Bible Ballistics: BBs #294      As Refreshing As Rain!!!

 

“Who hath divided a watercourse

for the overflowing of waters,

or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth,

where no man is;

on the wilderness,

wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground;

and to cause the bud

of the tender herb

to spring forth?” Job 38:25-27

And the answer is, GOD!!! Not the government nor the weatherman—but God sends the rain to refresh the wilderness or the inhabited places, regardless of whether any “man” is there or not!!! God sends the refreshing that we need, whether it be the rain to refresh the parched ground, or the dryness of our parched hearts and souls—God knows that we need refreshing, and He desires that we bring forth fruit to HIS glory! And we can with His provision, for there is none other that can do what our God does! We will never find peace and refreshing anywhere else—because it isn’t there!

“Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.” Jeremiah 14:22

God is providing all the time so that His children might flourish—but we must be paying attention and ready to “wait upon thee”. Yet often we get so caught up in the distractions of the world and life that we miss the provisions of God right in front of our faces. Sometimes we get in such a hurry, that we don’t’ “wait upon thee”, and God’s ways aren’t always immediately visible—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there!!! We must seek God and His will and way, and then His spiritual rain can refresh us to serve!

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow

from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish

that which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing whereto I sent it.”   Isaiah 55:9-11

Oh, that we would bask in the rain of God’s words so that we could be useful vessels to “accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it….”! We can trust God to do His work in us if we’ll but set our hearts and minds on knowing and hearing HIM!!!

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

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

 

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.12 When All Else Fails-God Won’t!!!

 

We all have times when the “roof falls in”, or the “bottom drops out”, or the “water is filling the boat”! What do we do when those things “blind side” us and catch us off guard? We must know that our foundation is secure; we must have confidence in our moorings, and know that our vessel is secure. Even when our vessel is afloat and trouble comes, we must fix our eyes on the Captain/Master at the helm. And when Jesus is your Master, you can have confidence and assurance that the moorings will hold, and that the true Master is at the helm. The danger for many of us is that we have forgotten that ‘a boat in the water is by design, but water in the boat is disaster’. We are so often allowing ourselves to be deceived into compromise with the world, and our boats are full of water—a deadly situation. We MUST fix our eyes on Jesus and keep our hearts and minds set on HIM!!!

As the author of Hebrews reminds us, faith in God is our substance and hope. And as he paints a picture of those who have walked in faith and obedience before us, he calls us to steadfastness in our own faith.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report……

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah,

being warned of God

of things not seen as yet,

moved with fear,

prepared an ark

to the saving of his house;

by the which he condemned the world,

and became heir of the righteousness

which is by faith…….

13 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……

32 And what shall I more say?

for the time would fail me to tell of

Gedeon,

and of Barak,

and of Samson,

and of Jephthae;

of David also,

and Samuel,

and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms,

wrought righteousness,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions…….

36 And others

had trial of cruel mockings

and scourgings,

yea, moreover of bonds

and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned,

they were sawn asunder,

were tempted,

were slain with the sword:

they wandered about in sheepskins

and goatskins;

being destitute,

afflicted,

tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

they wandered in deserts,

and in mountains,

and in dens

and caves of the earth.

39 And these all,

having obtained a good report

through faith,

received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us,

that they

without us

should not be made perfect…..”

Portions of Hebrews 11

But the writer didn’t stop there, he goes on in chapter 12 to remind us that we can take heart and confidence from the testimony and lives of faithful servants of God, those whose trust and obedience in the face of extreme circumstances display the faithfulness of God. Many today are often so caught up in the success and prosperity of many listed in the first portions of the chapter, that they forget those mentioned and praised in verses 37 and following; those who suffered and experienced sore trials and difficulties in the midst of their faith in God. Nowhere in scripture are we promised a life of “ease”—but we are called to live the “crucified” life and that means dying to self and living with total faith in what God is doing in, through and around us, regardless of the circumstances that we may encounter. As Hebrews 12 continues:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set

before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood,

striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation

which speaketh unto you

as unto children,

My son,

despise not thou the chastening

of the Lord,

nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he

whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”   Hebrews 12:1-8

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, we are to go forward knowing that Jesus endured the “cross” for our life and deliverance, and we have been saved to serve, not saved to be served—yet we have developed and encouraged a culture and generation of people who demand service and have no desire to serve Jesus. This is contrary to the nature of belonging to Jesus. What are we teaching in our Christian circles? Often anything and everything except the “Word of God”! Let’s get in the book and find out what God has to say about the expectations that God has for His own children. These verses remind us that God is using all events in our lives to grow us into “Adult” believers. While not all of our difficulties and trials are due to personal sin, we do need to examine ourselves and ask God to reveal HIS truth to us, that we might “order our steps” in HIS Word! But when the trials are just those circumstances that God has allowed into our lives to shape us into mature children, we must trust Him, look up and press on.

