Category Archives: Thy Will Be Done

Church Wanted: Dead Or Alive??? Pt. 2 Bible Ballistics: Repost

03 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Church:Dead Or Alive?, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Living Stones, Made like Jesus!, Perseverance, Salvation, The Only Way, The Same Yesterday, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Will Be Done, Walking With Jesus

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A continuation of this article from last week.  and next week, I hope to have some more to share next week…..

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.20 Church Wanted: Dead Or Alive??? Pt. 2

As we continue with our thoughts from last week, I’d like to take a bit of a turn. I’d like us to not only examine the state of the church, but the state of our hearts; for the state of the hearts of God’s people is the state of the church. If our hearts are fixed on things other than the love, adoration and worship of Jesus Christ the Son who brings us to the Father, then we are off track! God has a plan to reach the world and He has given it to us—now it isn’t always worked out the same in every local body of believers–but it will always be rooted in the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Son of God who is the Only Way to God! And He hasn’t changed neither has His Word!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen! Let’s press on.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.

7 If ye had known me,

ye should have known my Father also:

and from henceforth ye know him,

and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

Jesus made it clear to His disciples, as He was about to face the cross, be crucified and rise on the third day, that HE IS the only way to God, and those who believe in Him and receive His sacrifice for our sin, not only know God, but see God—God the Father—for they were, are and ever shall be ONE—Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen and Amen!

“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

We “must be born again” of the Holy Spirit of God/Jesus, and when we are, we “know” Jesus and because we “know” Him, we also “know” God The Father, and those who were with Him physically had seen the very “I AM”; The God of all creation, for He and the Son are ONE! And those who are HIS, He knows, He saves and He keeps—because salvation is of GOD not man! Always has been, always will be. And when we, the church, try to live, work and function in any other way, we are spinning our wheels! We must ask God to search and reveal to us that which HE sees in our hearts—then we can adjust whatever needs adjusting to walk as HIS sheep! (See John 1:12-13 & 3:16)

“Search me,

O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me in the way

everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

We have a call, as the children of God, to walk in HIS ways, and we can only do that with the power, and strength of the Holy Spirit, and by immersing ourselves in the Word of God. We must know HIS Word or the world will subtly creep into our hearts and minds and lead us astray. Studying and knowing the Word of God and the intimate presence of its author are imperative to a faithful, and productive Christian life. One directed by God and not self!

But there is also a great challenge for those of us who teach, preach and lead the flock now—and sin, selfishness and worldliness will “trickle down” from the top to the flock. We must guard against being “mis-leaders” and be true ‘leaders’, living, working and ministering in the power of His Spirit and His Word! God is holding us accountable!

“Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed:

but ye feed not the flock.

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened,

neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away,

neither have ye sought that which was lost;

but with force and with cruelty

have ye ruled them.

5 And they were scattered,

because there is no shepherd:

and they became meat to all the beasts of the field,

when they were scattered.

6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill:

yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth,

and none did search

or seek after them.

7 Therefore, ye shepherds,

hear the word of the LORD;

8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD,

surely because my flock became a prey,

and my flock became meat

to every beast of the field,

because there was no shepherd,

neither did my shepherds search

for my flock,

but the shepherds

fed themselves,

and fed not my flock;” Ezekiel 34:3-8 

James warned of this same danger to those who were in positions of leadership in the church—God doesn’t take the care of His flock lightly. Nor will He hold a person guiltless who abuses the privilege and call of leadership!

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” James 3:1 (masters=leaders, teachers, preachers)

Jesus revealed the work of His children to Peter after the resurrection.

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,

Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,

Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,

lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him,

Feed my sheep.

……19 …… And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”   Portions of John 21:15-19

Peter had denied his Lord three times at the crucifixion, but here Christ asks Peter the same question three times, I think to remind Him of the forgiveness that the blood of Jesus provides. Yet we often forget that in forgiveness of sin, is the commission to go forward and do HIS work: but His work in HIS power, not our own. We are to feed the sheep—those who are Christ’s—and to fish for the sheep that don’t know Him (I know, a bad mixed metaphor, but you get the picture!) and teach them as well. And we can only do that as we heed Jesus closing words in this portion of the passage printed here: “Follow me”! That is the imperative—we are to follow Jesus!

