Jesus! 

• Need peace today?
  • Stand,
  • rejoice,
  • exercise moderation–control yourself,
  • don’t worry
  • and PRAY!!!!

So?  ??????  Keep looking up!!!

Bible Ballistics: A Race? September 1, 2013 Vol. 2 No.16 

After being on the road this week, I couldn’t help but think of our spiritual journey and our readiness to see our Lord when our journey ends.  We are on a journey and we are to be ready for whatever comes our way. 

·      Proverbs 27:1 says,  “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

Live for today-it’s all we have! 

In parts of Matt 6:24-34, Jesus said

·      “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?…..But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”  (sounds like our Proverb above doesn’t it?)

So what about my journey, my race? Am I seeking God first? Am I seeking HIS kingdom?  Driving home this week, half way across the country, we had to make some decisions.  When would we leave, which route would we take, would we travel in the daytime or nighttime?  Would we drive straight through, or stop and make some visits?  Our trip required some planning and a commitment to stay on track to get home.  Our spiritual journey also involves some thought.  We often get so caught up in our “faith” talk that we forget about the “walk” talk– the “Walk” itself.  No matter the length or difficulty of our journey it all begins with one step (Jesus), it continues with steps—some small, some large, but steps (still in Jesus).  The above verses call us to be single-minded in this journey, to continually seek God’s kingdom and not our own. 

·      Mammon is “wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion”. 

We cannot serve God and mammon!!!  Who am I serving?  God? Or me? Where are my steps going? 

Scripture also teaches that we are to make provision for our needs and those of our families. 

·      1 Tim. 5:8 says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

How are we to provide God’s way?   

·      1 Tim 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

It’s not the money that is the “root of all evil” but the “love of money”.  And though we are not to be ‘in love’ with money, we do have an obligation to provide for our own.  

How?  God will lead us in this pursuit.  If we will follow!!!

·      James 4:15 “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” 

Not focusing on money, but focusing on God who will guide us in right ways to provide. Are we working for the Lord or just “mammon”?  How about you?  Are we ready if Jesus called us home today?  Would we hear “well done thou good and faithful servant” or something else?  

·      Remember, “my God shall supply….”  (See Phil 4:19)

And although we are blessed every moment, our final reward isn’t in this life. 

·      Hebrews 11:13-16, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

We see in this passage that “these” other believers who have preceeded us into glory,  

·      1)‘died in faith’,

·      2) had ‘not received the promises’,

·      3) saw ‘them afar off’,

·      4) were ‘persuaded of them’ (the promises),

·      5) ‘embraced them’,

·      6) ‘confessed them’,

·      7) knew they were ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth’,

·      8) ‘seek a country’ (not on this earth),

·      9) but ‘an heavenly’ one,

·      10) and knew finally, that God is their God, and He is  ‘unashamed to be called their God’,

·      11)and that He has ‘prepared for them a city’   

·    Seeking God and His reward not just earthly riches (See Matt. 6:19-20). 

We who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation have a “better country” to which we are going.  This life and its troubles aren’t ‘as good as it gets’, praise God.  Our journey has a heavenly destination, and our focus can be a heavenly one.  Where are your eyes?

Jesus proclaimed this same message in

·      John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”   

In conclusion,

·      “…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”  Hebrews 12:1b-2a. 

Have a great week “walking” with Jesus….

Bible Ballistics: “BBs”  #5

For our “BBs” today I’d like to approach it a little differently.  Still God’s Word but a step by step, walk-through for today.

Psalm 37:23-25  “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

A good man is one who know Jesus—and when we know Jesus, our steps are “ordered by the Lord” and God knows everywhere our feet tread.  He also ‘delights’  in our way.  Oh, how glorious to know that God takes delight in His own.  You!!!  Me!!!

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Our God knows that we will stumble, but HE watches over us to see that we are never “utterly cast down”.  HE holds us in the palm of His hand.

• John 10:28-30 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.”

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Time never changes our God!  What confidence!

So?  Here’s our shot for the day—Let God order your steps!!

So?  Remember whose you are, trust to His ways, and even when you fall—-reach out for God’s hand.  It’s always there for YOU.  And……   Keep looking up!!!