Bible Ballistics: BBs #172 When I Am Afraid, What???

I have just a brief post for today. My heart is grieved for the things I/we see going on around us. I see division, strife, disagreement, unkindness, but most grievous to my soul, I see people twisting the Word of God, rejecting the Word of God, or blatantly denying it’s validity for “our world”. Well, all I can say is the same thing we talked about in our article Sunday—God has never, is never, nor will He ever change!!! His Word is the same today as it’s ever been, and man is the same as he has always been—ready, willing and able to reject, defy and ignore God in his own personal life!

I’d like to simply share Psalm 56 with you in its entirety. Because I wrestle with fear, I think you do too. Fear for the future, not my own, because I belong to Jesus and I trust to His perfect sovereign control to keep me in His power, but the future for those whom I love who refuse to take heed:

“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 10:28-30

I am His and He is mine, and as Jesus said in Matthew 7, every good tree brings forth good fruit—yet as I bear His good fruit in these dark and evil days, it isn’t welcome fruit. But we must ‘fear not’!! David reminds us of the beauty and confidence of trusting and resting in God, even in the midst of the storm! Especially in the midst of the storms around us now!!! Take courage, press on and bear His fruit.

“Be merciful unto me, O God:

for man would swallow me up;

he fighting daily oppresseth me.

2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up:

for they be many that fight against me,

O thou most High.

3 What time I am afraid,

I will trust in thee.

             4 In God I will praise his word,

in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear

what flesh can do unto me.

5 Every day they wrest my words:

all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather themselves together,

they hide themselves,

they mark my steps,

when they wait for my soul.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity?

in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

8 Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

9 When I cry unto thee,

then shall mine enemies turn back:

this I know; for God is for me.

10 In God will I praise his word:

in the Lord will I praise his word.

11 In God have I put my trust:

I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:

I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:

wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling,

that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”

Psalm 56

Amen. May you just trust HIM and praise HIM!!! Today!!!

Bible Ballistics: No Change—Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow Vol. 6#07

As the world spins around us, and lately it has really been spinning, we must choose how we will respond, react and live in light of all that is going on around us. There have been lots of folks weighing in on the recent ruling from the Supreme Court Of The United States regarding marriage. We who belong to Jesus must know whom we stand in and what we are to stand for. Paul tells us in the letter to the Ephesian Church, that we must be prepared for the “evil day”, and friends we are living in the “evil day”! So what are we to do? We must stand for Jesus, knowing the truth and being HIS light, to shine in the darkness.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally is a term of conclusion, and Paul is calling these believers in Jesus to take a certain action. He has covered doctrines of who Jesus is, was and always will be; who we are IN Him, and what our behavior should look like before our God and the world—those who are watching us (And believe me, we don’t always know who is watching us). As Paul is closing his message to the Ephesians and he calls them with the term “finally my brethren” as he goes on to give them important instructions to live victorious lives during the “evil day”. Paul clearly understood that ‘evil days’ would come upon believers, and they have throughout the history of the Church of Jesus Christ since His ascension. We who are following Him today are no exception, and we who believe in the biblically prophesied return of Jesus, know that ‘evil days’ will accompany the time of His return.

But what does that mean for you and me? Well, it doesn’t mean that we are to:

Panic

Respond with alarm when the ‘world’ behaves ‘worldly’

Be ignorant of the schemes of the enemy

Behave unkindly in response to the enemy’s attacks.

Paul gives us wise and timely advice. We are to:

 Be strong in the Lord—

 In HIS power and might (inherent power).

 Put on the armor of God—the defenses God provides.

 Stand against the schemes/wiles of the devil—

 The roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8)

The accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10)

The deceiver of the world (Rev. 12:9)

 The enemy (Matt.13:39)

 The liar (John 8:44)

 The thief (John 10:10)

 Recognize that other ‘people’ are not our enemy–

 But Satan and his minions are!

 And we can stand against his onslaught!!!

 PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR—of GOD!!!

 God’s armor—the provision of our KING–

  So we can withstand IN THE EVIL DAY—

  So we can stand—

 Stand therefore–

 In Truth—John 14:6=Jesus

 In Righteousness—2 Cor. 5:21=Jesus

 In the Peace of the Gospel—Ro. 5:1=Jesus

  With the shield of faith—Jn. 11:25-26=Jesus

  In His salvation—Phil 2:5=Jesus

  With the Word of God—Jn. 1:1-13=Jesus

   (Both the person and the scripture)

Praying Always—Heb. 4:14-16=Jesus

Changeless—Jesus is the Answer, regardless of the question! But we must know him in salvation, and then feast on His Word continually to be equipped for the onslaught of the enemy!!! And we can do that only in, through and with the power of His Spirit within us. We must realize that evil days are upon us and prepare—it’s way past time! Jesus hasn’t changed! The Word of God hasn’t changed!! And we must not change with the winds of the world:

“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 4:14-15

We will be compelled to make a decision about what we believe. We are already seeing lines drawn over those who approve of the perspective of the world in contrast to those who hold to the perspective of God and His Word. All will choose—and even those who refuse to choose, have chosen!

We must stand on the immutability of God—a big word that simply means the unchangeableness of GOD!!!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace……” Hebrews 13:8-9a

And because Jesus never changes we shouldn’t change His Word to fit in!! Our message is one that is eternal, immutable and certain! We must stand with Jesus!!!

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Jesus is our absolute certain strength in which we must stand in this ‘evil day’. We must know the Word of God and stand in its truth! And Paul declares that there is a difference between those who believe and those who don’t, and behavior is often the thermostat that reveals the true nature of the individual. You can’t stand against God and for Him at the same time!

