Category Archives: Walking With Jesus

God’s Grace In God’s Own??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #444

14 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #444 God’s Grace In God’s Own???

 

We talked last time about the grace of God that offers salvation to those who will come to Jesus; grace that saves, transforms, and supplies all we need for living. God knows His own and we can know Him, and grow in grace and intimacy as we feast on His Word. Then we are enabled and equipped to be a reflection of HIS glory, grace and love to a world in desperate need. But remember our message won’t always be welcomed, but we are to respond with the grace and dignity of the Spirit of Jesus that dwells within us!

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be

alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know

how ye ought to answer

every man.” Colossians 4:5-6

Words and actions that are “seasoned with salt”; and salt makes things palatable! But don’t miss “seasoned”—not brined, but “seasoned”. We are to be a preserving agent—preserving the good and godly things and drawing people to the “Good Shepherd”, not drowning them in brine! YUK! Our life and our words should express “wisdom”, as we are “redeeming the time” by God’s grace; and when we are walking in His ways, He will help us to “know how ye ought to answer” anyone who asks. Peter says the same thing in a different way.

“But sanctify the Lord God

in your hearts:

and be ready

always to give an answer

to every man that asketh you

a reason of the hope

that is in you

with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation in Christ.”    1 Peter 3:15-16

And to give an answer we must know the answer—JESUS—who gives us all we need to succeed in our walk with HIM!

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge

of him that hath called us

to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious promises:

that by these ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world

through lust.”     2 Peter 1:2-4

He has given us to all we need do HIS work—right where you are! Remember God knows who you are, and where you are—He hasn’t said “oops”! So let’s pursue the things of God so that the world will see Jesus in us—God’s grace lived out day by day as we walk through this world of darkness and corruption. We are to be spreading the grace of God everywhere we go, leaving the harvest to the Father! He knows those who are His, and He is at work in us!

“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

Even as Jesus said:

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:” John 10:27

And if you don’t know Jesus, my friend, you can. If you hear His voice speaking to your heart, simply recognize that you have sinned—and can’t fix it; that Jesus died for that very sin—and He will fix it; repent and believe in His substitutionary (He took your place), atoning (He paid the penalty for your sin with His own blood), sacrifice (He paid the debt He didn’t owe, so we could have life that we didn’t deserve)! That my friend IS God’s grace. Amen and Amen!

“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

The Battle Is God’s!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #443

09 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Fearlessness, God of all comfort!, Holy Spirit, HOPE, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Praise God Today!, The Word, TODAY, Unexpected Interruptions, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #443 The Battle IS God’s!!!

 

We all have difficulties, trials, unexpected “interruptions”, and surprises, so I’d just like to take a few minutes this morning to remind us all that God is still God and HE has it.

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat,

Thus saith the LORD unto you,

Be not afraid

nor dismayed

by reason of this great multitude;

for the battle is not yours, but God’s…….

17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle:

set yourselves,

stand ye still,

and see the salvation

of the LORD with you,

O Judah and Jerusalem:

fear not,

nor be dismayed;

to morrow go out against them:

for the LORD will be with you.”   2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17

We must always keep our eyes on Jesus, our Father God and His precious Holy Spirit. God has it—no matter where you are or what you are going through, remember, “the battle is not yours, but God’s”, so let Him have it!!! We can trust Him and walk in HIS Spirit.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,

This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,

Not by might,

nor by power,

but by my spirit,

saith the LORD of hosts.”     Zechariah 4:6

So as we go about our living ‘today’, may we remember that the battle “is not yours, but God’s”—and God is our strength and redeemer. Our part is to follow Him, keep our eyes on Him, and walk in the power, provision and wisdom of HIS Holy Spirit

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”   Galatians 5:1

God calls us to walk with Him, and He will provide our every need—our job is to consciously walk “in the Spirit” not our own selfish flesh and desires, but in HIS Spirit and HIS way.

“If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

And we can do that because Jesus has given us His Spirit, who empowers us to live through the new covenant; which is the indwelling Holy Spirit:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:”   Colossians 1:27

And the Christ in me—never fails:

“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

Amen and Amen. God’s got it!!!