You see, I don’t know who is hungry and needs to be fed; I don’t know who is floundering in the sea and needs to be brought to the shore of salvation—to become HIS sheep! But when I follow the Master, He does know and He is always working to lead us where He wants to use us; and sometimes (often in fact) it is in unlikely places, ministering in unlikely ways to the most unlikely people!!! We must stop measuring things by the world’s standard and “Follow” Jesus, by heeding the voice of His Holy Spirit—dying to self and living unto HIM!

“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

Peter came to know this in power and truth and shared it with the believers in one of his letters later in his life. He called for the leaders to lead in God’s power and the followers to follow in earnest pursuit of holiness and a desire to be Jesus to a lost and dying world. It seems that today many are more interested in plans, programs and gimmicks than in ‘living’ Jesus before the world (It’s easier but that doesn’t make it right!)! And remember the “elders” that he refers to are the leaders, not just elder or aged in physical years (Even as Paul told young Pastor Timothy not to let others hold his ‘youth’ against him—in 1 Tim. 4:12)

“The elders which are among you I exhort,

who am also an elder,

and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,

and also a partaker of the glory

that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,

not by constraint,

but willingly;

not for filthy lucre,

but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage,

but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,

ye shall receive a crown of glory

that fadeth not away.

5 Likewise, ye younger,

submit yourselves unto the elder.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another,

and be clothed with humility:

for God resisteth the proud,

and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:1-7

Praise God HE does care for us, and wants to save and care for those who will believe and come to Jesus! He makes us the building material of His church! We are the church—the living, breathing organism that is “the church”—not a building that can be bought or sold, but a living organism that is “sold out” to Jesus not the world! How about you? Are you living as a part of His body? Let’s peruse a portion of 1 Peter 2:

“As newborn babes,

desire the sincere milk of the word,

that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted

that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone,

disallowed indeed of men,

but chosen of God,

and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones,

are built up a spiritual house,

an holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices,

acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion

a chief corner stone,

elect,

precious:

and he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe

he is precious:

but unto them which be disobedient,

the stone which the builders disallowed,

the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offence,

even to them which stumble

at the word,

being disobedient:

whereunto also they were appointed.

9 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:

10 Which in time past were not a people,

but are now the people of God:

which had not obtained mercy,

but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you

as strangers

and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts,

       which war against the soul;”   1 Peter 2:2-11

When we are born again, we are “babes” who should desire the “milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”; and we are to grow into “living” stones that make up the “house” of God, the servants of God, those who offer up “spiritual sacrifices” that are acceptable and pleasing unto God, because we belong to HIS Son!!! What are you doing with your ‘stone’? Are you living for Jesus and sharing His truth, or have you fallen for the lies of the enemy of our souls? Let’s be “living” stones for Jesus—“sold out” to Him and not “for sale” to the highest worldly bidder!

“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

 Let’s all commit today to be a display of the glory of God, doing His work His way. After all—God saved us and set the parameters of HIS work.

“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…..

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 1:21 & 27-29

Just as God reminded Isaiah so many years ago, may we take heed and know that God’s ways are God’s ways!

“For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish

that which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing

whereto I sent it.”    Isaiah 55:8-11

So, dear friends, I challenge each of us to be diligent to let God’s Word do its “perfect work” in us, and be the faithful witnesses to the world that HE has saved us to be. May we truly be “sold out” to HIM, and not “for sale” to the world and it’s bling and ease. Jesus is coming, and He told us:

“And, behold,

I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the first and the last.” Revelation 22:12-13

He spoke us into existence—may He be pleased with our use of His gifts to us. May we each find out what God is doing around us and join HIM in HIS work—as ‘living stones’ not a ‘dead church’! Praying that He will ever be seen in you and me!!! Always!!!

Drought And Patience??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #416

01 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Drought & Patience?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Knowing God's Word, My Grace Is Sufficient, Patience, Perseverance, The Word, Thy Will Be Done, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #416 Drought And Patience???

 

“Be patient therefore, brethren,

unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth

for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive the early

and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient;

stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren,

lest ye be condemned:

behold, the judge standeth

before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets,

who have spoken in the name of the Lord,

for an example of suffering affliction,

and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure.