And in those experiences we can learn to “order our steps” in the Word, to know that God will meet us where we are and lead us into HIS place of provision. Something which only God’s children can know with confidence; not only the strength of the Lord, but the “joy” of the Lord as well as His power, peace, strength and understanding as we continue on.

“…..for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

“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.” Ephesians 6:10-11

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

How amazing and reassuring it is to walk in the confident knowledge that our God “reigns”!!! He is always working on our behalf and in Him we are secure—regardless of how it looks, in our own eyes or to others. Our God never fails!!!

“Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalm 89:33-34

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (See John 1:12-13)

“With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 32:8

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

Is HE in YOU? Are you depending on the “arm of flesh” or the arm of the Lord God Almighty? If He is your God, your Lord and Savior through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for your own personal sin, then you can have that same confidence; you can know that the “battle is not yours, but God’s”! We can join the Psalmist in the confidence and assurance that our help won’t come from some unknown ‘person, place or thing’, but it will come from the arm of The LORD God Almighty!!! And you can rest in His provision in all times and things that you may face, knowing the “battle is not yours, but God’s”!!!

So let’s join the Psalmist, and trust to the provision of our God, and Praise Him knowing that our “help cometh from the Lord”!!!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber

nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper:

the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”   Psalm 121:1-8

So my question for you today is, ‘Where is your confidence placed?” Is it in the Lord? Is it in worldly things that will fail? Look up, trust God and press on in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Cross that bought our salvation!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #293 A Testament To Faithfulness & Love!

 

Today I want to share a story of faithfulness and love that is a story of the ages. A story of deep and abiding love of God as well as love of a husband and a wife. Some of you who know me personally have followed the story of Jayd and Jacee, and I would like to honor them both today upon the passing of Jayd into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was not the end any of us were praying for but it was the end that God allowed to come. We don’t understand why, but we do know that the God we serve does right—our God is good—all the time. Because all the time—God is good, and we believe that and trust HIM!

I want to share just a part of their story, because I could never do it the justice that it deserves, although I pray that God would bring the ones closest to it to share it all, at some point in time. My purpose today is to simply express the joy and pride (not the ugly pride but the total delight in the extreme goodness of something) that I have for this precious couple, and to share the testament to love that they lived out. While I have known Jayd since he was born, I only came to know Jacee when she became of part of Jayd’s life, but she has stolen my heart, love and deep admiration. These two young people encouraged my faith and hope in what God is still doing among us, even in days of distress and horrific evil, which abounds all around us.

Jayd and Jacee both loved God through His Son Jesus, and lived lives that brought honor and glory to Him and were individual testaments to the world around them. But when God brought them together, little did they or any of us know what God would do through this precious couple. The impact that they have had on those around them and the world is without measure, until we join the Lord and see it through HIS eyes, and the actual scope of their influence and ministry through this journey.

Jayd and Jacee had been married barely six months when the dreaded “cancer” word entered their lives with the earth-shattering effect of a 10-point earthquake! I remember those days and the horror, grief and concern that so many of us felt. Yet this little couple and the family that stood by them were firm in their confidence that “God has this”! As it would turn out, the insurance that they thought they had, had been cancelled without notification. OH NO!!! Yet God in His sovereign plan opened a door for Jayd’s treatment back in Tennessee where he grew up, instead of his beloved Texas (his grandmother’s beloved home—yes a “Longhorn”!).

God provided treatments, doctors and so much more—so “GOD at work”! Jayd as a cowboy, had been working as a horse-wrangler in Texas and with his diagnosis he was now unemployed, and with the continual trauma of treatment, and the need for constant care, employment for Jacee was impossible, and she has been by his side almost without separation for the last thirty-plus months.

Well, what does a couple do when they are literally destitute? They depend upon God, and these two did that completely—and God was faithful to provide in various ways. God provided resources, places to stay at various stages and places for treatment. God provided for this precious couple all along the way through His means and ways–in amazing ways!!! This precious couple and the family that has stood by them have blessed my soul and I would like to share what I think God might say about them, and what He is calling us to in our life choices each day. We can all shine!

