Category Archives: The Word

Clean And Pure! Really??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #437

16 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Anger, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Holiness, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Made like Jesus!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #437   Clean And Pure! Really???

 

We talked last time about Jesus—the real “Valentine”—The One who loves us and gave Himself for our salvation. But how are we to live this life of faith—the life of a child of God. Well there’s only One way to have a clean and pure walk with God, and that’ to walk with HIM, by the power of His Spirit.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”    Zechariah 4:6

Only by God’s power can we succeed in any part of life, and He has given His Holy Spirit to dwell within each one whom He saves.

“That we should be to the praise of his glory,

who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed,

ye were sealed with that holy Spirit

of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance

until the redemption

of the purchased possession,

unto the praise

of his glory.”    Ephesians 1:12-14

Praise God it is HIS power not our own! As I’m was sitting here writing this—an interruption came! An interruption that has attempted to steal my joy and the power of HIS Spirit in me; an attempt to get my heart and mind off of my Lord and onto the works of my flesh—anger and frustration that take our minds off of HIM and onto ‘me’! But thanks to God’s gentle reminder, I am His and “this too shall pass”, and it’s: “Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts”!

Talk about an ‘object lesson’ right in the middle of this post—God is so good—and He brought this very verse that I was about to write, right into my heart and mind for real!

“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.” James 4:5-8

Lord, I thank you that YOU remind me when my heart and mind start being distracted and get dirty by the interruptions of the world. Help me to “Cleanse” my hands and to “purify” my heart when the enemy tries to distract me from my calling!!! I’m so grateful that you are ever with us, working to make us more like our Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus!!! May Jesus be praised in us always—and that can only happen when we yield to Your Spirit who is working within us 24/7! Amen and Amen. May you let God reveal your distractions to you today too!

“And we know that

all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren….

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake

we are killed

all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep

for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.”   Romans 8:28-29 & 35-37

Amen and Amen!!!

The Real Valentine??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #436

14 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Forgiveness, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love, Love Is Action, Salvation, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #436    The Real Valentine???

 

A Happy Valentine’s Day to you all—a day when we celebrate ‘love’! And we can celebrate ‘love’ without all the commercial trappings (Although chocolate trappings are always welcome J!)! I pray that your day will be blessed with time with the people you love and those who love you. What a privilege to be blessed with love, yet it is God’s love that enables us to really love others; so let’s spend a few minutes this morning rehearsing the beauty of God’s love revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

“And we have seen and do testify

that the Father sent the Son

to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess

that Jesus is the Son of God,

God dwelleth in him,

and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed

the love that God hath to us.

God is love;

and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God,

and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect,

that we may have boldness

in the day of judgment:

because as he is,

so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.

He that feareth is not made perfect

in love.

19 We love him,

because he first loved us.”   1 John 4:14-19

We are loved by God!!! Oh, how much He loves us; so much so, that HE gave Jesus that we might have life and not death, through forgiveness of our sin, by HIS own blood!

“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.”   John 3:14-18

God “so loved” that HE “gave” Jesus to be the payment for our sin, yet not only to pay for our sin, but to also give us new life—not ‘pie-in-the-sky’ life, that’s ‘way beyond the blue’—but life that is new right now. God gives us “abundant” life right now, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior through repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice (in my place, for my debt, giving His life for mine!)!

Are you walking in that ‘love’ that He puts within the hearts of His own? When Jesus saves us, we become a reflection of HIS ‘love’ to the world; and having HIM with us—today and each day—we can share HIS ‘love’ where ever we go

“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.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”    Romans 5:1-5

Amen and Amen!!! Let’s reflect HIS love today; somebody we meet may need to see HIM in us!!!

No Other Hope!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #434

07 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, HOPE, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, Trials, Troubles

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #434    No Other Hope!!!

 

“Who hath saved us,

and called us with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose

and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,……..

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.”   2 Timothy 1:9 & 12

I love the old Hymn taken right from this song, and it reverberates in my heart even this morning as my heart is heavy for people that I love who are in hard places! We all have times in hard places—some more difficult and heart wrenching than we can even imagine or communicate to others, but our GOD is faithful and HE hasn’t forgotten about YOU! And my friends, that is one of the reasons that God gives us each other—to carry the load; to bear the burden; to lift up the prayers; to grieve with those who can’t bear the burden alone!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfil the law of Christ.”   Galatians 6:2

We can only bear the burdens of others because God is carrying us—the living Lord Jesus Christ “who loved me, and gave himself for me”, who not only died for me/us, but HE lives for us, ever interceding for His own, especially those who are so burdened that they have stumbled under the load, and cannot carry their burden alone!