Ye have heard of the patience of Job,

and have seen the end of the Lord;

that the Lord is very pitiful,

and of tender mercy.” James 5:7-11 

We talked last time about rain and the need to keep short accounts with our personal lives before The Lord Jesus, and today I’d like us to think about the “P” word, and the need for endurance and patience!

James warned his readers about the danger of focusing on riches and material wealth rather than the provision of God. Living here in Oklahoma makes me more aware of drought than I ever have been, for without the rain things get pretty dry, brown and depressing around here. And it is only the provision and power of God that sends the early and the latter rains; and without them it can be disaster! Crops fail, the ponds go dry, the cattle can’t be sustained, and the water sources become desperately depleted. But the Lord is The God who “is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” and when we keep our focus on Him, His will and His Word—we can ‘wait’ for HIS provision–HIS perfect timing. He provides all things according to His will, to accomplish HIS purposes, and He is trustworthy! Always!!!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that

which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing

whereto I sent it.”    Isaiah 55:6-11

God’s ways, times, thoughts and purposes are not ours, for His ways are exponentially “higher than your ways”! When the times of drought come, we must keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”; we must exercise that “patience” that we keep saving for another day!! (One of my husband’s favorite expressions is, ‘I have patience, there are just times when I can’t use it!) We must “patiently” wait “for the precious fruit” that God is producing. The farmer never plants the seed and goes out the next day for the harvest!!! It takes “time”! The times of drought may be consuming your thoughts and energy, but keep your eyes on Jesus, the One who has promised to send the rains at the right and proper time!!! He has never let you or me go and we can wait for His timing—simple but not easy. But we can do it—for we are never alone!

“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.……

8 Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:5-6 & 8

Remember, He’s on your side today—rain or shine!!!

Daring To Be Different??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 14

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dare To Be Different!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Living Right, Made like Jesus!, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Will Be Done, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.14 Daring To Be Different???

 

My husband and I took a trip to be with my brother in his church yesterday, and we were listening to some music as we drove. One of the songs that played as we traveled really spoke to my heart and resonated with the truths of the word in my heart, and I’d like to share a few thoughts about it today. The song was “I’ll Dare To Be Different”, by the McKameys, and it struck a chord in my heart!

There is a time in my remembrance, when people who claimed the name of Jesus, people who were born again, were most often found to be different from the world. Sometimes they were different in their appearance, but you almost always saw a difference in their behavior before the world—in their character, in their speech, in their treatment of others and often in their habits and companions. But today, we have accepted a “Gospel” of ‘inclusion’—anyone can just use the name of Jesus to get a ticket to heaven, but there is no cost or demand of that person to repent of obvious sin or to “be conformed to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29)!

When God calls someone to Himself, He calls us to come “Just As I Am”, but He loves us too much to leave us there—in fact Jesus came to save us “from” our sin—never “in” our sin!

“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

We are called to follow Jesus, and that will always demand a change, because before we come to Jesus, we were going our own way—and that is never God’s way! In fact that is why repentance is essential—repentance is turning around, going a different way.

“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.” Isaiah 53:6

That’s what sin is, missing God’s mark, going our own way, falling short of reflecting God’s glory—but sin has a high price! Apart from the blood of Jesus—the only thing that cleanses us from sin—we can’t be saved from death.

“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 1:7-10

This is why Jesus said we can be salt and light—because we can’t “be” light unless the “light of the world” dwells in us! It is that “blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”, which enables us to live a holy life before the world as well as before God. But if we never face our sin, why would we ever need a Savior? Only when we recognize our sin and turn to Jesus will we be able to live a life that is transformed by that very “blood of Jesus Christ” to reflect His love and glory to a lost and dying world. Yet it is only in dying to “self” and living a life sacrificed to the will of our Lord that we can make a “Jesus” difference in this world. Compromise is cheap and easy, but standing fast in the “evil day” is a work that demands our all by the power of God.

It is Jesus Christ Himself — “the truth”– who saves, delivers, and changes the hearts and lives of lost sinners into ‘saints’! Yet transformation isn’t just putting a new coat of paint on an old barn—it’s a change of nature and character that only the sacrifice of Jesus—His blood– on the cross could accomplish and deliver! And it shows!!!

