Bible Ballistics: BBs #250   How Great “I” Art???

One of the favorite songs of Christendom is “How Great Thou Art”, but it seems in our day that we have replaced the pronoun “Thou” with “I”! We hear so much banter in these politically charged days that we seem to be forgetting that our allegiance is to God, not man, self, worldly ideologies or material things. Jesus talks about our attitude of service.

“And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

7 But which of you,

having a servant

plowing or feeding cattle,

will say unto him by and by,

when he is come from the field,

Go and sit down to meat?

8 And will not rather say unto him,

Make ready wherewith I may sup,

and gird thyself,

and serve me,

till I have eaten and drunken;

and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

9 Doth he thank that servant

because he did the things

that were commanded him?

I trow not. (trow=think)

10 So likewise ye,

when ye shall have done all those things

which are commanded you,

say,

We are unprofitable servants:

we have done that

which was our duty to do.”   Luke 17:6-10

Unprofitable: (of an activity) not beneficial or useful.

What is Jesus telling us? Good question, and I don’t have all the answers, and even if I did we wouldn’t have time or space to cover them all; but I would like us to glean a few bits of encouragement and insight into our role as believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

The context of this passage is the great discussion about forgiveness, where Jesus has just called the disciples to forgive, not 70 times but 70X7, when we are asked for forgiveness (and that’s a subject for another day), and they asked Jesus to “Increase our faith”! Our passage is Jesus response to them, and His first response is to point out to them that “faith” is doesn’t have to be a “large” thing to be effective, but I think we often misunderstand what He is telling us. You see it’s not the “size” of my faith but the “size” of my God! Jesus goes on to remind us pointedly that we are the servants to God and NOT vice versa!

Faith is NOT a dictatorial right to command God to do what “I” want done. Rather, if I have come to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I have ‘bowed the knee’ to the King of kings and Lord of lords, and should be acknowledging that God is my master, which makes “me” the servant. Oh, I am the “servant”?

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 4:35

God IS God and regardless of the boastings of men, as to their ability, and/or standing before God, it would appear that God’s standard is NOT man’s. We see that Jesus goes on to give a scenario of “servant hood”, and shows us that the comfort and desires of the servant is not the ‘focus but the will and desires of the “master” of the servant.

Jesus says that when we have served our “shift” and the master is in need of personal service, HE doesn’t tell us to sit down and take care of ourselves, but to tend to HIS needs before we attend to our own. WHOA! Do what, don’t I have a “break” due? Well, maybe I do, and maybe I don’t, the point is, “I” am the servant and GOD is the master, and I am to understand to order of things. While I trust my God to know all things, and do what is good for me (because HE has promised He will), I am to realize that my place is to be available to the master for HIS pleasure.

Jesus goes on to say something that seems to fly in the face of reason in our culture of “selfies” and “greed”; Jesus asks a question, “Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?” And His answer pulls most of us up short! Jesus, in our vernacular, said “NOT”! He tells the disciples:

“So likewise ye,

when ye shall have done all those things

which are commanded you,

say,

We are unprofitable servants:

we have done that

which was our duty to do”

So, what is our Lord saying to us? I believe Jesus is reminding us that we aren’t “good Christians” because we speak His name; we’re not “great Christians” because we think we are; we are “servants”, and “servants” are to seek to please the master, and when we have done only “that which was our duty to do” we are “unprofitable servants”, by definition our activity is “not beneficial or useful”! Why? Because we are saved by the grace of God and we are to serve Him from love and devotion, not meeting some artificial standard that men have set as that which makes a “good” Christian. There is only one test of our usefulness to God, and that is what God says about it.

As scripture tells us, we will all give and account to Him who “committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23b). That is who Jesus was trusting, when He endured suffering for our salvation!

There is a day coming when God will judge all men—the righteous, the unrighteous, the deluded and the self-righteous, and the scripture tells us clearly that “self-righteousness” is totally useless.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Romans 3:10-11

“I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands“. Jeremiah 25:14b

So my challenge to all of us, especially to those who belong to Jesus, is to judge righteous judgment. Let’s have the “mind” of Christ as we live our lives in total submission to God the Father, Jesus the Son, and His precious Holy Spirit that He has given to dwell within us. It’s not the boasting that proves our righteousness, but the blood of Jesus working in us!

