The Real Valentine??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #436

14 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Forgiveness, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Love, Love Is Action, Salvation, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #436    The Real Valentine???

 

A Happy Valentine’s Day to you all—a day when we celebrate ‘love’! And we can celebrate ‘love’ without all the commercial trappings (Although chocolate trappings are always welcome J!)! I pray that your day will be blessed with time with the people you love and those who love you. What a privilege to be blessed with love, yet it is God’s love that enables us to really love others; so let’s spend a few minutes this morning rehearsing the beauty of God’s love revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

“And we have seen and do testify

that the Father sent the Son

to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess

that Jesus is the Son of God,

God dwelleth in him,

and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed

the love that God hath to us.

God is love;

and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God,

and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect,

that we may have boldness

in the day of judgment:

because as he is,

so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.

He that feareth is not made perfect

in love.

19 We love him,

because he first loved us.”   1 John 4:14-19

We are loved by God!!! Oh, how much He loves us; so much so, that HE gave Jesus that we might have life and not death, through forgiveness of our sin, by HIS own blood!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 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.”   John 3:14-18

God “so loved” that HE “gave” Jesus to be the payment for our sin, yet not only to pay for our sin, but to also give us new life—not ‘pie-in-the-sky’ life, that’s ‘way beyond the blue’—but life that is new right now. God gives us “abundant” life right now, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior through repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice (in my place, for my debt, giving His life for mine!)!

Are you walking in that ‘love’ that He puts within the hearts of His own? When Jesus saves us, we become a reflection of HIS ‘love’ to the world; and having HIM with us—today and each day—we can share HIS ‘love’ where ever we go

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”    Romans 5:1-5

Amen and Amen!!! Let’s reflect HIS love today; somebody we meet may need to see HIM in us!!!

Dignity Or Dishonor??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 03

11 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Dignity, Dishonor, I Can Do All Things?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Only Way, Thy Kingdom Come, Trials, Vision

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.03 Dignity Or Dishonor???

 

Dignity: “bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of a situation or occasion…”

Antonyms of Dignity: “dishonor, indecency, bad manners, worthlessness….”

Dishonor: “lack or loss of honor; disgraceful or dishonest character or conduct… a cause of shame or disgrace….”

We hear a lot these days about dignity or the lack of it around us, particularly in the public arena, and while it is often connected with ‘pomp’ or ‘ceremony’, it is also something that we ought to practice in our everyday living. One of the songs that I sing regularly in my private time with God (And yes I think singing is a wonderful way to worship God privately as well as corporately—it’s amazing what singing privately to God will do to create an atmosphere of intimacy with HIM!) has a verse I’d like us to consider today; “Be Thou My Vision”, by Dallon Forgaill.

“Be Thou my battle Shield,

Sword for the fight;


Be Thou my Dignity,

Thou my Delight;


Thou my soul’s Shelter,

Thou my high Tower:


Raise Thou me heavenward,

O Power of my power.”

The first two verses talk about God being our “vision” and our “wisdom” and then it comes to this third verse and talks about God being not only our “vision”—how I see and look at things; and our “wisdom”—the truth of the “Word” put into action in our daily lives; bur also when we come to the third verse we can call on God to “be” our “battle Shield” and our “Sword for the fight”! Like Paul mentions in his call to take up the “armor of God” in Ephesians 6, we are in a spiritual battle whether we realize it or not. There is an enemy of our souls who desires to destroy our usefulness to God—but when we put on the armor of God we have the Spiritual power to live abundant life through Jesus!!!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves

and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:7-11

Jesus came to give “eternal life” to those who will come to Him in repentance and faith, and He said that He would not only give us “life”, but that we would “have it more abundantly”! Amen! Life that’s all about Jesus—not about me! He is the One who supplies our every need, and without Him we are working in fleshly vanity. Paul helps us understand that we must lean on Jesus, to walk “in the Spirit” not the flesh!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh……..

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”    Galatians 5:16 & 25

Walking in the Spirit is where our victory is, because we are His and He is ours, but we must take up our armor and walk in HIS power, not our own! Jesus clearly calls us to “abide” in HIM!!

“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

Pretty plain isn’t it? Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing”, and yet there is a reverse side to this equation that Paul boldly proclaimed to the Philippians.