“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

Oh, that we could truly return to a place of true worship of God—and I’m not talking about music, but a life lived in devotion and obedience to the will of God each and every day. A life that “is” a song of the love of Jesus before the world in all we do—not just on one day a week! It ‘is’ a life lived as “a living sacrifice” unto the One who gave His life for me! What less could we give for the One who gave it all that we could have life and miss death and hell for all eternity—for all who will believe and follow HIM!

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

And if “all have sinned”, then all need a Savior, we all need someone to pay the debt that we can’t pay—and only Jesus has done that!

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

Only Jesus can deliver us from this penalty of sin, and just as the simple John 3:16 says, God loves us so much that He was willing to send Jesus to come and die for us, that we might have “eternal life”—starting now!

“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.”  John 3:16

Without Jesus, we can’t be truly different. Lots of people can be “different” for a time, or for a reason, or to impress others; but what’s inside will eventually come out! What’s inside of you/me? If it’s not Jesus, then Jesus won’t be seen in you/me! For without HIS Spirit within, we aren’t HIS! And without being “HIS”, we can’t do HIS work, for HIS kingdom! And HIS is the only Kingdom that is an eternal one! It’s all about HIM, not me, but He will work in us!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word

which I have spoken unto you.

4 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 15:1-5

So we arrive at the conclusion that being different isn’t an issue of ‘me’, but of ‘thee’! ‘Not my will, but thine be done’, is the mindset that we must embrace! It is the call that Paul gave to the Galatians, and it’s still the call that we must answer today!

“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

But what’s to be different about us? Is measured in terms of men or of God? Of course it’s God’s standard that we are to seek to meet—the standard of a heart right before God, not a dressed up ‘pig’, trying to win a county fair. We can wash, clean up, fluff up and parade the pig before the judges at the fair—we can even win first prize! But when we get that pig home, she’s going to head right for the mud! Why? Because she’s still a pig! And when we try cleaning up our own “act”—that is all that happens—an “act”! Jesus doesn’t just dress up “pigs”, He transforms lives—He makes us new in HIM! He puts His Spirit within all those whom HE saves—no Spirit=no Jesus!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10

Jesus brings that which was dead in sin, into new life.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past

ye walked according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires

of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

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 2:1-5

Because God loves us so much—He reaches out to those (all of us) who are dead in sin!!! We are under the penalty of death, and only Jesus can and will save us and give to all who come to Him, eternal life—new life IN Jesus—Jesus IN us!

So my question is, “Who am I living for?” Am I still living in sin, doing my own thing? From where do I get my strength? Am I depending on the ways of the world or the power of Jesus? When I’m in need, where do I go? Do I run to a wine bottle, a bottle of pills, food, sex, shopping, gratifying the flesh in some other way, running to and with the world? What is your “comfort-food”, so to speak? Do you have to be like the world to find your satisfaction, peace and/or gratification? When people look at us, do they see Jesus or something—anything—else? Are popular culture and fads more important to you and me than “holiness” before our God? Or are you drawing closer and closer to the King? Do you bask in His presence, or does thinking on spiritual things and the Word of God make you uncomfortable? In fact what does make you “UN”comfortable, the things of the world or the things of God? Ouch? Do I measure what goes into my heart and mind by the Word of God or the Neilson ratings? Do I listen to things, or watch things that are offensive or even blasphemous to my God? Does the world reign in my home or the One whose shed blood “cleanseth us from all sin”? It is an evil world around us, and we must be diligent to know God’s Word so we can order our steps according to its principles.

New or old? What life are you living? May we simply ponder the words of Paul, who dared to be “different”, to be “a new creature” in Jesus. It cost Paul a lot to follow Jesus, what price are you willing to pay? Or have you already decided that you don’t want to “stand out” or “Dare To Be Different”? Choose wisely—we are accountable to God!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Amen and Amen!!!

I CAN Do All Things??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #401

11 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Confidence, I Can Do All Things?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, ME, The Only Way, The Word, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #401       I CAN Do All Things???