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:6-8

It’s your choice—which song are you singing? “How Great THOU Art” or “How Great “I” Art”!!! There is only one “great” God, and it’s NOT me—or you (Or anyone else for that matter)!!! Wake up and pay attention, the time is short!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 7 No. 13 How Big Is Your Cross???

“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

One of my favorite verses in all of scripture reminds us that when we belong to Jesus we identify with His crucifixion and resurrection. It also reminds us that our power is from the Lord Jesus Christ, and our willingness to walk with Him according to His power and His Spirit.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

We are called to “walk in the Spirit”, the Holy Spirit that is given to every believer, and to order our steps according to His directing. Jesus promised that the work of the Holy Spirit would include revealing Jesus and His truth to us, not just the written word and understanding it, but the power to discern the truth in His Word, applying it to our day-to-day living.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,

he will guide you into all truth:

for he shall not speak of himself;

but whatsoever he shall hear,

that shall he speak:

and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me:

for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you.”   John 16:13-14

Jesus provides all that we need to live for Him, even as Peter shared in his first letter, preparing believers to endure suffering:

“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 1:3-4

And how have we escaped the “corruption that is in the world through lust”? Only one way, and that’s through the blood of Jesus—the one and only way to God, brought to us through the blood of Jesus which saves us from sin, it’s what HE came to do.

“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

And praise God He did just that, with His life’s blood on the cross, and that is why I am devoted to the cross. But let’s consider the title of this article, “How Big Is Your Cross?” The cross was an inanimate object of a particular size, yet we are to live in relation to that cross, and what it signifies to us. In order to do that we must remain close to that very cross.

I borrowed this title from a Bible Study that I attended many years ago at a Ladies Retreat. The lady who taught the class used this title, and had a lovely mural posted in the room with dozens of crosses. But the thing that was so stunning and caused me to remember it was that all the crosses were in declining sizes. There was a large cross and then the crosses became smaller and smaller as they were farther and farther from the original cross. And as she taught the lesson, she directed our attention to the cross and the need to stay close to it—where I am in relation to the cross will determine how big “MY” cross is. It will determine who I am in every aspect of life—the cross will either pervade my life, as I remain close to it and experience it’s effect on my heart, or I can allow life to diminish my ardor in direct proportion to the distance I allow to come between me and the Lord of the cross. If I am “crucified with Christ” then I will draw near to Him and the cross every day and in every way. There is no “idle” in the Christian life, we are either going forward in our faith or loosing ground.

“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 15:5

It’s all about Jesus and staying connected to Him. That’s one reason Satan works so hard to keep us distracted from our Lord and running in the flesh instead of the “Spirit”! So today we want to search God’s Word ways that we can keep our “eyes on Jesus”, and to continually keep the “cross” in view!

“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.”    Philippians 2:5-11

There is so much packed into this marvelous passage, but the thing I want us to take note of today is that Jesus made Himself a servant and we are called to think the same way. As Paul said:

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus”

We must yield ourselves to the one that we claim as “Lord”—for He is “Lord” of all!!! He is “Lord” of me!!! And that is a continuing work in our walk of faith.

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” Philippians 1:27

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:13

So, what do we learn from these scriptures? We are to keep our hearts and minds fixed on Jesus, by letting the mind of Christ rule within us, since we have the “mind of Christ” through the Holy Spirit. We are to stand fast in “one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”—to have single-minded purpose together for the “faith of the gospel”, not any selfish interest!

And how do we accomplish that task? As Peter tells us, we are to “gird up the loins of your mind”, keeping our minds set on the cross, and being “sober”, which is not simply a reference to refraining from alcoholic consumption, but a call to have committed, clear focus on Jesus, much like Paul commands us in Ephesians 5:17-19:

“Wherefore be ye not unwise,

but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine,

wherein is excess;

but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing

and making melody

in your heart

to the Lord;”

We are to be wise and devoted to, as well as yielded to, the “will of the Lord”, and taking note of Paul’s example of being filled with the Spirit, meaning to be controlled or pervaded by the Spirit rather than be controlled or pervaded by external or internal agents, i.e. alcohol, drugs, passions, or material drives, etc. We are to direct our hearts and minds toward the things of God—and praise music is a wonderful way to focus on Jesus. And we also have the commission to make wise choices, by keeping our eyes on Jesus, making sure our hearts don’t become distracted from the “cross” or the one who gave Himself to save us from our sins on that cross.