“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 4:12-13

I can—but only “through Christ”–not on my own! And that is the whole idea behind the third verse of the song that I shared earlier, Jesus will be our “Battle shield”, and when He is my Lord and my defender, He will “Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight”, because HE is my all in all! Apart from Him, I can do nothing, but in, through and by HIM; I can do anything He calls me to do. I thank HIM for His faithful provision when those trials and difficult times come—and they will come, they do come; but our God is always faithful to the task! And when we “walk in the Spirit” we will find victory in HIM!!! Always! Even when it doesn’t look like we think it ought to look—remember it’s about Jesus, not me! “Thy Kingdom come….Thy will be done…”

“And have put on the new man,

which is renewed

in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew,

circumcision nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian, Scythian,

bond nor free:

but Christ is all, and in all.” Colossians 3:10-11

It is by His life in me that I can live victoriously—and for Him to live, I must die to “self”—each day, every day, just as Paul testified to the Galatians so long ago—true then—still true now!

“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 I learn to walk with The Lord Jesus, yielding to His Spirit, resting in His grace and provision, trusting to His care; then I can truly learn to rely upon Him who “is all, and in all”! In Him I can find the strength and courage to respond to trials with dignity and not dishonor—dishonor to my Lord, or those to whom I am to be a witness and reflection of the glory of Jesus. And as that third verse of our song says, we can truly proclaim to the world that we desire HIM to:

“Be Thou my vision…….

Be Thou my wisdom……

Be Thou my battle Shield,

Sword for the fight;


Be Thou my Dignity,

Thou my Delight;


Thou my soul’s Shelter,

Thou my high Tower:


Raise Thou me heavenward,

O Power of my power.”

The “Power of my power”, the One who gives that victory, is also my:

 battle Shield—

Sword—

Dignity—

Delight—

Shelter—

Tower—

Power!

The choice is yours—will you walk in victory with Jesus, and reflect His power and Dignity to the world? Or will you go your own way and find that you’re wallowing in dishonor and disgrace? Jesus is calling—will you respond to His call? Questions only you can answer. But remember there is a test at the end!

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

Pop Quizzes Happen!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #435

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Help Thou My Unbelief, Pop Quizzes Happen, TODAY, Trials

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #435    Pop Quizzes Happen!!!

 

We all remember those times (long ago for some of us!!) when we would go to school and the teacher would announce: “We’re having a ‘pop’ quiz!” And most of us would be like a deer in headlights! Why? Because we weren’t prepared! We knew that we had been given an assignment, yet we thought we had “time” to prepare, and the “time” had run out, and we had to put or shut up—well, in reality we had to put up or get a failing grade.

Well, there is something way more important than a school quiz, and that is the life that we are living. We all make choices daily, and often seemingly insignificant choices can lead us to ends that aren’t what we expected. As we often hear, “Life happens” regardless of our preparedness! But we can prepare by looking to and trusting in Jesus Christ The Lord! He IS the only right answer to every life test or trial!

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience

have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect

and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth

to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”   James 1:2-5

James reminded us that those “pop quizzes” come to grow our faith, and if we will but trust God with what is going on, we will develop confidence in Him and spiritual maturity in the process. We can make it through because God has us in His hands, and He will supply our every need, when we call on Him for wisdom, grace and power to respond rightly and in ways that bring HIM glory, and see the pitfalls before us!

I recently had a couple of experiences that have reminded me that God is faithful to meet us at the “exam” station to help us pass those ‘pop quizzes’! Our goal is to keep our focus on Jesus, and listen as He guides our steps by His precious Holy Spirit! Oh What A Savior!!!

“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

“Looking unto Jesus” is the joy of my life, for when those tests come, and they’ll come, HE always meets my needs, even when I’m totally unprepared for the specific test that comes—even when they’re totally unexpected! And He will be there for you, as we prepare ourselves by seeking His face continually, and digging into HIS Word! Here are some scriptures to ponder as we prepare for the “pop quizzes” of life—for they are coming. As someone has said about every believer, “they are coming out of a test, going into a test, or getting ready for one”! And that’s a pretty accurate observation—because those “quizzes” will come!

“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

“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

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

And there are those times when we just have to cry out to Jesus as the father who asked Jesus to heal his son:

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:24 Amen!

No Other Hope!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #434

07 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, HOPE, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, Trials, Troubles

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #434    No Other Hope!!!