Jayd and Jacee—this is for you.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” Philippians 1:3

Jayd was a godly man who touched his world, and these are just a few of the things that scripture spoke to me about this man of character and integrity! May we take them to heart!

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” Proverbs 17:27

“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” Psalm 37:16

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

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

And the exploits that Jayd and Jacee have experienced speak volumes to the goodness of our God. And part of Jayd’s character is that he waited for the woman that God had for him, and boy, did God provide!!!

Jacee you make my heart sing with delight and you have lived this picture of a godly woman before the world, standing faithfully beside the man that you devoted yourself to. I know that GOD has great and amazing things ahead for you. Due to space I have chosen some portions of Proverbs 31 that just jumped off the page with your name on it. And in answer to the question “Who can find a virtuous woman?” there are two obvious answers—God found you for Jayd, and Jayd found you because He was following the same God that you each loved and served!!!

“Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust

in her,

so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil

all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax,

and worketh willingly with her hands…….. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength,

and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth

that her merchandise is good:

her candle goeth not out by night………..

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

when he sitteth among the elders

of the land……..

25 Strength and honour are her clothing;

and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways

of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness. ……..

her husband also,

and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously,

but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful,

and beauty is vain:

but a woman that feareth the Lord,

she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;

and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

Portions of Proverbs 31:10-31

And Jacee, you and Jayd will be praised in the Lord’s gates and HE will exalt you. I’m praising God for your faithful love and I’m excited to see what God has ahead!!! I LOVE YOU, and “thank my God upon every remembrance of you”!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #292 Do Words Really Matter???

 

“But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith curse we men,

which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth

blessing

and cursing.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth

at the same place sweet water

and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,

bear olive berries?

either a vine,

figs?

so can no fountain

both yield salt water

and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge among you?

let him shew out of a good conversation

his works

with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife

in your hearts,

glory not,

and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not

from above,

but is earthly,

sensual,

devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is,

there is confusion

and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above

is first pure,

then peaceable,

gentle,

and easy to be intreated,

full of mercy

and good fruits,

without partiality,

and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness

is sown in peace

of them

that make peace.” James 3:8-18

James tells us clearly that our words DO matter. Our words reveal and expose something important—what is in our heart. As verse 14 says, if we “have bitter envying and strife in your hearts”, we are not responding to the voice of God’s convicting Holy Spirit and dealing with our sin. We need to recognize that these “words” which lead to “actions” are not from the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit, but are clearly “earthly, sensual, devilish”!!! And we are surrounded by worldly, sensual and devilish activities at every turn—in public, on TV, on the radio and in the political arena—yet James clearly tells us that this doesn’t make it right!!! We must keep our hearts and minds set on God and His Word!!! Jesus also dealt with this principle.

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 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 12:34-35

Jesus made it clear that what comes out of the mouth originates in the heart. While we are still living in a body of flesh, and sometimes the flesh can do stupid things, like speak a word in anger or emotion, if our mouth is continually full of that which is evil, we better check out our heart. James describes a fountain, which cannot flow with salt water and sweet/fresh water at the same time. What comes ‘out’ of the fountain will tell us what is “IN” the fountain. And what comes out of our mouth (continually) will reveal what is in our hearts. We simply must examine our heart, and ask God to reveal our true heart condition!

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”    Psalm 139:23-24

Oh that we would learn to be transparent before our God. To lay our heart open before Him, that we might know how to walk before God and men. His Word is our compass!!!

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

And as Jesus taught us, we must understand that it is what is in the heart that affects our words and actions.

“And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 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: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:16-20

The context here is the practice of ritual washings, but Jesus tells His disciples and the religious leaders that it’s the heart that God is searching—and the actions will eventually reveal what is really in the heart. Are we just talking the talk to impress others—or do we really belong to Jesus. What do our words and deeds reveal? Will our lives display the Holy, merciful and gracious love of our God to a lost and dying world? What words will we hear from our Lord when we face HIM (and everyone shall bow before Him!!!)?

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13

Or may we joyfully hear:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

The choice is yours! May we all seek His face and purify our hearts for His service and His glory to be revealed through us, so that the world may know HIM and come to trust and believe in Him, as John so beautifully penned:

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.11 It’s Not A Game, We’re At War!!!

 

We in the American church have, for a great part, bought into what I believe to be the lies of the enemy. We have often let the world dictate how we operate and function. We have changed from what the church (as a whole) used to look like, behave like as well as what it preached from the pulpit. There was a time when the Word of God was the standard for our goals, means and methods, as well as the content and substance of our faith. What is it now?