Salt Or Vinegar??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #442

07 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love, Salt Or Vinegar?, Sharing Our Faith!, Speaking, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Mouth?, What's The Word?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #442 Salt Or Vinegar???

 

“Let your speech

be alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how

ye ought to answer

every man.”   Colossians 4:6

I think of this verse often, as I encounter life; it seems that so many today think that Christians, as the old adage about children said, “ought to be seen and not heard”. Well, Jesus told us that we are to be His witnesses wherever we go!

“But ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses unto me

both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea,

and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part

of the earth.” Acts 1:8

We are saved, called and equipped to do God’s work, God’s way—to share the Good News that Jesus saves. Yet often we find ourselves in places of conflict and/or confrontation! How are we to respond in those situations? We are to share the truth in love with the grace that God provides through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s most difficult to maintain our composure and our spirit of grace, but it is what God has called and equipped us to do. Peter and John faced a situation and give us both a great example and great advise.

“But Peter and John answered and said unto them,

Whether it be right in the sight of God

to hearken unto you

more than unto God,

judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things

which we have seen

and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

We can rely on God’s Spirit to provide wisdom to speak, and the control to guide our manners and express “grace, seasoned with salt”! I find that the problem often isn’t the “speaking” part, but that “grace, seasoned with salt”, especially when we find ourselves tempted to react with “vinegar” rather than salt—and there is a difference: sprinkle a little salt on a dish and it can make it more palatable—but douse it in vinegar — that’s a different thing! Salt is good, yet even with grace, they must both be used with a loving attitude. We are to be a reflection of the Savior, who dwells within us, to the world around us—even when they don’t want to hear it or see it! We are to speak “the truth in love” (See Ephesians 4:15) in all our interactions—and sometimes that can test all our metal!!!

So, as we set about our daily schedule, whether you’re headed to work, or school, staying at home, running errands or caring for others, may we each be deliberate in our efforts to share the light of Jesus in the darkness, no matter the situation or provocation that we may encounter! May Jesus be seen in all we say and do! His coming is imminent—are you ready??? Am I salt or vinegar? Let’s bring HIM glory—He will supply the grace and love! Amen!

“Whether therefore ye

eat,

or drink,

or whatsoever ye do,

do all to the glory of God.”     1 Corinthians 15:57-58

Monuments Or Listeners??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 06

04 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Choose You This Day!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love Is Action, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus, Worship Him!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.06 Monuments Or Listeners???

 

In recent days there has been a lot of talk going around about building a monument to a recently departed man of God, and it occurs to me that we’ve missed the point! But even Jesus’ disciples wrestled with this “monument” mindset, yet God clearly redirected their focus!

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother,

and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them:

and his face did shine as the sun,

and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them

Moses

and Elias

talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter,

and said unto Jesus,

Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt,

let us make here three tabernacles;

one for thee,

and one for Moses,

and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake,

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:

and behold a voice out of the cloud,

which said,

This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it,

they fell on their face,

and were sore afraid.” Matthew 17:1-6

Jesus took three disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him up into the mountain and Matthew records the account for us. We find the disciples with the Lord at a most important occurrence—Jesus was “transfigured” before them: “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light”! Jesus revealed a measure of His heavenly glory to these three disciples, and they must have been overwhelmed at the sight. But that wasn’t all! They also saw Moses and Elijah (Elias) as they were “talking with him” right before their eyes. What an awe-inspiring sight to behold and yet they allowed the ‘sight’ to distract them from their “focus”.

Once again Peter steps up and with his usual grace—seeming to open his mouth and inset his foot:

“Then answered Peter,

and said unto Jesus,

Lord, it is good for us to be here:

if thou wilt,

let us make here three tabernacles;

one for thee,

and one for Moses,

and one for Elias.

As we consider what Peter said, we see that he at least recognized that it was “good for us to be here”, and he asked for permission to build tabernacles/monuments to Jesus and the two men who appeared with Him. The writings of Solomon remind us that some things never change:

“The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing

under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

As much as the enemy of our souls tries to convince us that this “new” thing will make life perfect—this ‘new’ gadget, this ‘new’ look, this ‘new’ job, this ‘new’ idea or that—anything that will get our eyes and our minds off of Jesus! Even the disciples had their focus taken off of Jesus (And He was right there!), and onto ‘monument’ building. God clearly reminded them, and us, that our work is to hear and obey.