“Wherefore he is able also

to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.”   Hebrews 7:25

Did you get that? Jesus is alive and is faithful to “make intercession” for YOU and me, my dear friends! Talk about a prayer warrior!!! The Prince of Heaven is ever making intercession for us! And because HE is who HE is—we can press on, knowing that He isn’t a dead savior, but our living Lord! Even Job had this great assurance!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”   Job 19:25-27

Job declared His confidence in God, regardless of how his circumstances seemed to contradict his relationship with God—Job knew who he knew, and who knew him!!!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:1

We must simply decide where we will place our faith, our confidence! Will it be in men, in our circumstance, in doctors or drugs, in any other thing upon this earth? Or will we remember that our God REIGNS, and trust Him with it all, regardless of what our eyes behold or our ears hear?

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labour of the olive shall fail,

and the fields shall yield no meat;

the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength,

and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,

and he will make me to walk

upon mine high places……”   Habakkuk 3:17-19

We serve a faithful God, The Lord who is at work no matter how things may look. So, whatever you’re going through, no matter how dark the skies may appear, no matter how tired and weary-to-the-bone you may be—look up–your “redemption draweth nigh”, and cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear what man shall do

unto me.”   Hebrews 13:5-6   Amen!!!

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 02

04 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.02 God Is Still God!!!

 

“I will love thee,

O LORD,

my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”   Psalm 18:1-3

We could stop right here with an Amen and Amen! God is still God, and the rules haven’t changed. God is The One who created us, and he delivers those who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ His Son. And Jesus is The One who will Judge every man, woman, boy and girl! Jesus IS “The Word”—and “The Word” will ever stand as the plumb line of God’s truth—for He IS truth!

“There is a way

that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”    Matthew 7:13-15

Every person is given a free will with which to choose to respond to God’s call, or to reject God, yet while we have the privilege to choose, we do not have the right or the ability to choose the consequences of our choices, for the consequences have been set by God! We can choose to hear God’s call, and respond in repentance and faith to Jesus, or we can follow that “broad is the way” to destruction! There is only One way—One truth—and One giver of ‘life’!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

Not only is Jesus “the way…the truth…and the life…” He is the very essence of God, HE IS God.

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

Just as Jesus was rejected by those to whom He came in His physical presence, men and women are still rejecting Him today!!! But every choice has a consequence—either the life that Jesus gives, by His own blood that He shed on the cross—or the destruction that is at the end of that “broad…way”! Have you chosen God’s way or your own? God hasn’t changed, He hasn’t moved, and His Way hasn’t been altered! Only The Son can give you life—eternal life today into forever!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

And He is “the same”—the same Son of God who came to save us and to deliver those who will come to Him by faith!

“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.

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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:10-13 Amen!

Jesus came that we might be “born again” into life with Him!

“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.” John 3:15-16

And Jesus can give us life, because HE IS life—HE IS God—then, now, and forever! Will you accept His gift of love for you? This God-Man came that you could have His life within YOU! That we could know Him and walk in confidence of what He is doing in HIS own!

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 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.”   John 10:26-30

So in closing, I simply have a few questions for you and me: ‘Are we letting God be God? Or have we taken His throne in our own lives?’ Who is your God? You need to be sure—because God is sure!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”    2 Timothy 2:19

And don’t forget, there is a judgment day coming—and Jesus is the standard—no exceptions!

“For the word of God is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

Remember God is still God. Always was—ever shall be!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8   Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus Loves Even ME!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #433

02 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Attitude of Gratitude, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Holy Spirit, I Will Never Leave You, Praise God Today!, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #433    Jesus Loves Even ME!!!

 

Praise God, He loves you and me—He loves us so much that HE gave us Jesus—and that is worthy of our praise and gratitude. I’d just like to share a little joy and praise for your day!

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.

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.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:” James 1:16-19

Slow to get angry (a seemingly foreign concept in our culture), but quick to listen and praise God—by the power of His Holy Spirit, we can live lives that please and praise our God! For “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above”, and Jesus is the greatest gift of all—as Fernando Ortega sings, “Just Give Me Jesus”! Oh, to ever live with that on my mind, in my heart and coming from my lips!!! May it ever be–because God saved me/you at the cost of His “only begotten Son”!

“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.” John 3:16-17

Amen and Amen!!! All because HE loves us!

“This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion,

saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.”   Jeremiah 3:21-25

What a faithful God we love and serve!!! Truly we can praise Him and rejoice in HIS great faithfulness. Here’s some more food for thought for your day.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”    1 John 4:19

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

Amen and Amen!!!