Bible Ballistics: Worship Or Worldliness??? Vol. 7 #09

I’m going to do something today that I’ve seldom done, and that is to repost something that I have posted before. I found these articles while looking for some articles to send to a friend in response to a specific request. It was a short series that I will edit a bit and repost today because it is such an urgent subject and a continuing burden on my heart. I hope that you will be blessed and encouraged to seek God’s Word and God’s ways in all you do—whether in personal or corporate worship and service to our God. May we continue to live with a “Biblical Worldview” that honors our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!

I saw a passage on Facebook that reminded me of something that I’ve been pondering for some time.

Ezekiel 12:1-3, “The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.”

God told Ezekiel to live out a message to the rebellious captives in Babylon, ‘that those still in Jerusalem would be judged’. A people who were still living rebellious lives even while they were experiencing the judgment and discipline of God Himself. If we back up to the 8^th chapter of Ezekiel, we see some of the reasons that judgment had come upon them. They had done and were doing abominable things in the very temple of God. Their idols decorated and adorned the temple, while their leaders practiced abominable idolatry within the temple; the women were honoring their female idols at the gates, even as the men bowed down to the luminaries of the heaven.

What does this have to do with us? What about our churches? To what ‘idols’ have we bowed down? What idols have we brought into “God’s House”? Do we depend on the empowering of the Holy Spirit, or idols of our own making? Where is the bold and Spirit filled preaching of the Word of God? Are we depending on the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, or the latest books, music and fads of the world? May we examine what we’re doing by God’s standard and fall before God in repentance and seek His face, His will and His word, and His ways!!! Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:17,

“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?”

We need to examine

our hearts,

our lives,

our church practices,

and follow God not man,

no matter what is popular?

As Hebrews 4:12-13 counsels us:

“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.”

You decide—are you following God Word or men’s ideas?

Continuing in our examination of our attitude and actions toward worship, let’s  search the scriptures for answers. Ezekiel has a somber message to us:

Ezekiel 22:25-27 says, “25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” (Ring any bells?)

I’d like to share two other verses before we comment.

1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

If I have been born again and belong to Jesus then:

I belong to Jesus and our Father God.

I’ve been bought with a price.

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit.

So:

My life is to reflect Jesus and holiness.

My service should be in humility,

as a servant of God

not a spiritual ‘super star’.

I am to recognize and project the holy—

know that there is a difference–

between the holy and the profane.

I am to walk in ‘holiness’

not profaning God’s name,

His character

or His word—

       in my words or actions!

We are the temple of God and we are (and will be) held accountable for being a pure and holy temple; and corporate gatherings of God’s people should exalt the holy not the profane—God and Jesus, not self or worldliness.

Where are we walking today? Where are you walking today? Where are our churches going? Why? For what purpose? To what end? Jesus gives us the ultimate goal and call:

John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Who are we lifting up? Christ Jesus or man? Jesus does the drawing, we are to preach and teach the truth and disciple those who will heed HIS call.

Continuing our look at Worship and Worldliness, let’s delve into the scripture and evaluate our perceptions of ‘worship’. What is worship? Most of our churches now have “worship leaders”, instead of ‘music directors’. Is music worship? We can worship through music, but in and of itself music isn’t necessarily ‘worship’.

The dictionary says worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity”.

If we revere and adore God, should it not follow that we would desire to love and obey Him? Does His word give us any indication of what is acceptable worship? Real worship is seen in a life lived in obedience to God, and submission to His Holy Spirit—in or out of church.

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:16-20 (Only the blood of Jesus washes us, see John 13:10)

We’ve written in other articles, that God calls us to be holy, and that God’s judgment will begin with the ‘house of God’ (1 Peter4:17), and God will judge us according to ‘His Word’ (Hebrews 4:12-13). God calls those who go their own way rebellious, even their leaders. In Ezekiel 22 He also calls us to differentiate between the ‘holy’ and the ‘profane’ `Profane: to treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect.

Have we allowed and brought so much of the world into our churches that we no longer recognize that we may be profaning the very God that we claim to serve? Have we abandoned the ‘holiness’ of our God to once again cleave to the things of the world that we were saved out of? And not only cleave to them but actually bring them into His church. Let’s see what Jesus had to say in John 2:13-14,

“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

Jesus made a whip and ran the sellers and moneychangers out; He made it clear in verse 16, that we are not to make God’s house a place of ‘merchandise’ (a mart or emporium). Matthew gives us more insight when he records the second time that Jesus ran people out of His Temple, (and it was His because He is God)!!