 

“Who hath saved us,

and called us with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose

and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,……..

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.”   2 Timothy 1:9 & 12

I love the old Hymn taken right from this song, and it reverberates in my heart even this morning as my heart is heavy for people that I love who are in hard places! We all have times in hard places—some more difficult and heart wrenching than we can even imagine or communicate to others, but our GOD is faithful and HE hasn’t forgotten about YOU! And my friends, that is one of the reasons that God gives us each other—to carry the load; to bear the burden; to lift up the prayers; to grieve with those who can’t bear the burden alone!

“Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfil the law of Christ.”   Galatians 6:2

We can only bear the burdens of others because God is carrying us—the living Lord Jesus Christ “who loved me, and gave himself for me”, who not only died for me/us, but HE lives for us, ever interceding for His own, especially those who are so burdened that they have stumbled under the load, and cannot carry their burden alone!

“Wherefore he is able also

to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.”   Hebrews 7:25

Did you get that? Jesus is alive and is faithful to “make intercession” for YOU and me, my dear friends! Talk about a prayer warrior!!! The Prince of Heaven is ever making intercession for us! And because HE is who HE is—we can press on, knowing that He isn’t a dead savior, but our living Lord! Even Job had this great assurance!

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another;

though my reins be consumed

within me.”   Job 19:25-27

Job declared His confidence in God, regardless of how his circumstances seemed to contradict his relationship with God—Job knew who he knew, and who knew him!!!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:1

We must simply decide where we will place our faith, our confidence! Will it be in men, in our circumstance, in doctors or drugs, in any other thing upon this earth? Or will we remember that our God REIGNS, and trust Him with it all, regardless of what our eyes behold or our ears hear?

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labour of the olive shall fail,

and the fields shall yield no meat;

the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength,

and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,

and he will make me to walk

upon mine high places……”   Habakkuk 3:17-19

We serve a faithful God, The Lord who is at work no matter how things may look. So, whatever you’re going through, no matter how dark the skies may appear, no matter how tired and weary-to-the-bone you may be—look up–your “redemption draweth nigh”, and cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

“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!!!

God Is Still God!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 02

04 Sunday Feb 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.02 God Is Still God!!!

 

“I will love thee,

O LORD,

my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”   Psalm 18:1-3

We could stop right here with an Amen and Amen! God is still God, and the rules haven’t changed. God is The One who created us, and he delivers those who will come to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ His Son. And Jesus is The One who will Judge every man, woman, boy and girl! Jesus IS “The Word”—and “The Word” will ever stand as the plumb line of God’s truth—for He IS truth!

“There is a way

that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”    Matthew 7:13-15

Every person is given a free will with which to choose to respond to God’s call, or to reject God, yet while we have the privilege to choose, we do not have the right or the ability to choose the consequences of our choices, for the consequences have been set by God! We can choose to hear God’s call, and respond in repentance and faith to Jesus, or we can follow that “broad is the way” to destruction! There is only One way—One truth—and One giver of ‘life’!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

Not only is Jesus “the way…the truth…and the life…” He is the very essence of God, HE IS God.

“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

Just as Jesus was rejected by those to whom He came in His physical presence, men and women are still rejecting Him today!!! But every choice has a consequence—either the life that Jesus gives, by His own blood that He shed on the cross—or the destruction that is at the end of that “broad…way”! Have you chosen God’s way or your own? God hasn’t changed, He hasn’t moved, and His Way hasn’t been altered! Only The Son can give you life—eternal life today into forever!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

And He is “the same”—the same Son of God who came to save us and to deliver those who will come to Him by faith!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:10-13 Amen!

Jesus came that we might be “born again” into life with Him!

“That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 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 3:15-16

And Jesus can give us life, because HE IS life—HE IS God—then, now, and forever! Will you accept His gift of love for you? This God-Man came that you could have His life within YOU! That we could know Him and walk in confidence of what He is doing in HIS own!

“But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 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 10:26-30

So in closing, I simply have a few questions for you and me: ‘Are we letting God be God? Or have we taken His throne in our own lives?’ Who is your God? You need to be sure—because God is sure!

“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

And don’t forget, there is a judgment day coming—and Jesus is the standard—no exceptions!

“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

Remember God is still God. Always was—ever shall be!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8   Amen and Amen!!!