Bible Ballistics: BBs #297   “For The Lord IS Good”!!!

 

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord

he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into

his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the Lord

is good;

his mercy

is everlasting;

and his truth

endureth

to all generations.” Psalm 100

A word of encouragement for your Friday, for we can truly “Know ye that the Lord he is God” and take comfort and rejoice in that truth. We can know that “the Lord is good” —it is His nature, His character—but His goodness is also in perfect righteousness and holiness. He will accomplish His purpose in all things, because “HE IS GOD” and we are NOT! And I am so glad that we can trust to the perfect, sovereign, just and righteous nature of our Lord God Almighty! And one day all will see Him as He IS!

“Make a joyful noise unto God,

all ye lands:

2 Sing forth

the honour of his name:

make his praise glorious.

3 Say unto God,

How terrible art thou in thy works!

through the greatness of thy power

shall thine enemies submit themselves

unto thee.

4 All the earth shall worship thee,

and shall sing unto thee;

they shall sing to thy name. Selah.” Psalm 66:1-4

Did you get that “All the earth shall worship thee”—ALL? Paul also reminds us “every knee shall bow”! Our God, Jesus His Son, and His Holy Spirit, will be acknowledged by ALL on “that day”. And this fact should make us grateful people, but also burdened people. Burdened to share the truth in our words, our actions, and our lifestyles—our whole lives—to be a living testament to the truth of the life-changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The One who came and gave all for “the world”! (See John 3:1-21)

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved,

as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”    Philippians 2:1-13

Let’s start at the “end” of this passage, “For it is God which worketh in you”!!! When God saves us, He works in “all things…….to conform us to the image of His Son” (see Romans 8:28-29), because we are then HIS children and He desires the very best for us, and from us. And we are to “work out” what God has put within us—NOT working “for” our salvation, but working “out” the salvation that God has put “within” us!!! We are to have “this mind” of Christ! The mind of a humble servant, because we serve the Living Lord; the King of Kings; the Risen Savior; the One before whom “every knee should bow”! And that should produce confident joy, thanksgiving and praise to our GOD! But we shouldn’t be keeping the Good News to ourselves, for the question isn’t “will YOU bow?”, but “when”, and there are consequences that come with our choices!

Will you bow before HIM now when you hear His voice call to your heart? Will you bow before the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now, when His Spirit calls you to repent and believe? That is the question–“when” NOT “if”! You can bow before Him now and enjoy “abundant” life with Jesus now and for all eternity! Or you can reject Him now and live life on YOUR terms, Your own way, the way of the world, but you will bow before Him then, when HE comes, as your judge. And then, there won’t be any more opportunity to bow before the Savior Jesus, but you will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ as YOUR judge, and you will have set the verdict by your own choice! (See Rev. 20)

So I’ll simply close with some words from Haggai (A little know minor prophet, with a big message!). You/we can “consider” whose we are and rejoice in being a “child of the King”, or you can ponder who’s you are not along with the consequences of that choice.

“Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts;

Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much,

and bring in little;

ye eat,

but ye have not enough;

ye drink,

but ye are not filled with drink;

ye clothe you,

but there is none warm;

and he that earneth wages

earneth wages

to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts;

Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:5-7

Will you rejoice in belonging to Jesus?

Will you come to Him today, if you don’t yet belong to HIM?

Or will you refuse to bow now, knowing you WILL bow then?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #296      Out Of Order??????

 

We were watching a new program on television last evening and it just struck at my heart, but not in a good way. The program took ‘prime time’ opportunity to validate sin. Of course the theme was not only sexual, but involved teenagers and sexuality, so of course, “everything” is “alright”! It made the sex outside of marriage ok. It made perversion ok. And then one of the characters made a remark about the “children hurting”! Well of course, the children are hurting we have led them astray by our complacency, our compromise of the truth, and our lack of courage to “stand fast in the evil day” (See Ephesians 6:10-18)!!! I must tell you, I won’t be watching this program!