Matthew 21:12-13, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Jesus reminds us that His house should be a ‘house of prayer’. Simply put, a place where we commune with God and He with us. Are we betraying the ‘house of prayer’, and seeking to create an amusement park? Are we going our own way and profaning God or seeking His heart and mind in all things? Have we made the church a “den of thieves”? A place where people are welcome to reproach God on their own terms and we condone it; rather than a place where the Gospel calls people to “forsake” self and cling to Jesus?

Are we so focused on making the house of God ‘comfortable’, that it’s foreign and profane to God? Have we been so eager to transform the church into a palatable dish for the world that we have lost the power of God? Do we depend on the latest programs, books or plans to reach people, rather than depending on the ‘preaching’ of the Gospel, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? Have we turned our churches into that ‘den of thieves’? Is God honored or profaned in our lives and/or our gatherings? Do people recognize us as followers of Jesus, or have we become so much like the world that there is nothing distinctly ‘Christ-like” in us, or in our churches?

We should be honoring the one who purchased us with His own blood, but are we? Are we living as those who are forgiven, cleansed and called to walk God’s way? Or are we still going the way of the world but painting it up and calling it “church”? Hard questions, but we must answer them now!

Hebrews 9:13-14, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Saved to serve!!

Hebrews 10:4 & 12,” For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins…. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” BUT THIS MAN–JESUS!!!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

When we are blood bought, we become the Temple of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we are held accountable. Are we defiling the Temple—our physical body, and the corporate body, the church?

We are representatives of God to the world. What kind of representative are we being? Are we calling the world to holiness or yielding our ‘holiness’ to be appealing to the world? We must remember that the truth of the gospel is not always, in fact seldom is, appealing to the lost. Conviction is most uncomfortable, but it is the only thing that leads to salvation. Is our corporate worship reverent and godly, or is it fleshly and worldly? Does it call people to know God better, or lull them to rest in their own self-righteousness? Are we patterning our lives and worship to follow God’s Word or popular trends? Are we offering sinners new and eternal life or self-esteem? Are we calling them to repentance and faith in Jesus, or simply giving them the “plop, plop, fizz, fizz” of some temporary relief?

Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Luke 18:13, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

The word for ‘merciful’ here is the same word that is elsewhere translated ‘propitiation’ (payment in full for sin). Here we see a truly repentant sinner bowing before the Holy God and asking God to make payment for His sin. That should be our goal, to lead sinners to bow at the cross seeking His forgiveness and salvation through the blood of Jesus.

Isaiah 29:13-15, “ 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: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?” (Jesus referred to this in Matthew 15:8-9) Ring any bells?

Genuine, new birth salvation makes us the temple of God, the dwelling place of the Spirit of God.

Is HE at home in me?

Is HE at home in my church?

Is HE pleased with my choices?

What would God say about me/you?

Are we drawing near to God in reality or pretense?

You must decide!!! Does God have your heart and your life, or are you just talking about it? Only you and God know the answer to that question. Only God and I know my answer to that same question.”

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #241     Really Trusting???

We talked last time about forgiveness and what Jesus said about it in the “Model Prayer”. Jesus calls us to forgive, and He also talks about our focus and emphasis in prayer. Prayer is our ‘life-line’ with our Father God Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ, so we need to understand what scripture teaches us about prayer, rather than the popular leanings of our day. Proverbs gives us a beautiful picture of an accurate attitude towards prayer.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

How different from popular rhetoric in Christendom that tells people to just “name it and claim it”, or just “speak positively”, or God wants you to be “happy, healthy and wealthy” and if you are lacking those things then you must not have enough faith (See Hebrews 11:32-40)! Well my friends, scripture has a different approach to prayer, and it’s not a blanket manipulation tool to control God! Prayer is to be our “life-line” to know and live in the center of GOD’S will NOT our own! We’re called to:

