Category Archives: There IS (Still) A Fountain

The Word–Jesus??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #305

20 Friday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain

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The Word–Jesus???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #305

I want to share John’s account of Jesus—not His birth, in particular, but His self-existent nature as God Almighty, The Son!  Jesus Christ The Lord!  John didn’t start at the manger, or the angels appearing to Zacharias or Mary, he went back to Genesis!  He wanted us to know that Jesus IS God and ever will be.  People say that Jesus never claimed to be God, but I beg to differ!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

When we belong to Jesus by being born again, we belong to God The Father, and The Son, and the Holy Spirit (also God) is given to us—to conform us to the image of The Son!  May we take this time of celebrating His incarnation and bow before Him in joyful gratitude for His gift – the gift of Himself, dying as our substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for all who will come to Him in repentance of our sin, and trust in the blood He shed for me.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  Let’s see John’s description of the arrival of God in flesh!

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God,

whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness,

to bear witness of the Light,

that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light,

but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

 and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

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 1:1-14

This WORD came to save—He lived truth, He spoke truth, in truth He died for sin, and He rules and reigns today, and HE is coming again.  I pray that your celebration includes The Savior’s birth and His return.

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s Influencing You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #212

24 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Compromise, Influence, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Payday???, Pleasure in sin for a season, Satan's lies., Saved FROM Sin, Stand Fast!, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Gospel, the Lamb of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain, There IS a Test!, Today is the day of Salvation, Too Late To Call?, Transformation, Transformed life, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Truth, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Wolves in sheep's clothing!, Worldliness

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What’s Influencing You???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #212

“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

Paul called the believers in Rome to choose to live for Jesus by giving their lives to Him in every situation, circumstance, or trial, telling them and us that this “is your reasonable service”!  What have we chosen to make our ‘service’?  The world is in attack mode toward anything of God, toward anything based in or on The Word of God, especially the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Paul warned us of the danger of conforming to the world, and said we must continually keep guard over our heart and mind by seeking the mind of Jesus!  The main way we do that is by digging into His Word and keeping the lines of communication open with Him through prayer.

Speaking for myself, and maybe you too, it has become too easy to choose to ‘gel’ in the recliner and watch the deceit of the world from “Hellywood’s” perspective.  I recently watched a particular series purported to be “family friendly”, I even read a comment on the series as one that every family should “be like”.  Well, as I considered what was going on, let me share some of the things that we supposedly should mimic:  multiple couples sleeping together without benefit of marriage, a couple who shared ‘vows’ but did not want to marry—concluding it wasn’t necessary in their opinion, sexual perversion accepted and celebrated, staying home with children seen as missing personal and professional success, and I could go on.  There was never one reference to God in any situation much less a church; and this is just one example of how much we accept as tolerable to be entertained.  Consider some of the old TV shows, there were things that we wouldn’t have participated in as Christians, yet we invited those activities to be the center of attention in our living rooms.

Without sharing the entirety of Romans 1, I simply want to share a portion of the close of this chapter.  The enemy is alive and well, and desires to influence, entrap and mislead us into his evil schemes. Remember that he is the enemy—your enemy and mine.  We need to stop playing ‘footsie’ with him!

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over to a reprobate mind,

to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,

fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

 are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure in them that do them.”   Romans 1:28-32

Sin is contagious.  And while we are to love the lost, we must heed Paul’s advice from Romans 12 and “be not conformed to this world”!  Satan paints lovely pictures of sin, and it can be pleasurable for a time, but the cost will be more than expected.  As I’ve written before, “Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay!”  And my friends, there is a payday coming, and I believe it is already here, as we see our children and grandchildren being deceived, led astray, and destroyed by the lies of the enemy; and often partly because we failed to see the danger of compromising with the world, for whatever reasons we were deceived by!  There is pleasure in sin “for a season”, yet it seems that payday is here, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the taste.  Moses made a choice, and so must we!  What will you choose?  What have you already chosen that you might want to reconsider? What price tag?

