Precious Or Vile??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #402

13 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #402       Precious Or Vile???

 

“Therefore thus saith the LORD,

If thou return,

then will I bring thee again,

and thou shalt stand before me:

and if thou take forth the precious

from the vile,

thou shalt be as my mouth:

let them return unto thee;

but return not thou unto them.”    Jeremiah 15:19

We are living in a time when God and His Word are being minimalized every day. As a culture, we have rejected God’s ways and replaced them with our own. We place no value on life or truth, and children are simply an inconvenience and an interruption to ‘self gratification’—both in the avoidance of conceiving children as well as a commitment to love, enjoy, grow and instruct them in biblical truth—passing the torch, if you would!

God has warned us that we must be aware of the draw and call of the world; that we must be diligent to ‘stand fast in the evil day’! God also warns us that we need to practice separation—not separation from being salt and light to a culture of corruption and darkness—but to be aware of the dangers of compromise with sin and becoming a part of the problem rather that offering the solution of The Cross! We need to be calling others out of danger, not walking into it ourselves:

“And of some have compassion,

making a difference:

23 And others save with fear,

pulling them out of the fire;

hating even the garment spotted

by the flesh.” Jude 1:22-23

Much like Jeremiah and Jude, Paul knew that we needed to be aware of our surroundings as well as those whom we choose to surround ourselves with! Often taken only as a caution of not marrying outside of the faith, Paul’s message to the Corinthians is also a general caution to “guard our hearts” by guarding our lives and our choices of our intimate companions. Here are two of his warnings, which we need to consider in all our ways!

“Be not deceived:

evil communications

corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness,

and sin not;

for some have not the knowledge of God:

I speak this to your shame.”     1 Corinthians 15:33-34

 

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ

with Belial?

or what part hath he that believeth

with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God

with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said,

I will dwell in them,

and walk in them;

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”    2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Many accuse followers of Jesus of being “exclusivists” and in a way, that is what God calls us to be—not untouchable, arrogant or ‘holier than thou’ toward others; but a compassionate people of The Word who will call sinners out of the darkness into the light, (and we’re all sinners, we who follow Jesus are saved and redeemed sinners—being transformed by the blood of Jesus which “cleanseth us from all sin”!) leading them to the cross through the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, as well as a life lived in communion and obedience to Him and His Word! We can only do that when we know what God’s Word says!

“These six things doth the LORD hate:

yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked

imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies,

and he that soweth discord among brethren.”    Proverbs 6:16-19

Kind of sounds like the front page of the news doesn’t it? So how are we walking? Are we walking humbly before God and men, speaking truth, caring for the innocent, pursuing good activities and goals, avoiding fruitless mischief, not acting in jealousy and causing harm by false accusations, and also spreading peace rather than discord? Wow, what a list!!! We must continually determine to “think on these things” rather than that which “God hates”! Simple but not easy!

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.”    Philippians 4:8-9

Amen and Amen. And may “the God of peace…..be with you” as we each pursue holiness and God’s ways rather than the haughtiness of the world’s pride! May we ever “take forth the precious from the vile”!

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Fighters Or Faith-ers??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 13

08 Sunday Oct 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Every Knee Shall Bow, Fight or Faith?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Made like Jesus!, Persecution, Perseverance, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Walking With Jesus, Without a Word?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.13    Fighters Or Faith-ers???

 

Yes, I know ‘faithers’ isn’t a real word, but I chose it to make a point; we live in a culture, even much of our (so called) Christian culture has chosen to “fight” rather than suffer for Jesus in ‘faith’. Let’s observe what Isaiah said about the character of the coming Savior, Messiah and Redeemer.

“He is despised and rejected of men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,

and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 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.

7 He was oppressed,

and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth:

he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,

so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:3-7

Jesus came to be the suffering servant that Isaiah described, to pay for your sin and mine, to suffer the punishment for your sin and mine. Yet what was HIS reaction? He “opened not his mouth”, even when taken to the “slaughter”, and before the “shearers” He “opened not his mouth”! Even Pilate couldn’t understand this kind of humility!

“And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” Matthew 27:12-14

And in John’s account more of the same:

“And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

11 Jesus answered,

Thou couldest have no power at all

against me,

except it were given thee

from above:

therefore he that delivered me

unto thee

hath the greater sin.”   John 19:8-11

Jesus again and again reminds us that when we follow Him, we will face opposition because “men love darkness rather than light” (See John 3:19)!!! And when we follow Him, He clearly told us that people would often treat us as they treated Him, but that they are, in actuality, rejecting God and His kingdom–The God who will hold them accountable! We will all give an account of our choices and actions. Without focusing on the contextual interpretation of the following passage, I’d like us to simply see that Jesus says that everyone will give an account for their choices, in this account He relates just before He went to the cross!

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,

and fed thee?

or thirsty,

and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger,

and took thee in?

or naked,

and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick,

or in prison,

and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them,

Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it

unto one

of the least of these my brethren,

ye have done it unto me….