Trust in the LORD with ALL our heart—

NOT to trust in OUR OWN understanding—

Acknowledge GOD in all our ways NOT self—

Trust GOD’S direction of our path NOT our own—

So what are you doing about prayer? Let’s dig a little deeper into what scripture tells us about prayer. Let’s go back to the “Model Prayer” and we see what Jesus Himself tells us about the pattern for every prayer:

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

We are to pray! And as we continually pray, we are to seek God’s will in any given situation or request. We are to ask, and seek, and knock until God answers, reveals and/or opens the doors that accomplish HIS will in us and those we pray for. Prayer isn’t a “heavenly slot machine” where we just put in our “coins” of prayer and keep pulling the handle until we “win” God over to our will. God forbid!!! Why have we who claim His name, forgotten that HE is God and not us? Our heart should be to seek HIS face and desire to see HIS will in and through the circumstances and people that HE has placed in our circle of influence.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

People use the example of Elijah’s prayer for the rain to stop, and it stopped; and then his prayer for it to rain and it rained; yet often fail to check out why he prayed that way. But scripture tells us why.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.” 1 K 18:26

Elijah obeyed God in his praying about the rain. Do you get it? Elijah prayed according to the “word” that God spoke to him. How are we to pray? According to His will, and His Word. Our prayer life is to be totally focused on God’s will—God’s will in all the things that burden our hearts—for those who are grieving, those who are suffering, those who are dying, those who are lost without Jesus!

When we truly “trust” God in “all” our ways, and the ways of those around us, we can release the burdens of our hearts into HIS hands. YES, asking for those things we think are pleasing to Him, but always with the caveat of “Thy will be done”; because if it pleases God, it should please us. NO, we won’t always understand, but we can always “TRUST” our Lord God Almighty to do what is best for His purposes, His glory and our good! We can trust the one who loves us and gave Jesus to pay for our “wages of sin”, which was, is and always will be “death” without the gift of God’s salvation through the blood of our Redeemer Jesus! And when we are His, we are His, and HE cares about everything that comes to us and those HE has placed in our circle! We can trust Him with it all. Do you? Or are you dictating to God? Are you willing to trust it all to HIM? None of us do it perfectly right all the time, but may we ever strive to trust HIM more, and stop trying to twist God’s arm to do our will!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:25-39

PRAY ON!!!   We win!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #240     Forgive Us This Day???

I would just like to take a few minutes today to remind us all that forgiveness, while seldom being easy, is essential. Mostly it is essential because the Lord told us to forgive, bust also for our own spiritual well being we need to forgive others, after all, we are forgiven ourselves. As Jesus commanded us in the model prayer:

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen..”     Matthew 6:12-13

And I don’t know about you, but I am in need of HIS forgiveness on a moment-by-moment basis. Jesus calls us to pray about forgiveness but also to apply forgiveness. He even goes on in this passage to warn us that if we won’t forgive, why would God forgive us. Believers in Jesus have, above all people, an honor and an obligation to extend to others the same kindness that God has extended to us in and through His Son Jesus Christ’s forgiveness.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you..” Ephesians 4:32

Paul also in his prayer for the Colossian church reminds us that while God does love the “world” unconditionally, His forgiveness is totally conditional on the blood of Jesus; and when we have received that forgiveness, we can do nothing but extend to others the forgiveness that we have received and experienced. Even when others hurt our feelings, offend us, disrespect us or treat us harshly, we are compelled to follow the example of Jesus.

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” Luke 6:31

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:14

So just as a word of reminder and encouragement today, no matter who has hurt you today, yesterday or ages ago remember that we were all lost in sin without Jesus!

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; …… 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” Ephesians 2:1, 4-5

Quickened meaning gave new life, and He tells us twice in these short verses that He gives new life—a forgiven life!!!

Have a blessed day dear friends and as the popular refrain of the day says, “Let it go”, give it to Jesus! Remembering that God in His total sovereignty knows what is going on in your life and HE is working it out for YOUR good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

So, remember:

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” Ro. 8:31b

Not any one ultimately because we belong to Jesus!!! Have a blessed day of freedom and joy.

Bible Ballistics: Sorry, I Don’t Go There? Pt. 2 Vol. 7#08

As we continue our thoughts from last week, we know that God saves and changes lives, but “just saying so, doesn’t make it so”! Only the life-changing blood of Jesus can change a heart from sinful to holy!!! And when He does, there is an evidence of His presence.