Faith is NOT looking for ‘pie in the sky’, or “hoping for something that is non-existent”, or even saying that “everything will work out”! The Christian faith is “all about Jesus”—His death, burial and resurrection “FOR SIN” is the crux of the Gospel! Practicing something else doesn’t make it so!

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

When will we wake up and realize that we must stand on the Word of God? When will we stop trying to entertain people into heaven? When will we stop trying to entertain our children into the kingdom? We can’t do the world’s job as well as the world can, but then, we were never called to do the world’s work, but God’s work. That which is of the world will produce worldly results—that which is of God (from HIS Word, according to HIS Word, led by HIS SPIRIT and relying upon HIS results!) will produce godly results, miraculous heart-changing and world-changing results. We in the American church (as a whole—I’m not attacking any one) have set by and allowed the enemy to rob us of the power that God gave to us. We have settled for being popular over being the proclaimers of the truth of the Word of God, and possessor’s of the Holy Spirit—we stopped preaching the truth about sin, death and hell, and hopped on the bandwagon of pleasure and entertainment. God NEVER called us to ease, but to take up our CROSS and follow HIM! And HE went to the cross to die—the “cross” isn’t a cute ornament that we wear about our necks in lovely silver and gold, or place beautifully carved and crystallized on our walls and furniture—we must remember that in taking up “our cross” it is an instrument of death!!! It should mean I have given my life to Jesus to do with as HE pleases; that I desire to proclaim HIS truth regardless of the consequences. It means that I don’t compromise what Jesus said, what the Lord God Almighty said, or what the Bible says to please people and draw crowds of admirers. I am to proclaim the truth even (if not especially) when people don’t like it, and don’t want to hear it. I am not the first and I know I won’t be the last, because God chose His method and we should adhere to it if we are dead to ourselves and alive to Jesus.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

If I have died to myself, then I am to be “living” unto Jesus Christ and all that He has called, equipped and prepared me to be, to do and to accomplish. I am so guilty of betraying my Lord with “selfish” neglect of Him more often than I would want to admit, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a matter for which I often have to repent and get up and march forward in HIS strength time and time again. All because it IS His life that I want to live, even in my weak and often-failed efforts, my heart’s desire is to “LIVE” by “the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”! And I personally, don’t believe this is what we are teaching and living in many of our churches.

We are failing our children and young people by offering them a glitzy, song and dance time instead of calling them to be “Soldiers of the Cross”. We have settled for a ‘fun’ time instead of seeking genuine “faith” growing time. We expect to raise the present and next generation of believers and followers of Jesus by pampering, entertainment and letting them perceive that following Jesus is a fun-filled skip along life. I am sorry but I personally believe that this is why we are loosing our young people, when they leave the nest. We have deceived them and lied to them by our gross neglect to call them to, and teach them that following Jesus will cost them something—it will cost their whole lives. But the reward is incomparable to anything that the world can, or ever will give them.

Why do we not recognize that the very terrorists that we are afraid of, are calling children, and training them with hate, and yet they go because every person wants to be useful and valuable to something bigger than themselves. They promise lies, but we have the truth, yet we don’t call our children and youth to give their whole lives to Jesus, and trust Him to equip, use and reach the world through them. It’s not being done in many homes, and it certainly isn’t being done in most churches. I don’t mean to rant, but this is truly “LIFE” and “DEATH” to these children, to our churches and to our world. Are we raising faithful warriors or imitation Christians? Are we leading young people to the life-changing new birth—or more often to an imitation singing and dancing marathon entertainment session which teaches them that Jesus is just “another” option to call upon when they are in trouble; but He doesn’t really demand anything from you.

“Saying,

The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected of the elders

and chief priests and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words,

of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,

when he shall come

in his own glory,

and in his Father’s,

and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:22-26

Jesus Himself tells us that we must “take up his cross daily, and follow me”—it is a matter of eternal life or eternal death, and we must choose! But there are those today who don’t demand anything of those who inquire about Jesus. They offer a mere mental ascent that Jesus was a real person and sufficient to salvation, the come as you are and stay-as-you-are gospel. But scripture tells us that we must believe and receive the new birth as the only means of having “eternal life”—life-changing salvation!!!

“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

As Christians, as parents and grandparents we must realize the urgency of the hour, and stop compromising the lives and futures of our children. We must speak the truth to them, even a child can choose to do right or wrong (See Proverbs 20:11). But we are watering down the truth in an effort to attract them, not realizing that we are selling them short by not calling them to sacrifice.