“While he yet spake,

behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:

and behold a voice out of the cloud,

which said,

This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him.”

God reminds us that our attention is to be on HIM and HIS SON, Jesus! HE wants us to understand that it’s Jesus who is to be our focus—He is our hope – our only hope–our everything!!!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand

of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

It’s all about Jesus not monuments to the accomplishments of man, no matter how godly and successful they are or were. Our monuments ought to be a godly life lived and given to God and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord to do with as HE pleases. We are to live for Jesus in all we 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

We are saved to be the monuments to our God—not stone and metal. We are the living work of God. It’s what HE saves us for!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

It is God’s grace that saves us, and His power that makes us “new creatures” who are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works”—God’s workings made manifest in His own children—to His glory and for our good!!!

“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

We are saved to be God’s ambassadors to a lost and dying world—by living for Jesus rather than building monuments of wood and stone! So I ask of us all, are we seeking to build monuments or are we heeding God’s command as living monuments:

“This is my beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased;

hear ye him”

We must keep:

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith.”

And as we look at Him, we will be all that He has saved us to be.

“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

It’s all about HIM! So don’t worry about “monuments” being built for anyone—we’ll just set your eyes on Jesus and you and I can “be” the monuments that God is interested in using to display the grace, love and salvation that He has provided in the blood of Jesus. We simply need to abide in Him and allow His Spirit to produce fruit through 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 let’s not spend our time calling for monuments, but hearing the voice of God speaking to us and obeying His Son and His Word! Let’s determine to do things God’s way and not our own way!!! Let’s not be like Israel and do “that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6 & 21:25. In whose eyes are you doing right? God’s? Or men’s? Choose wisely there is a test at the end! Amen and Amen!!!

Our Life Or His??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #440

28 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Approved Unto God, Choose You This Day!, Holy Spirit, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Salvation, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Only Way, The Word, Thy Will Be Done, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #440        Our Life Or His???

 

As we talked last time about “blooming” for The Lord where He has planted us, I’d like us to dig a little deeper into how we are to bloom. We are called to be a reflection of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, not self!

“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 

If we will learn to keep this powerful principle before us, we could see so many things change around us—mostly ‘me’! I/we are called to let Christ be seen in us! So let’s take a few minutes this morning to remind ourselves of what He has called us to be—and do. For if we don’t “be” His, we can never “do” His work (pardon the grammar, but you get the point: doing comes out of the being, never vice-versa!)

“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.”   John 10:27-28

When we are HIS sheep we will hear His voice—the Holy Spirit—and we are to follow HIM, not self—HE is Lord!

“I am the good shepherd,

and know my sheep,

and am known of mine.” John 10:14

Jesus is “the good shepherd” and when we are His, He knows us and we will know Him. And as we dig into His Word we will see Him more quickly, respond more promptly, and walk more faithfully before God and man. Paul gives us a great reminder of the import of God’s Word, and the priority it ought to be in our lives—it’s our life compass!

“Study

to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

And I always like to point out that just as we are called to “rightly” divide/understand God’s truth, the implication is, that as there is a “right” way to divide/understand God’s Word, there is also a “wrong” way! And there seems to be a lot of folks “wrongly” dividing—twisting what The Word says. Yet when we will diligently pursue the understanding of His Word, God will help us to not only understand it, but also to apply it consistently and to “order our steps” His way!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”    2 Timothy 3:16-17

As we pursue living the crucified life, we will come to see what God has for us in His Word. And as we bring this post to a close, let’s consider some things that the Psalmist says to us about pursuing God’s ways, and having His presence and glory evident in our lives.

“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

“Trust in the LORD, and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee the desires

of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment as the noonday.”   Psalm 37:3-6

He is the shepherd—the supply—and the sufficiency—today, tomorrow and each day we are given, so may HE ever:

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

Amen and Amen!!!