“Wash you, make you clean;

put away the evil of your doings

from before mine eyes;

cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well;

seek judgment,

relieve the oppressed,

judge the fatherless,

plead for the widow.

18 Come now,

and let us reason together, saith the Lord:

though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson,

they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:16-18

The only way that we can be changed and cleansed from our sin, is by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus—realizing that we can’t save ourselves or change our own hearts apart from Jesus. Playing church won’t do it. Living a lie—no matter how convincing it may be—will never make you a child of God. Only Jesus can do that! What are you depending on?

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:” Revelation 3:17

If you are familiar with the context of this passage, Jesus Himself is speaking to a “church”—those who claimed to know Him. Yet their perception of themselves, is totally opposite to what Jesus reveals to be the truth about them! Jesus says that they considered themselves to be “rich… ….increased with goods…” and in “need of nothing”! This is the state of many churches around us today, particularly in America. So many churches aren’t seeking God, for they think they already have all they need. But it would seem that Jesus is warning us that when we think we “have need of nothing”, it may be time to examine where we really are. He also tells us that to accomplish anything of value for His kingdom, we must abide in HIM.

“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

Only what we do with the power and Spirit of Jesus will bear any real and lasting fruit—personally or corporately!!! We can spin our wheels and impress people, or we can “abide” in Jesus and watch God do mighty things (And man isn’t the judge of what is the mighty work of God)! God works in ways often incomprehensible to the world!

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”      1 Corinthians 1:25-29

It’s all about God—NOT me! As we mentioned last week:

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.”    Romans 11:36

Where is our focus? Let’s see what else Jesus had to say to the church we observed above:

“I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love,

I rebuke and chasten:

be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:18–19

Jesus calls people to repent and buy HIS ‘goods’! But with what? Not with money, but with faith in HIM and HIS atoning work at Calvary, that’s how! We must respond to HIS Spirit’s call with a contrite heart ready to abandon self, and cling to the cross. Here is Jesus’ invitation to YOU:

“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

And what door is Jesus knocking on? The door of the church? The door of your heart? If any person hear! If the Spirit brings you to the place of hearing the “knock” on the door, and you respond in repentance and faith to “open the door”, He has promised that He will “come in to” YOU, and you will “sup” or dine together—you become His and He will ever be with you because of the “new birth”!

“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 1:12-13

I believe Jesus paints a wonderful picture of this in His ‘Sermon on the Mount’; a beautiful image of realizing our need and receiving the only thing that can meet the need, make the change, and give us life: JESUS!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

But who are the “poor in spirit”? The “poor in spirit” are those who realize and see their own abject spiritual poverty; those who see that without Jesus there is no hope, but that with Him there is no end to hope, life and joy!!! He alone came that we might have life—real life—abundant life! He said so Himself!

“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.” John 10:10

Real life is only found in Jesus. Anything else is an imitation of life from the thief, the enemy of your soul (that we mentioned last week). His desire is to steal, to kill and to destroy, but Jesus can and will give you “abundant” life! Yet belonging to Jesus doesn’t mean the war is over, but it does mean that we can be victorious in the conflict. But we must maintain our vigil, because we still have an enemy who wants to distract us and rob us of our effectiveness and value to God’s kingdom work. And this is a serious issue that we often neglect to address, but James nails it to the wall for us. We need to consider what James warns us about:

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not:

ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 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 4:1-10

We can walk in holiness and righteousness because of HIM, and HIS redeeming work, which has given us “NEW LIFE” –a new life that should be evident in all our ways; or we can be an “adulterer” before the God that we claim to love and serve! Are you willing to “Humble yourselves” before God, or would you rather stand on your own flesh and its merits? It’s your choice, but choose well.

When we truly belong to Jesus, He is always working in us with His purpose in mind. The question we must ask is “Am I cooperating with His work and walking in the Spirit, or am I constantly running from, and wrestling with God?” Do I have to learn everything the “hard way”? Is my confidence in Jesus? When my confidence is in Him, my life can be ordered by Him.

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

And be sure, God knows those who are His:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:22-24

And if God knows, how ought we to live? First we must be sure we are God’s own, and then seek His face and His will in all our steps. And often that means we refrain from some behaviors.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil…….Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22 & 24

And praise God we don’t ever have to do this alone, yet we are expected to continually consider our ways.