Deuteronomy 6 is one of the greatest chapters for families in all of scripture, and it tells us clearly that we must first know God ourselves, and then we are to instruct our children in all our ways—taking those teachable moments to call them to a better way—the only way. And when we will commit to the higher call, there will come a day that they will ask “WHY” are we doing things this way? And our response is to share with them what God has done and is doing in our lives. We are to share with them the truths of God’s faithfulness and that HE has called us to this higher way. Instead, in many instances today, we are simply taking parts of God’s Word ad painting it up like the world so it will be palatable to the young. What it will do is fail them! We must stand fast—we MUST!!! Let’s observe some portions of Deuteronomy 6:

“Hear, O Israel:

The Lord our God is one Lord:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign

upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates……….

18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good

in the sight of the Lord:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in

and possess the good land

which the Lord sware unto thy fathers.

19 To cast out all thine enemies from

before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the Lord our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the Lord brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the Lord shewed

signs and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt,

upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the Lord commanded us

to do all these statutes,

to fear the Lord our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do all these

commandments

before the Lord our God,

as he hath commanded us.”    Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & 18-25

God told the Israelites that loving Him would be contagious if they would obey Him and share it continually with their young. His Word should be in their mouth, in their hearts and visible by their outward obedience to His commands. Why would we think we could succeed any other way? Because we have bought the lies of the devil—the enemy of our souls—and let the world come in and dictate to us what reaches men, women, boys and girls. God says here that genuine faith, lived out in what our hands find to do and what our eyes allow in (verse 8,), and where our feet take us; we are to live out our faith in God and His Word when we are walking around in our home our out and about, when we are taking it easy in our chair, when we lay down for the night and when we rise up in the morning! Our lives are to reflect the light of The Lord in all that we do—especially before our families. It is what God has established the family to do. And the church should be supporting this not trying to hinder or replace the family (although we are to be family to the widows and fatherless, see James 1:27).

When we have real life in Jesus, it will be seen in what we do, where we go and how we behave in all of our encounters in life. But when all we can do is “talk” about it, there will definitely be “a failure to communicate”! We will be revealing to the world what Peter speaks about in 2 Peter 2, and his discourse about false leaders and teachers. Are we calling our young people to just clean up the pig, or become soldiers of the cross?

“But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Proverbs 26:11

In other words, you can clean up a pig and tie a pretty bow around it’s neck, but it’s still a pig and when you let it go, it will return to “being” what it really is. Only God can regenerate a soul and change a “sinner” into a “saint”. And the other example needs no explanation; I will leave that to your imagination!!!   So what are we doing for our world when we dress up like the world, use the world’s methods, music and mass appeal, instead of proclaiming and teaching the Word of God in all its power and truth, and relying upon God to do HIS work in the hearts and lives of men, women, boys and girls? We are, in my humble opinion, muddying the waters and compromising the truths of the Gospel. We are lying to our children and young people when we lead them to think that serving God is just like serving the world, you just add the name of Jesus to the mix, and quote a few Bible verses and you’ll be ok! NOT!!!

Jesus calls us to separation, not compromise.

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said,

I will dwell in them,

and walk in them;

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

If we are to “come out from among them”, why would we want to imitate what they do, and bring it into the house of God? That is what Israel of old did, and they were judged for doing it—I do believe the time of our judgment is near America. We must “stand fast in the evil day”!

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

Will we hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant”? Or will we hear something else as we stand before our God? God please revive us, your people? May we see YOU?

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 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.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter be turned to mourning,

and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”    James 4:4-10

May God bring our hearts to see what we are doing as measured by HIS plumb line, and may our hearts grieve and turn from our sin and selfishness and seek His face in earnest repentance and sorrow—and then march forth in truth!!!

“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

May we sorrow unto repentance and be found faithful to His Word and His ways when He calls us, or returns for us, that we will not be deceived in our ways, or even worse not belong to Jesus at all!

 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:20-23

And how do we know we are doing the will of the Father? Only one way, and that’s to belong to Jesus and to be abiding in Him and not the world.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”   John 15:4-5

So my question for you today is, “Are you abiding”? Or are you doing “nothing” because you’re doing things the world’s way, or your way but not God’s way? I simply ask you to take it to Jesus and let HIM be the judge. He will reveal truth and wisdom to us if we but ask.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8

Abiding in Jesus will help prevent being double minded!!! And time in HIS Word will keep us from sin and error.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11