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years,

refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather

to suffer affliction with the people of God,

than to enjoy the pleasures of sin

for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ

greater riches

than the treasures in Egypt:

for he had respect

unto the recompence of the reward.”   Hebrews 11:24-26

The questions: “Whose child are you?”; “What will you choose?”; “Will you compromise by being desensitized to sin?”; or “Will you withstand in the evil day?”!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!  Peter says it better than I can.

“But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises

of him who hath called you out of darkness

into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

Darkness or light?  We must know God’s truth and that takes time, effort, and commitment to study The Word.  We can’t walk in His light without The Holy Spirit within—and He only indwells those who have been born again.  If you know Him, won’t you consider your ways?  If you don’t know Him, you can, by hearing the voice of His Spirit calling you to repentance of your sin and trusting to/believing in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary.  Then walk in the light.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 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.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10.

Amen and Amen!!!

Are You Washed In His Blood??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #192

01 Friday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, One Day Too Late?, One Foundation, Only Jesus, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS, The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT Reigneth!, The Right Jesus!, There IS (Still) A Fountain, This is the Way, Thy Will Be Done, Today is the day of Salvation, Too Late To Call?

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Are You Washed In His Blood??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #192

Just a brief word this morning to remind us all, that it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin; and sin, my friends IS the issue!  But Jesus has paid the price for sin, for all who come to Him in repentance of our sin, and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on that cross at Calvary!  I just want to share some scripture to remind of us what we have in Jesus; and if you don’t know Him, you can come to Him today, before it is “one day” too late.  You may not have another opportunity.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

Jesus Himself reminds us that we can’t just come when we want, but only as The Holy Spirit draws us!  If you hear His voice, don’t delay, He may not call again.

“While it is said,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.”  Hebrews 3:15

And Jesus own words:

“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 

“No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:44

The Book of The Revelation reminds of that there is an accounting coming before God.  Ready or not here He comes.

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

 and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests

unto God and his Father;

to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds;

and every eye shall see him,

and they also which pierced him:

and all kindreds of the earth

shall wail because of him.

Even so, Amen.”  Revelation 1:5-7

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,

What are these which are arrayed in white robes?

and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him,

Sir, thou knowest.

And he said to me,

These are they

which came out of great tribulation,

and have washed their robes,

and made them white

in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple:

and he that sitteth on the throne

shall dwell among them.”  Revelation 7:13-15

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

Now is come

salvation,

and strength,

and the kingdom of our God,

and the power of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,

which accused them before our God

day and night.

11 And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.”  Revelation 12:10-11

May you run to His cross where you will find forgiveness, hope and restoration for your soul!  If you belong to Jesus, live like it; if you don’t, I beg you to run to this faithful Savior even right now!  He died for YOU!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

I want to see you in glory!!!  Let’s be ready!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Blessing From Psalms??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #148

27 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Blessed by God, Blessings from the Psalms, Encouragement, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS (Still) A Fountain, Worship?, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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A Blessing From Psalms???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #148

Just a brief blessing for us today from the Psalms, always a treasure no matter what we may be facing.  I pray that you will find a special word in this varied passages!

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  Psalm 1:1-3

Oh, that we could get our focus off of “prosperity” in this world and long for and pursue God’s blessings to “prosper” in what we do for Him, for others and to be found faithful before Him!  The only way we can do that is to heed the words of the Psalmist here and walk in the right way—the right places—and in right standing before The Lord Jesus Christ, and Father God by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit!

“But he knoweth the way that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:10-12

I love the book of Job, and I remember the first time I saw this verse—I asked God to help me truly desire “the words of his mouth more than my necessary food”—and for me that’s quite an accomplishment to pursue, for I love food—how about you?  To pursue God’s Words as much as I do food would be an awesome goal, it’s one of mine; and while I don’t always succeed, I do try continually.  And to walk in God’s way is also my heart’s desire.

“Order my steps in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

One of my continual prayers is to be found of God in HIS ways rather than my own!  Remember Jesus said there was “none righteous/good”, the only righteousness that we can have must be imparted to us by the Redeemer’s blood bought salvation!

