Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 14  Relying On HIS Cross???

 

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom

we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

It is God who will judge, and HIS Word will be the standard of judgment—in all things, for all people, without appeal!  God (And His written Word as well as Jesus, the living Word!) is the final Word, and there will be no other standard that we can use to excuse our sin.  Every person’s judgment will be by The Word of God; not social media, memes, groups crying for “this” cause or “that” cause; so, we must be careful whom we follow; we must be careful of the groups and causes that we align ourselves with.  We need to do our ‘homework’, so to speak, and investigate what/who we are aligning ourselves with; we need to know their goals and motives, and if they say one thing yet have ulterior motives; we need to choose wisely.  And one of the things that we need to check out is there stand toward God (for many who purport to stand for ‘godly’ causes, are in essence against the God of the Bible), His Word, and His beloved Israel.  For God set that standard many years ago.

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram,

Get thee out of thy country,

and from thy kindred,

and from thy father’s house,

unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation,

and I will bless thee,

and make thy name great;

and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them

that bless thee,

and curse him

that curseth thee:

and in thee shall all families

of the earth

be blessed.”   Genesis 12:1-3

May we never promote what God abhors!  Jesus also addressed this issue of wisdom and discernment, something that most today don’t want to hear.

“Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them

by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes

of thorns,

or figs

of thistles

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not

forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore

by their fruits

ye shall know them.”   Matthew 7:15-20

It seems these days that people don’t want wisdom or discernment, just to go “viral” on social media!  It doesn’t have to be true just popular.  What are you measuring your life by?  By God’s Word or by the world’s memes?  I am called to follow Jesus and the prayer of my heart is that I will be found faithfully doing His will, His way; that I will always be sharing the truth that God has called me to—the gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified, risen and coming again.  There is no other message that I have been called to share!  I have to join Paul and his proclamation of singularity!  Only One way—Only One message—Only One song—Only One focus—Jesus Christ the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  I am forgiven and transformed by the blood of the Lamb, who takes away the “sin of the world”!

As John the baptizer said:

“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

As Paul told the Corinthians, it is faith alone in Christ alone!

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ should be

made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish

foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-18

“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.”   2 Corinthians 2:1-5

Jesus is our only hope; yet it’s not just words but our deeds what will reveal whose we are…for it is by our works that we show whose we are!  We aren’t saved by our works, but we are saved to do “good works”!  What do your works say about you/me?  When we are born again by the Spirit of God, we are born again “unto good works” by God’s grace through faith!

“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

Remember, our accounting will be not only before God, but by HIS standard—The Word of God–for both the saved and the lost!

“For it is written,

As I live,

saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow

to me,

and every tongue shall confess

to God.

12 So then every one of us

shall give account

of himself

to God.”   Romans 14:11-12

And as John records for us in the Revelation, there is a reckoning coming.

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell

delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

So, my question for today is what are you relying on?  Jesus or the popular “viral” issues of the day.  With whom have you aligned yourself?  Are you depending on your words (or the words of others) or the blood of The Lamb?  Are you being faithful to Him or to something or someone else?  Only you can answer that question but remember there is a test.

“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 7:21-23

Jesus gives us a clear example of this principle in His story of the houses, yet we so often write it off as a meaningless children’s song.  But your choice will determine your destiny!  Are you building on the rock or the sand?

“Therefore

whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house

upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings

of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house

upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

I pray that you will be wise and discerning while there is still time.  Don’t forget just because it’s on the internet (or TV, or cell phone, or any other media), doesn’t make it necessarily true.  But God’s Word is always true!  Today, tomorrow and forever!  Dig into HIS Word with confidence!!!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

And may I simply say that if I don’t join your groups, don’t take it personally—I’ve already joined Jesus, and he is the King of my heart—my priority and His work comes first!

Amen and Amen!!!