Category Archives: Walking With Jesus

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“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying,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

 

Glitz Or Glory??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 12

01 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Bling, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Distractions, Glitz, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.12    Glitz Or Glory???

 

Today I just have a few things I’d like to share with you! We live in a culture of “Bling”—everyone wants bling—big bling, shiny bling, flashy bling, bling, bling, bling—all around us, but to what end? But the thing I’m noticing is that with all the bling around us everyone seems to be blinded by the light—so blinded by the ‘glitz’ that they can’t see “the light”! Yet without the light we have no hope.

“Then spake Jesus again

unto them,

saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have

the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus is the “light of the world” and without His light we will be in the darkness no matter how much “bling” or “glitz” we have! Without light—we are in the dark!

“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.”    John 1:1-5

That very Son of God is “the light”-—“the light” that “shineth in darkness”! Yet we who live in this world are often blinded by the “glitz” so we don’t even recognize the light: “the darkness comprehended it not”! That is the saddest commentary of our time—of all time, that we reject the Lamb of God who came to “take away the sin of the world” and cling to that which will perish in the end!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

The very words of Jesus call us to examine our lives to see if we have denied self, repented of our sin and come to cling to HIS cross in faith receiving His blood sacrifice; the only thing that can save. Dying to self to live unto Christ, by HIS grace and power.

“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

The whole point of life is to live—and only Jesus can give us real life, real love — real living in the LIGHT! Are you walking in the light or in the dark? Whether we claim to be a Christian or not—our life will express more of what we believe than our words. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 7:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 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.”    Matthew 7:20-23

Jesus clearly isn’t impressed by what impresses the world—He sees things as they really are. Our actions won’t be disguised by bling for very long—the Word of God, both the incarnate Word, Jesus, and the written Word, The Bible, will expose truth in God’s time.

“For the word of God is

quick, (alive)

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.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

It is God before whom we will stand and give an account, and “the word of God” will be the standard—not the bling, or glitz of the world! So we must choose wisely and be sure that we are not being blinded by the world to the true “light of the world”!

And in closing let’s look at another commentary from Jesus about light and darkness.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come

into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”    John 3:16-21

Where are you walking? What are you being drawn to? What choices are you making? Are you clinging to the glitz or receiving “grace” and “glory” from the ONE who came to die for our salvation? Are you being led closer to Jesus, or are you being led away from HIM? I pray that we will all see the urgency of the hour in which we are living, and make sure that we are seeing and following the soon coming King! He who called us to be salt and light—not sugar and glitz! Bringing “glory” to the God of our salvation!

 

Fresh Focus For Fall??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #398

29 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by in Approved Unto God, Compassion, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #398   Fresh Focus For Fall???

 

I’d like to share part of a story with you all this morning, the story of Israel’s return to Jerusalem from their Babylon captivity. Ezra and Nehemiah were two faithful servants of God who became leaders of the people in this tumultuous time in Israel’s history. While the people were returning to their home, they were easily discouraged and distracted (ring any bells?), and often wound up straying from God and His Word, even after seeing HIM keep HIS Word and deliver them from Babylon. Ezra was the religious leader of his people and Nehemiah the political leader, the appointed governor of Jerusalem. But the thing I want us to consider is the commitment of these two men to lead the people back to serving God faithfully, even when they met with opposition and disobedience.

The passage that we want to consider this morning is from the book of Ezra and deals with an issue of compromise that the people had been guilty of, and when this was brought to Ezra’s attention, he called for these disobedient people to repent and make things right before God. We won’t go into the detail, but you can read the entire account in chapters 9 and 10. If you want to get the entire picture of dealing with the conflicts of doing God’s work in an antagonistic world, read Ezra and Nehemiah this weekend—you’ll find it most enlightening.

But for now, let’s dig into what Ezra’s experience when confronted with the sin of his people. May we take heart today as we find ourselves also in a culture gone amuck with sin, and seek the face of our God—not in despair, but rather in hope and confidence in the God who will give us a “nail in his holy place”! God had promised His people that He would deliver them; and He has promised us that He will “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”! (See Hebrews 13:5-6) Consider Ezra’s response:

“And when I heard this thing,

I rent my garment and my mantle,

and plucked off the hair of my head

and of my beard,

and sat down astonied.