 

When will we wake up to the facts that we have failed to do as Deuteronomy 6 instructs parents; first of all to “love The Lord” ourselves, then live lives of obedience to God before our children, and teach them continually as we walk through this lost and dying world with them. We must recognize where we are and stem the tide here. Now! I can’t change the world, but I can be “light” and “salt” right where I am. I must be faithful with the “least” before God can trust me with “great” things. But then we also must remember that what the world calls “great”, GOD may NOT!!! We must be sure that we are walking HIS way, not our way or the world’s way, but GOD’s way! And we find that “way” in the Bible!!!

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated

between you

and your God,

and your sins have hid his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.” Isaiah 59:1-4

If this isn’t America—then I am blind, deaf and dumb. We have abandoned truth for lies, and not only abandoned truth but have changed the truth into a lie, and have embraced lies for truth.

“Woe unto them

that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise in their own eyes,

and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them

that are mighty to drink wine,

and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked for reward,

and take away the righteousness

of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore

as the fire devoureth the stubble,

and the flame consumeth the chaff,

so their root shall be as rottenness,

and their blossom shall go up as dust:

because they have cast away the law

of the Lord of hosts,

and despised the word

of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 5:20-24

Again this could have been written to America as well as Israel several thousand years ago. The message is still true and we are still willfully blind to our own sin.

Those of us who hold to the Biblical standard of truth and right are being continually minimalized and marginalized. We are receiving the same ridicule and scorn that our Lord received from the leaders of His day. But what will we do in the face of this harangue against truth? We must stand fast, and continue to “withstand in the evil day” (See Ephesians 6 again), for we are living in “the evil day”! We are not to cave and compromise, but we are to “stand fast” in the Truth of the Word of God, and the Redeemer who came to save this lost and dying world “from their sins”.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus came to “save his people from their sins”, and when He saves us He doesn’t leave us in our sins, but He is continually changing us into His own image. He makes us NEW, in Himself, and by His blood delivers us from our SIN!!!

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

And that is exactly what Jesus meant when He talked with Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Him by night. Jesus told Nicodemus that it wasn’t “religion” that saves and changes lives, but being “born again”.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”     John 3:3-8

We must be born again by the Word (JESUS is the WORD, as well as His ‘words’!) and the Spirit. The Spirit imparts the “New Birth” to all who will come in repentance and faith.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5

Jesus became flesh and blood to die for us that we might have new life in and by His Spirit. That which had died in man because of sin (See Genesis 3), Christ brings to life anew in those who will come to Him.

“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.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.” John 1:11-14

Jesus gives new life to those who will receive Him and believe in His sacrificial, atoning death for OUR SIN!!! He died for my sin NOT His own, for He came as the sinless Lamb of God to pay for our sin. He died so that we can have “life” rather than eternal “death” in Hell/The Lake of Fire.

“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.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

And as Jesus saves us “from” our sins, He also “keeps” us, and if there is no change—we better check out what we think saved us! Paul makes it clear that change is part of the evidence of God’s work within us.

“Know ye not

that the unrighteous shall not inherit

the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators,

nor idolaters,

nor adulterers,

nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves,

nor covetous,

nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but ye are washed,

but ye are sanctified,

but ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God.”     1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Don’t miss the “KEY” of this passage, yes it’s describing SIN—controlling, pervading, life-consuming sin—yet the “key’ isn’t the sin, it’s the “were” and the “BUT”!!! It says, “such were some of you” and then three times Paul emphasizes the truth of the life-transforming power of the Cross!

“but ye are washed,

 but ye are sanctified,

        but ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God”

So the question today is, “Are you living an unregenerate life without Jesus?” Or are you “claiming” to belong to Jesus and still “living an unregenerate life without HIM”? Or are you “born again” by the “Spirit of God” and walking in the victory of the Cross? Are you unsure of where you are? God knows, and if you’ll but ask Him, HE will give you the answers to the questions that are plaguing you.

 

“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

Is something “Out Of Order” in your life? Jesus can set it right and He will, if you will but seek HIS face. He died for you and He will give you “NEW” life through the blood of the Lamb! But there is only ONE WAY—and that way is Jesus, and HE won’t leave you in your sin!!!

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

“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

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

The choice is yours—it is a matter of life or death!!! You don’t have to stay “Out Of Order”!!! “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.13  We All Get Weary!!!