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,

Depart from me,

ye cursed,

into everlasting fire,

prepared for the devil

and his angels:………

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying,

Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,

or athirst,

or a stranger,

or naked,

or sick,

or in prison,

and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye did it not

to one of the least of these,

ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away

into everlasting punishment:

but the righteous into life eternal.”    Matthew 25:37-46

Jesus clearly tells us that when people mistreat (or treat kindly) “the least of these my brethren”, it is the same as doing that kindness or unkindness to HIM! (Hopefully we can come back to this passage at a later time, and talk about the “specific” interpretation and application within the total context of these chapters!) I only want us to see from Jesus’ words, that when we are HIS—we can trust HIM to care for us who are HIS brethren! We don’t have to fight for ourselves or take our own vengeance (ever), for truly, “vengeance is mine….saith The Lord”!

“Recompense to no man evil for evil.

Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible,

as much as lieth in you,

live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,

but rather give place unto wrath:

for it is written,

Vengeance is mine;

I will repay,

saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger,

feed him;

if he thirst,

give him drink:

for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Romans 12:17-20

We have a higher calling; we march to a different drummer—the commands of our Lord Jesus, not the call of the world! But how do we accomplish this high calling? Only One way, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is given to all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith. (See Romans 8:9)

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth;

It is expedient for you that I go away:

for if I go not away,

the Comforter will not come unto you;

but if I depart,

I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come,

he will reprove the world of sin,

and of righteousness,

and of judgment:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged……

13 Howbeit when he,

the Spirit of truth,

is come,

he will guide you into all truth:

for he shall not speak of himself;

but whatsoever he shall hear,

that shall he speak:

and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me:

for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath

are mine:

therefore said I,

that he shall take of mine,

and shall shew it unto you…

33 These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world.”     Portions of John 16:7-33

“I have overcome the world”! Amen and Amen! But there is even more—Jesus has overcome the world in a way that the world doesn’t understand, and we must pursue His ways and not the world’s! Simple but not easy! Jesus went to the cross willingly for us, I just can’t believe that He expects us to follow HIM kicking and screaming all the way. (Please understand, I’m not saying we aren’t to stand up for truth and right, but we are to stand in obedience and compliance with the Word of God, not with the ways of the world!)

“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.”   Luke 9:23

Now taking up our cross isn’t a reference to the daily aches, pains and difficulties of life, it is a reference to “dying” to self while living for Jesus, by His Spirit’s power and grace! Not exalting ourselves but humbling ourselves before the Holy God and His Son Jesus, who has saved us by HIS blood!!! What less could we give?

“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

To continue our consideration of whether we are living as “faithers” or ‘fighters’, let’s look at what I consider to be one of the ultimate passages on “Christ-like” living.

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself

of no reputation,

and took upon him

the form of a servant,

and was made

in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion

as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should

confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God

the Father.”   Philippians 2:5-11

Won’t you join me in seeking the face of Jesus, and pursuing a life that reveals the “mind of Christ” to a lost and dying world in need of a Savior? And may we remember what Jesus Himself said about our attitude:

“For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11

And as James calls us to remember about “faithers”! “Saying so” doesn’t make it so! But a transformed life will be evident!

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith,

and I have works:

shew me thy faith

without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith

by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God;

thou doest well:

the devils also believe,

and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know,

O vain man,

that faith

without works

is dead?”   James 2:14-20

Do you have real “faith” that is displayed in a Christ-like mind-set as pictured in Philippians 2? Or does your life say you’d “rather fight than switch” (pun intended!)!!! Are we humbling ourselves before God and others, or exalting ourselves because we’re too proud to bow? A question that only you can answer, but don’t wait to long!

“He hath delivered my soul

in peace

from the battle that was against me:

for there were many with me.

19 God shall hear,

and afflict them,

even he that abideth of old. Selah.

Because they have no changes,

therefore they fear not God.” Psalm 55:18-19

Let’s fear God, yield to His Spirit and live by faith, rather than walk (or fight) in the flesh? Blessings on your week!

 

 

 

My God IS Sufficient!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #400

06 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by in Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, I Will Never Leave You, Made like Jesus!, My Grace Is Sufficient, Praise God Today!, The Word, Time Is Grace!, TODAY

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #400       My God Is Sufficient!!!

 

Just a brief word this morning to wrap up our day. Regardless of the trials that we may be facing I just want us to remember that our GOD is able, and sufficient to any task that we may face. I pray that this word will speak to our hearts and encourage us all on this Friday.

“And now, brethren,

I commend you to God,

and to the word of his grace,

which is able to build you up,

and to give you an inheritance

among all them

which are sanctified.”   Acts 20:32

 

“I commend you to God” because while I may not have the answers that you need—our God does!!! He knows and allows nothing to come into our lives that HE isn’t using to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ His Son.

“And we know

that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image

of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”    Romans 8:28-29

We can trust it all to God—“He never says ‘oops’!”! Even as the Apostle Paul sought God in prayer for an infirmity that was plaguing Him and God gave Him assurance that HE had it all under control.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure

through the abundance of the revelations,

there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me,

lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore

will I rather glory

in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ

may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,

in reproaches,

in necessities,

in persecutions,

in distresses

for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And that same is still true for you and me! Even as the Doxology says, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” I pray that God will encourage each of us as we press on in His “grace” which is always “sufficient for thee”! Blessings on your day! 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!