4 Then were assembled unto me

every one that trembled at the words

of the God of Israel,

because of the transgression

of those that had been

carried away;

and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.

5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up

from my heaviness;

and having rent my garment and my mantle,

I fell upon my knees,

and spread out my hands unto the LORD

my God,

6 And said,

O my God,

I am ashamed

and blush to lift up my face to thee,

my God:

for our iniquities are increased

over our head,

and our trespass is grown up

unto the heavens……

8 And now for a little space

grace hath been shewed

from the LORD our God,

to leave us a remnant to escape,

and to give us a nail in his holy place,

that our God may lighten our eyes,

and give us a little reviving

in our bondage.” Ezra 9:3-6 & 8

Ezra was grieved over the sin of his people, yet He knew the answer was repentance and faith! Faith in God’s power, goodness and salvation, and honesty before God in dealing with ‘sin’ as ‘sin’; for repentance is the only option!

So the thought I’d like to leave us with today is, may we allow God to burden out hearts with the sin of our culture, that we’ll intercede for those steeped in the clutches of sin. May we truly be beacons of truth to those in such desperate need, not with arrogance but with a heart broken for those who are wounded and broken by sin, reaching out in love and compassion. May we each reach out as Ezra did and call people to the Holy God who gave His Son Jesus to purchase salvation and impart it to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith! Reaching out:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about

with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up

into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:13-15

Amen and Amen!

 

Are You Out Of Focus??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #397

27 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Distractions, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Perseverance, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #397   Are You Out Of Focus???

 

I’d like to share a rather lengthy passage with you today, and make a few comments, but mostly I’d like to call each of us to ponder the question that I posed in the title of this article: “Are You Out Of Focus?”

We are all being inundated with political pundits who tell us what we ought to think and feel; with immorality on every hand; with a media that wants to convince us that right is wrong and wrong is right. So what are we to do? We are to follow our Lord Jesus Christ and learn from all that He has taught us! We must “study to shew yourselves approved unto God” by feasting on the Word of God rather than the lies of the world. Just as Paul told his son in the ministry, Timothy, all scripture is “inspired by God” and it is beneficial to holy living because it is: “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” and it will work in our hearts and lives to grow us in spiritual maturity to be “throughly furnished unto all good works”! (See 2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:16-17)

But let’s consider what Jesus said, and “think on these things”! (See Philippians 4:8)

“No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body,

what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought

can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment?

Consider the lilies of the field,

how they grow;

they toil not,

neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you,

That even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass

of the field,

which to day is,

and to morrow is cast into the oven,

shall he not much more clothe you,

O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought,

saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”     Matthew 6:24-34

Jesus isn’t calling us to be ‘thoughtless’, but to be faithful to follow HIM, doing what He says to do in all our ways. He clearly tells us in verse 33 that if we will “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”, that God will provide and “all these things shall be added unto you”! So in bringing these thoughts to a close, here are a few things that we might want to consider, some things that may challenge us to “walk worthy” before our Lord and a lost and dying world! (See Eph. 4:1 & Col. 1:10)

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“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

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

Just as Jesus said to His followers in Matthew 6, we can count on Him to keep His word, as ‘we’ keep His Word! So whatever is weighing on you today—give it to Jesus and follow Him. Remember it’s not the government, nor the weatherman, nor the economists, nor the media moguls, nor even honorable politicians that have our days in their hand—IT IS GOD Almighty, the ONE who IS in charge and HE IS TRUSTWORTHY—in all things!

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

How’s your ‘spiritual prosperity’ quotient? Don’t let the things of the world distract you!