“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 37:23-24

May you find encouragement and hope in The Word of God—He’s ever at work in His own, and you can trust to HIS care.  He has promised it to HIS own:

“… 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 13:5b-6.

Amen & Amen!!!

There Is (Still) A Fountain!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 16

13 Sunday Mar 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Be not conformed to this world, Be YE Steadfast, By His Grace, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Cross, Crucified With Christ, There IS (Still) A Fountain

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 16 There Is (Still) A Fountain!!!

 

I was thinking of this precious song this week and how imperative it is for us to remember that the cross upon which our Savior “bled and died” is the center of our faith; and without the “blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from all sin” (See 1 John 1:7) we have no hope.  I am always drawn back to Paul’s proclamation that is the refrain of my heart.

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness,

and in fear,

and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching

was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power

of God.”  1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

The fountain that flows from Calvary is the saving power of the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord!  He came to die for our sin—and yes, sin IS the issue!  Paul so clearly proclaims the truth and import of the Gospel of the cross and sacrifice of Jesus!  Notice that Paul makes it clear that he claims no significance for himself, his great oratory skills, or his heritage; rather he directs the hearers to recognize that it is by God’s Holy Spirit, power, and wisdom, not man’s, that we find grace and salvation.

“For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified,

unto the Jews a stumblingblock,

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called,

both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God,

and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:21-24

But what does all this mean to you and me?  It means I must join Paul and determine with whom my devotion is aligned.  I must recognize that GOD chose “the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” and keep this truth ever before me in all that I do.

“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

You and I can bank our lives on the surety of the salvation that Jesus gives to all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith; receiving the great power, assurance, and hope that the Cross of Jesus Christ our Lord supplies!  While it is by faith that we live; it’s not blind faith, but a complete confidence in the surety and security of God Almighty and HIS Son Jesus, who paid our sin debt—it’s why HE came—and the veracity (truth) of HIS WORD!

“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

Part of what makes us secure is the truth of God’s Word, what it reveals from Genesis to Revelation about this fountain that flows with salvation, healing (soul always, and body as God sees fit!), restoration, renewal, and peace!  Let’s spend some time looking at the scriptural support for these truths.  I would love to post all of Isaiah 53, but for time and space, we will look at only a few verses (but I encourage you to read all of it when you can) of great import to who Jesus would be and what HE would do for us!  For when we take it in its context, we see that Jesus would pay the price for our salvation—our healing from the plague of SIN!

“Surely he hath borne our griefs,

and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace

was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed,

and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth:

he is brought as a lamb

to the laughter,

and as a sheep

before her shearers is dumb,

so he openeth not his mouth.”  Isaiah 53:4-7

And as John the Baptizer confirmed so concisely:

“The next day John seeth Jesus

coming unto him,

and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

Jesus is our perfect healer!

“Heal me, O LORD,

and I shall be healed;

save me,

and I shall be saved:

for thou art my praise.”  Jeremiah 17:14

Our restorer—on so many fronts!

“And I will restore to you

the years that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm,

and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army which I sent among you.

26 And ye shall eat in plenty,

and be satisfied,

and praise the name

of the LORD your God,

that hath dealt wondrously with you:

and my people

shall never be ashamed.”  Joel 2:25-26

“Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me

with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors

thy ways;

and sinners

shall be converted unto thee.”  Psalm 51:12-13

Our renewal—heart, mind, soul, and spirit!

“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

The God of all peace!

“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.”  Romans 5:1-6

And as we consider all these things, I simply want to close with the beloved hymn that reminds me so often of the truth and import of the cross.  It’s my hope, my confidence, my assurance, and my peace.  How about you? The author based the song on Zechariah 13:1:

“In that day there shall be a fountain

opened to the house of David

and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem

for sin and for uncleanness.” (Jesus)

              There Is A Fountain    by William Cowper

“There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away:
Washed all my sins away,
Washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more:
Are safe, to sin no more,
Are safe, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save:
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.”

Amen and Amen!!!