“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.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We are to lay aside the heaviness of life, and the sin which “doth so easily beset us” by “Looking unto Jesus” in all we do, or as the NASB says “fixing our eyes on Jesus”! Our responsibility is to keep ourselves “Near The Cross”:

“1. Jesus, keep me near the cross;

there a precious fountain,

free to all, a healing stream,

flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain:

In the cross, in the cross,

be my glory ever,

till my raptured soul shall find

rest beyond the river.

2. Near the cross, a trembling soul,

love and mercy found me;

there the bright and morning star

sheds its beams around me.

(Refrain)

3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

bring its scenes before me;

help me walk from day to day

with its shadow o’er me.

(Refrain)

4. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,

hoping, trusting ever,

till I reach the golden strand

just beyond the river.

(Refrain)

Words by Fanny Crosby

       Music by William H. Doane

Have a blessed week “Near” your cross, and may the Lord grow us in His grace and truth with “its shadow o’er me”! How big is YOUR cross? A question that only YOU can answer!

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #249   When I Am Afraid, What???

We all have those moments, those nights, those days when things seem to come against us faster than we can even comprehend. Yet our God is never, I repeat never, caught off guard or by surprise. As one of my favorite evangelists, David Ring says, “God NEVER says ‘ooops’!” Praise God, that is so true!!! Our God is in total sovereign control, and we can trust Him in all things, all times and all situations.

The Psalms give us much comfort when we are distressed, confused or desperate for answers, because God is always faithful to His people—ALWAYS! And we can trust and depend on His loving, perfect beneficent care! The Psalms give great comfort to us, especially in those times.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Psalm 56:3-4

And God reminds of these things often in scripture:

“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

Whatever your situation today, God is waiting for you to call on Him, to rest in Him, to depend on His care. I am so grateful that I have not had to walk through this life without Jesus; He has walked with me, spoken to my troubled heart, and directed my steps, when I had no idea of which way to turn. And dear friends HE is here for YOU! He came that we could have “LIFE” in Him, that we could know Him and walk confidently with Him through the challenges, and crises that this earthly life naturally presents to each and every person. And God is providing for all who come to Him through the blood of the Lamb. He has given us His Word and His Spirit to guide us into all truth and confidence.

“Stand in awe, and sin not:

commune with your own heart

upon your bed,

and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There be many that say,

Who will shew us any good?  

Lord,

lift thou up the light of thy countenance

upon us.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart,

more than in the time that their corn

and their wine increased.”

SO???

“8 I will both lay me down in peace,

and sleep:

for thou, Lord, only

makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:4-8

So??? Look up, trust God, rest in HIM and walk confidently through each day, knowing that God is there even when you’re not sure what is going on. Rest in Him today—He knows those who are His own, He is in control, and you can trust HIM—ALWAYS!!!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his…” 2 Tim 2:19a

Bible Ballistics: BBs #248 What Do You Desire/Long For???

We all have “longings” or “desires”, whether they are for people, places, things or inanimate ideas or accomplishments. But what are we doing about our longings? Are they what we really need to be focusing on? Or have we allowed the world to skew our view? Let’s take a look at the Word for a few minutes today and see what God calls us to:

“Wherefore laying aside

all malice,

and all guile,

and hypocrisies,

and envies,

and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes,

desire the sincere milk of the word,

that ye may grow thereby: ”   1 Peter 2:1-5

God reminds us that there are some things we are to lay aside—things we are to avoid being, doing and/or participating in. We are God’s own, transformed by the power of the cross, and the blood of Jesus Christ, and we are transformed to reflect the glory of our God and King!

But how do we do all that? We must cultivate godly longings and desires. Peter calls the recipients of his letter, and us as well, to put away the evil things of this world but not just to put away evil things; he calls us to desire and long for the “Word of God”, the Bible!! We are to long for the “sincere milk of the word” because it is the source of our spiritual growth, maturity and usefulness to God.