 

Dear friends, we all experience times when we become weary and tired of the things going on around us. Sometimes it is physical, at other times it’s emotion stress that brings us to a state of weariness, and then there are sometimes just times when it all seems to pile up on our plate and we don’t think we can take one more step. But God knows that our human struggles can cause us to wobble—but like the old advertisement, “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down”—yet we can stand fast in the promises, the power and the provision of our God.

What we must do is keep our eyes on Jesus, knowing that He is at work in our lives in all things, conforming us into His image. And that my friends, is sometimes painful and wearisome, but we can press on knowing that our confidence and sufficiency is in our GOD, NOT our SELF!!!

“Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the Lord,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching

of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint

and be weary,

and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

God is reminding us, in this favorite passage of mine, that we will fall on our own—BUT in His power we can persevere!!! We can make it because IN Jesus we are overcomers! And we aren’t doing it on our own because:

“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

We have that power which Isaiah and John both referred to—God’s power, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, which the blood of Jesus provides to those who come to Him in repentance and faith. And when we belong to Jesus, He empowers us to press on, not on our own, but BY His Spirit. Because of what Jesus did at Calvary, and what He is doing within our hearts right now, we can press on despite the weariness that plagues our flesh. With Jesus we can overcome, and abiding in Him is the key!

“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

This is also why Paul reminded us about putting on the armor of God, and that putting on God’s armor is an act of dependence on our HIM, not on our flesh.

“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

We can be confident that even in our weariness, we can overcome. We can stand, even as Paul goes on in verse 13 to remind us (and we are there, folks, we are there), “that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”

So what must we do? We must keep our eyes on Jesus, we must suit up in our armor every day, and we must walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. Let’s look at some scriptures that I pray will encourage us in those things.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh……..25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 & 25

And if I may paraphrase a bit, if we are “alive” by the Spirit of Christ in Salvation, we are to “walk in the Spirit”! It is the Holy Spirit of Christ who enables us to live victorious, overcoming lives, which can bring glory to God, and increase HIS kingdom. And it is all because of the relationship that we have through the blood of the Lamb, the relationship that Jesus reinstates between God and man, for those who will believe in His atoning sacrifice for sin on Calvary!

“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

God’s love and God’s Spirit are given to us so that we can be a reflection of HIS glory to a lost and dying world. We must not let the weariness of life; the struggles or spiritual battles deter our efforts.

“And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”    Galatians 6:9-10

“But ye, brethren,

be not weary

in well doing.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13

So whether our difficulties are due to the trials of life, the testing of the Lord, or the discipline that God exercises on His children, we are to press on. If we examine ourselves and find sin, we are to repent and press on. If we determine that it’s not sin, then we are to submit to the sovereign work of our God and seek His face and His will in all our ways, pressing on for the reward of a life well lived!

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forth

unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling

of God

in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore,

as many as be perfect,

be thus minded:

and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,

God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already

attained,

let us walk by the same rule,

let us mind the same thing.”Philippians 3:13-16

And God reminds us that we are never alone; He is with us, and those who have gone on before us, have left an heritage of faithfulness by their examples in Hebrews 11 (for a start!) and Hebrews 12 goes on to remind us what that should evoke in us.

“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.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh

which corrected us,

and we gave them reverence:

shall we not much rather be in subjection

unto the Father of spirits,

and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us

after their own pleasure;

but he for our profit,

that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present

seemeth to be joyous,

but grievous:

nevertheless

afterward

it yieldeth the peaceable fruit

of righteousness

unto them

which are exercised thereby.”    Hebrews 12:1-11

That leaves the question, “Are you a son/daughter of God?” If you are, then there will be trials, disciplines and difficulties in this life but we can trust our God to encourage us when we are “dis”couraged, to lift us up when we are down; to even walk with us through the “valley of the shadow of death”!!! Our God is there for us always—He promised He would be and He IS!!!

“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

The Prophet Jeremiah knew this faithfulness of God, even as his beloved Jerusalem lay in ruins; and God knows your ruins too!!! You can fix your eyes on Jesus and His faithfulness? So will you join Jeremiah and rejoice in the mercies of God?