 

“Not that I speak in respect of want:

for I have learned,

in whatsoever state I am,

therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased,

and I know how to abound:

every where

and in all things

I am instructed

both to be full

and to be hungry,

both to abound

and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”    Philippians 4:11-13

I know that verse 13 is familiar to most Christians, but we often aren’t familiar with the context. Like much of scripture, most people haven’t taken the time to check out the context—the scriptures that go before and after the verse. We must always understand the words in light of their context! Spend some time considering the context of verse 13. Paul isn’t giving us a blank check to manipulate God in order to do whatever we please, but to BE yielded to HIM. Even Jesus revealed what “all things” is really all about!

“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.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 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 6:9-13

Jesus instructs us to pray, and calls us to pray ‘selflessly’ not focused on what “I” want or what “I” CAN do, but on what GOD can do; ever seeking God’s will, not my own. Asking what God wants us to do in order to accomplish His work!

“Thy kingdom come”—

“Thy will be done”—

Be sure and notice the pronouns that Jesus uses! He calls us to focus on God’s will being done, but He also directs us to pray using the selfless pronouns:

“Give us”—            “our daily bread”—

“forgive us”—        “our debts”—

“lead us”—             “deliver us”!

All this because it all belongs to GOD, and believers are His children!!! It is to be God and “us/our” not “I/me/mine”! So may we pray with Jesus, “not my will, but thine, be done”! Think on these things today!!! We can do all through Jesus, but it’s to be HIS will not “mine”! Always!!!

“For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory, for ever.”     Amen and Amen.

Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #399

04 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Knowing God's Word, ME, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #399 Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done???

 

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying,

Father,

if thou be willing,

remove this cup from me:

nevertheless

not my will,

but thine,

be done.” Luke 22:42

Jesus prayed in the garden before He was taken to be tried and crucified, and while His flesh was resistant to go to the cross, His soul and spirit yielded to the will of The Father! And I praise God that He did! For if He hadn’t gone, we would be lost for eternity rather than having the salvation that His blood secured, offered to us by God! What have you done with the gift of God’s salvation, which Jesus purchased with His blood on that cross?

When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, He transforms our lives and we begin a life-long journey of being “conformed to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29), so that God may be seen in us. God’s work of salvation displayed before a world that is lost in darkness and corruption; displayed that others may see Jesus in us and come to His cross; but to do that we must die to ourselves and live unto Jesus Christ.

“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

As we die to ‘self’ and live to Jesus, we can truly come to understand what Jesus was teaching us in the ‘model prayer’ that He gave to His disciples:

“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

Even as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, we are to seek God’s face, God’s Kingdom and God’s will in our lives each and every day, all along our way. Seeking God and His kingdom is to be a way of life, not a “one day a week” token. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow HIM, and to take up the “cross”; we must die to self, that we might live in, by, through, and for HIM!

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

We can cling to our own way, live our own life our own way and loose it all. Or we can come to Jesus, yielding up our right to our life; yielding it to the One who died that we might have new life–“life…, and….. have it more abundantly”! It is only in recognizing our sin, and coming to Jesus—the only cure for sin—in repentance and faith, trusting in His blood that “cleanseth us from all sin”, that we find real life, which only Jesus can impart. And when we trust in Him, it means that ‘I’ die to self, so that He can live through ‘me’, and be ‘my’ “all in all”! Life for death!

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.” Colossians 3:17

And when Jesus is all to us, we can accomplish great things as God directs our steps, and we remember that it’s all about Jesus—not about me. His will not mine.

“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

We must decide if we will do our own thing, or if we will seek to abide in Jesus that HE might accomplish His work in and through us. Oh what a glorious adventure—I praise God for the opportunity to join Him in seeing His “kingdom come” in ‘me’!!!

So I invite each of you to join me in pursuing “Thy will be done” rather than “my will be done”!

“Whether therefore ye eat,

or drink,

or whatsoever ye do,

do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

What a grand adventure to serve the living God of all creation, and have His power working within us. I’m so glad that it’s all about HIM—not me! May it ever be ‘Thine NOT mine’—always! But remember the flesh doesn’t die easily—that’s why Jesus said we must “take up his cross daily” and follow HIM—today, and today, and today…..

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”    1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Amen and Amen!