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying,

Praise our God,

all ye his servants,

and ye that fear him,

both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice

of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters,

and as the voice of mighty thunderings,

saying,

Alleluia:

for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”    Revelation 19:5-6

May we ever keep our eyes on Jesus—our soon coming King! Don’t be distracted! We win, but we’re to keep fighting the “good fight” until He comes. It’s what we’ve been called and saved to do. Amen and Amen!

Why Is Everybody Angry??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #395

20 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by in Anger, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Living Right, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, TODAY, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #395 Why Is Everybody Angry???

 

Why do we see so much anger around us? Who ever heard of ‘road rage’ 30 years ago? So were people not angry then? Of course we know that anger has been around for a long time, but it seems to be increasing exponentially today—but why? Let’s consider anger, and examine our own hearts to see if we are a part of the problem or a part of the solution? The first account of anger and its worst-case outcome is found in Genesis.

“And in process of time it came to pass,

that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground

an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings

of his flock and of the fat thereof.

And the LORD had respect

unto Abel and to his offering:

5 But unto Cain and to his offering

he had not respect.

And Cain was very wroth,

and his countenance fell.

6 And the LORD said unto Cain,

Why art thou wroth?

and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If thou doest well,

shalt thou not be accepted?

and if thou doest not well,

sin lieth at the door.

And unto thee shall be

his desire,

and thou shalt rule over him.

8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother:

and it came to pass,

when they were in the field,

that Cain rose up against Abel

his brother,

and slew him.” Genesis 4:3-8

If I might presume to summarize (for the sake of time and space); after Adam and Eve chose to sin and God put them out of Eden, their first two sons grew into adulthood and brought offerings unto The Lord God—Abel brought a blood sacrifice (as Genesis 3 implies that they were instructed to do) to God, and Cain brought of his produce. Simply put, Abel came to God, God’s way, and Cain decided to come his own way—and because of the sin in his heart (self-righteousness) Cain’s offering wasn’t pleasing to God. When God spoke to Cain, He made it clear that Cain had a sin problem, and if he didn’t take care of it, it would take ‘care’ of him. And it did! In rejecting God’s call to repentance and obedience in faith, Cain found himself overcome by sin and his anger boiled over, resulting in the murder of Abel. Why? All because of Cain’s own sin, and refusal to repent—not because of any wrong that Able had done. Jesus addressed this same principle in his conversation with Nicodemus.

“For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:16-19

Do you catch it?

“men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil”!

Just as Cain chose to cling to his own sin, men, women, boys and girls are making the same choice today! The only difference is that we have the multiplied affect of generations of continued sin! Sin is rampant, and sin unchecked by Jesus, will increase anger; for sin focuses on “ME”, “SELF” and “Immediacy”– getting what I want when I want it; regardless of the fact that we live and interact with others daily. We can choose to live with patience, courtesy, and kindness or we can live selfishly regarding only self. When we demand our own way and don’t get it immediately, then anger can take over. Unfulfilled expectations (real or imagined) can cause uncontrolled rage. We must recognize the danger in our own lives, and make right choices. We who follow Jesus are to live differently, keeping our eyes on HIM, and walking in submission and obedience to Him!

“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.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”    Hebrews 12:1-3

The best deterrent to uncontrolled anger, is to trust Jesus in all that we face! By fixing out eyes on Him, keeping our focus on HIM, and not ME, we will be empowered to:

“…..Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16b

The bottom line is this, we must choose to trust God with our lives, or we may find ourselves demanding that things go our own way, now! It isn’t the anger that is the sin, but anger that is out of control. Anger is simply an emotion; we must control our emotions or they will control us.

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.”   Ephesians 4:26-27

If we will “walk in the Spirit”, we will find the power to control our emotions—all of them, both the legitimate ones as well as the illegitimate ones; asking God to help us be angry at the right things, at the right time, for the right reasons, and to ever respond in the right way. So let’s check anger? Is it righteous indignation, or are we allowing “rage” to take over and giving glory to “the devil” rather than our Lord. May we ever reflect the character of our Lord, not the angry masses! The bottom line is, “Do I trust God with the ‘now’?” We can have the same confidence that Job had! How about you? Confidence diffuses anger!!!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15