“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.” Lam. 3:22-24

We must not faint in the heat of the workday, we must press on with Jesus because He will provide!

       “And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”

       “But ye, brethren,

be not weary

in well doing.”

So, let’s “press toward the mark” and keep our “eyes on the prize”!! And my friends, JESUS is the prize. We have eternal life with God Almighty the Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit forever and forever. The reaping is ahead—so let’s not faint in weariness—we WIN!!!

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

How can we make it? By the blood of the Lamb and the power of HIS Spirit within those who are saved!!!

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

Bible Ballistics: BBs #295      The Rain Of The Word!!!

 

As we talked last time about the refreshing of rain to our world and our souls, I’d like to take that on a step farther and look at the refreshing that our souls need and where we find it. Often we find ourselves in a spiritual desert and wonder how we will survive; yet God has promised that we will never be there alone regardless of our circumstances.

“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 12:5-6

And because my confidence is in Jesus, and The Father God Almighty, I can press on and so can you! Because when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, He makes us “new” creatures “in Christ Jesus” (See 2 Corinthians 5:17), and are “washed” in the “water of the word”! We become part of the “bride” of Christ Jesus and His body.

“Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ also loved the church,

and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify

and cleanse it with the washing

of water

by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself

a glorious church,

not having spot,

or wrinkle,

or any such thing;

but that it should be holy and without blemish.”     Ephesians 5:25-27

Jesus bought our salvation with His own blood, and He washes us and cleanses us through His Word, and His words, and His purpose is that we will be sanctified (set apart for His purposes and service) and cleansed (from the filth of the world)—and how are we cleansed and sanctified? By the “water” of “the word”, to the end that we will be pleasing to our “groom” when He comes for us.

No one has ever been to a wedding and watched a lovely “bride” walk down the aisle in a “dirty”, “stained” or “grimy” dress! No, we see a lovely bride walking down the aisle looking for the pleasure and approval of her “groom”—yet we often give no thought of what our lives will look like when our “groom” calls us to Himself, whether it be by death or His calling of His church out of this world. What will your groom see? A lovely, spotless and delightful bride—or will we come with our lives stained and corrupted by the filth of the world all over us. We need to keep ourselves clean for our Lord’s coming, that we might be found ready when He comes. And we can only do that when we willing to walk in God’s ways, to know His Word, and to continually seek His cleansing through the Word of God. It is Jesus-The Word- who saves us and it is Jesus-through the cleansing power of His Word-who keeps us.

“But after that the kindness and love of God

our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us

abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Savior;”    Titus 3:4-6

We have received all that we need to walk in God’s ways, through the regeneration that the blood of Jesus works within His own; for He not only saves us but also equips us to accomplish all that He calls us to do, through Jesus!

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us

all things that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”    2 Peter 1:2-4

And one of the greatest gifts that God has given to us is the Holy Spirit who will give us understanding of the Word of God that we might be “conformed” to the image of The Son Jesus Christ. And I believe another great gift that we have been given, is the Word Of God. But if we don’t avail ourselves of the Word, we will be powerless in our efforts for the Lord. Just playing church will never increase the kingdom of God in a meaningful way. Only the changed, empowered and Spirit-filled lives of people who live what they “talk” and demonstrate to the world the transforming power of the cross and the blood of Jesus. Two things that many find repulsive today—but they are the only hope for our world. So we must get into the word to know what God desires of us, to know what pleases HIM and accomplishes HIS will rather than that which pleases and soothes the feelings of “men”! We must get into The WORD!!!

“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

We must know the Word of God and then yield ourselves to the transforming power that is in it.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

God is not calling all of us to die for Him, but He is calling all of us who are His children, to die to ourselves and live for HIM! He is calling us to live by the power of the Holy Spirit with transformed lives; lives that are not conformed to the world but are being continually transformed by the power of the cross, the Word and the Holy Spirit, into the image of “Jesus”! And when we are willing to do that –then the world will see and know that there is a God who saves and transforms lives by the power of the Jesus’ blood.

So won’t you join me today and seek to know Him more by saturating our lives with HIS Word rather than the ways and influences of the world. May we recognize and appropriate the valuable Word of God for ourselves that like Paul we can proclaim:

“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

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

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