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14

We can have confidence in the one who is working for our good, because He is always with us–always:

“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

So the question isn’t “Is God faithful?”; but rather do you belong to Him. Have you bowed your knee before Jesus Christ in repentance and faith? Or are you counting on something YOU have done to make you right with God? Remember what we said earlier:

“The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity”.

So the main question that we all need to ask and come to grips with is, “Do I belong to Jesus?”. If you say so, where is your evidence? Are you living in accordance with the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Are you claiming a relationship that God doesn’t recognize. It’s a question of eternal import. One that Jesus states clearly!

“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. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:20-27

The question isn’t what do you claim, but who do you possess? Your ‘house’ may look just like the real thing to others, but God knows the foundation that you have chosen to build upon, is it the “Rock Of Ages”, or “Sinking Sand”? If you are on the rock—you will stand with HIM!!! For those who are in Christ Jesus have this grand assurance:

“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:36-39

Are YOU in HIM? I’m praying!  May God open your eyes to see Him!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #239     What Are You Looking To???

I would like to share a word of confidence on this Friday; a word that might encourage you as you deal with the issues of living today. Life is from God, but oftentimes living through the daily grind includes a pathway strewn with difficulty, confusion, pain, heartache and even opposition from not only expected sources, but the most painful of all, opposition and hurt that comes from the closest and most unexpected places. We’ve all had those experiences of disappointment and betrayal; when those we love and trust turn out to have a different motive and agenda than we expected. What do we do when those things come (and if they haven’t come yet, they will)?

Well, what we don’t do, is let our circumstances control our perspective. Let’s take some lessons from the Psalms today and get a glimpse of what God would have us do today and each day we live. Whatever difficulty or pain you may be experiencing and suffering through remember –if you belong to Jesus– YOU are NOT ALONE. God has promised that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us when we belong to HIM!

“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

What must we do? We must learn to live with a contented heart, without covetousness—oh, my isn’t that “un”-American? No! In fact our founding father’s, who signed the Declaration of Independence, pledged to one another, and to this nation “Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor”! Why? Because the things they believed about life, liberty, freedom (particularly religious freedom) and honor weren’t based on greed but selfless devotion to right and freedom. They were “content” to lay it all on the line, and many of them, if not most, trusted that God would provide for them in their just cause.

What has happened to our generation, our culture? We have abandoned God and contentment and we flounder in an ocean of greed and selfishness; while God tells us that He cares for His own and will NEVER leave those who belong to HIM!!! Where is your “contentment”? Is it in God and the here and now, or somewhere down the road in the next raise, a winning wager or ticket, the next rung on the ladder of corporate success? When difficulty comes, or conflict, or opposition, what are we to do? What do the Psalmists have to say!

“In my distress I cried unto the Lord,

and he heard me.

2 Deliver my soul, O Lord,

from lying lips,

and from a deceitful tongue.” Psalm 120:1-2

In our vernacular, “Give it to Jesus”, He knows how to handle your life, if you will but call out to HIM for deliverance—not only for salvation, but also for daily living.

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

And the delight here, I believe, is two-sided. God delights in the way of the “good man”, and the “good man” delights in God’s ways (See verse 4 of Psalm 37). And how do we accomplish this delight in and from God? Good question:

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee:

O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O Lord:

teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared

all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in thy precepts,

and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes:

I will not forget thy word.” Psalm 119:9-16

The Psalmist here asks how, and then proceeds to point us to the WORD as the “how to”!!! He lists multiple actions that we are to take, and they all focus on the Word of God! How about you and me? Are you willing to make the Word of God the primary guide of your life? Are we willing to:

Take heed to it (pay attention)—

Seek it out (along with it’s author)—

Hide it in our hearts (read, study and memorize it)—

Ask God to teach us(through His Holy Spirit)—

Declare it to others when He teaches us(testify)—

Rejoice in His Word and His Ways(Glad God is God)—

Meditate in and on His Word(Read it, think it, live it)—

Respect His ways (follow and love them)—

Delight in His ways (rather than complain)—

Not forget (remember it, don’t be distracted)—

So my dear friends, what are you looking to? Are you looking to the all-sufficient God of the universe or the flimsy and fleeting fancies of the world? It’s your choice. Choose wisely. There is a test at the end! Look up!!!