Paul also wrote about this necessary discipline:

“Study

to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase

unto more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15

We are to study God’s Word so that we can “rightly” divide the Word; implying that there is a “wrong” way to divide God’s Word. We are inundated on every hand with false claims and teachings, and if we haven’t studied the Word of God for ourselves we may not recognize the error, the “profane and vain babblings” that people offer up as truth! And Paul tells us that these false teachings are a danger because “they will increase unto more ungodliness”, and my friends we are seeing this all around us and even in the church today!

Paul also assures us that God’s Word is dependable for the task, and adequate to produce results in our lives.

“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

“ALL” scripture is profitable to us, but not just sitting on a shelf or a table to display our allegiance to it, but the reading and studying of it regularly, diligently and with integrity to allow the Word to say what it says, and then to apply it’s message to our lives. That we could join the Psalmist and ask for God’s provision to:

“Order my steps in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

So, what are we longing for? Are we longing for the Word of God and growing by its power, or are we so caught up in the world’s distractions that we are living in negligence or outright opposition to God and HIS Word? May God speak to each of us today as we ponder on HIS Word and commit ourselves to seek His face and His good work and will in our lives?

 “He that diligently seeketh good

procureth favour:

but he that seeketh mischief,

it shall come unto him.” Proverbs 11:27

The choice is yours, as Paul reminds us:

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

What crop is coming your way?

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 7 No. 12 God So Loved??? And Us???

As we are surrounded by the “Valentine” hearts, roses and love today, I’d like to take a little time to call us to remember the greatest love that ever was, is and ever shall be. And that is God’s love for us, His love for a lost and dying world. A love so great that He didn’t look to receive, but HE GAVE:

“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

God “so loved” that “he gave”. Yet so often in our culture the measurement of love is on what we “receive”! God loved us when He created us, even knowing that we would mess it all up, that we would sin, that we would be lost and doomed without Him!!! And HE already had a plan. To me that is just incomprehensible, but it is still totally true.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Ephesians 1:4

“….the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation13:8b

God had already provided for our salvation, because He knew we would need “saving” from the sin that we would choose. He knew that our choices would cost us our lives. Literally!

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

We never come to God on our own, but His love reaches down to us, and if we will but hear His voice, respond in repentance and faith, He is still in the “saving” and “redeeming” business, for all who will believe.

“We love him,

because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God,

and hateth his brother,

he is a liar:

for he that loveth not his brother

whom he hath seen,

how can he love God

whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment

have we from him,

That he who loveth God

love his brother also.” 1 John 4:19-21

But the question often comes, “How do I love others like God does?” Well, that ‘s a good question, but the scripture has the answer. There is only one way to “LOVE” others the way that God does, and that is to know God and receive His Spirit and the ability to love others, revealing what God has done for us and within us!!!

“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.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died

for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

yet peradventure

for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God

commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath through him.”   Romans 5:1-9

God “commendeth his love” toward us because we couldn’t save ourselves, because “all have sinned”—and there isn’t anyone who can overcome sin but Jesus.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10

“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

Because all men have a sin problem, it takes one without a sin problem to take care of the sin problem. We have a problem, we owe a debt that we cannot pay, and Jesus paid that debt which He didn’t owe. And contrary to popular belief Jesus IS THE ONLY WAY! He was crucified for my sin and yours, but it’s up to each of us what we will do with that sacrifice. We can talk about it, ignore it, deny it, or we can place our whole trust and confidence in the one who died for us—the “lover of my soul”—Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory. And He is coming back soon!

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

And because He lives –He is the risen Lord—He can and does impart new life and His Spirit to all who will receive Him, and there is no other way.

“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

He laid down His life and is waiting for you today. He is still waiting on those who are lost, to come to Him because He loves us so much—God gave His Son, and the Son gave His life for us.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

God is waiting for YOU! But he won’t wait forever.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2

So the question isn’t really about God’s love, because God “commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. He has, does and will “love” us, but the question is “What will YOU do”? Have you accepted the “love of God”? If you have, are you demonstrating that “love of God” to the world? That love that God has put within us through His Holy Spirit. That love which will call the world to question “how” we can do what others can’t. Do you hear His voice today? Please don’t ignore His love for you!!! And don’t hide your light!

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