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:9-11 (all sin is sin, and this is referring to continual activity)

And remember that the righteous is only ‘righteous’ through Jesus:

“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 5:21

And when we back up in this chapter a bit we find that the one who has been ‘born again’ is ‘in Christ’ and is a ‘new creature’!!

“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.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

So will you change, conform, fit in, go with the flow??? Or stand fast???  It’s your call, but there is an account to give!!!

“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

Bible Ballistics: BBs #171 Waiting Again???

Noun: A grammatical term, a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a group of people, places or things (common noun), or to name a particular one of these (proper noun).

We seem to be constantly and continually bombarded by the pull of people, places and things. Some things are important, some not so important, and others that are just plain fruitless, things that will zap our time, emotions and energy. Things that we often allow to become major control factors in our lives that are  pointless, yet we allow them to pervade our lives and rob us of productivity, energy, strength and courage. How do we identify “the little foxes, that spoil the vines” (see SS 2:15)?

We absolutely must “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;…..” Hebrews 12:1b-2a

We must keep our focus; we must not allow ourselves to be so easily distracted:

“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 6:33-34

Now this doesn’t mean we are to be lackadaisical in our every day living, but that in all things we are to be committed to seeking “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”! What is the “kingdom” and how do we seek “his righteousness”? Simply (but not easily) by “Looking unto Jesus” and what God the Father has done for, in and through us by the atoning death of our Lord:

“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 5:21

It’s not regulations that keep me focused on Jesus, but love, gratitude and devotion to the one who has and can, “save his people from their sins.” It’s what HE has done for me and will do in and through my life when it is yielded to HIM!! It’s all about Jesus blood that is the only way to deal with sin. And sin is the issue-in me, around me, before me but never overcoming me in HIM—it’s all about the work that HE has done:

“……… and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7b-9 (the truth is Jesus-See John 14:6)

So what does all this have to do with ‘waiting’? It has everything to do with waiting! It has to do with being committed to waiting on God to accomplish HIS work in me, despite my eagerness to have it all done today. I seldom know what He is ultimately accomplishing in me, any more than Job knew what God was accomplishing in all his sufferings, but like Job I am determined to declare:

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

I will trust HIM! I will maintain my own personal integrity before GOD, and leave myself in His hands. How? By ‘waiting again’ and ‘again’ and ‘again’ on God. As Isaiah so aptly stated so many years ago:

“Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,  

that the everlasting God, the Lord,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching

of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.  

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord 

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;  

and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

Waiting again? Now and always may it ever be so! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”!!! I’m waiting on HIM!!! Not just waiting for HIM, but waiting on Him! What are YOU waiting for? ON?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #170 Confident Steps!!!

It’s been a long week at our house already, and it’s only Wednesday!!! We’ve been trying to work things out in some particular issues, and finding at every turn we were stumped, thwarted or confronted with crises. So what do we do in those situations? What is our recourse on those days when all “our” plans seem to be going awry? Well, I just have a few things to share with you in that regard, the same advise I give people who come to me in difficult straights. The same thing I have to remind myself of more often than I sometimes admit: Look up—Trust God—Press on!!!

How are we to do this? God’s Word gives us some simple yet profound advice, and God’s advice should always be the basis for the advice we use and share with others:

“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. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:12-13

My confidence must be in God and His infinite sovereignty—

NOT in my ability but His provision and sufficiency.

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

I must align myself with God and His Word! I must avoid the sin and appeal of the world and seek His face to remain pure and to continue walking in His way and His direction! Remembering that:

“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

God is always at work in His children

and we can trust Him.

When we don’t understand what is happening,

remember that God isn’t caught ‘off guard’!!!

So??? Here’s our shot for today.

Remember Who your faith is in!

Remember Who orders your steps!

Remember Who is leading and follow HIM!

Then press on as HE directs!!!

As one of my favorite evangelists, David Ring, often says, “God never says, “Oops”!!” And HE doesn’t!! Trust Him. Rest in Him. Walk with HIM!! TODAY! Regardless of the obstacles!!!

(Sorry to be late, but guess what? More Internet problems.)

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Ballistics: Whose Servant Are You??? Vol. 6#06

We talked about Romans 6:16 in our last BBs article and it’s been on my mind but in a different light, so I’d like to use it to kick off today’s thoughts about servants.

Romans 6:12-18,

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,

 that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 1

3 Neither yield ye your members

as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:

but yield yourselves unto God,

as those that are alive from the dead,

and your members

as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:

for ye are not under the law,

but under grace.

15 What then?

shall we sin,

because we are not under the law,

but under grace?

God forbid.

16 Know ye not,

that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,  

his servants ye are to whom ye obey;

whether of sin unto death,

or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked,

that ye were the servants of sin,

but ye have obeyed from the heart

that form of doctrine

which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin,

ye became the servants of righteousness.”

As we think about servanthood, the question is the answer! Who we serve reveals whom or what we truly love. Because we are saved by grace through faith in the atoning, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, we have a new life and a new Spirit within us. We have the love of God imparted to and dwelling within us. We undergo a ‘change of heart’, so to speak, when we are born again. (Read John 3, in it’s entirety)

“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.

6 For

when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.  

8 But God

commendeth his love toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Romans 5:1-9

The love of God has been imparted to us by the Spirit of God, that Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus, which He promised to us—the New Covenant. This supernatural transaction of the new birth, which we receive by grace through faith in the atoning, saving blood of Jesus. It’s the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin, not our works. Jesus described this very principle in Matthew 6:24-26:

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 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.”

Jesus didn’t say you may not be able to serve God and anything else, He said ‘Ye cannot!!! It is impossible to serve God and ‘mammon’, because to truly serve God is to love God, and then we serve Him through His power within us.

Mammon: a false object of worship and devotion.

So again, the question is the answer. If you belong to Jesus, then your object of devotion and worship will be Him. The person of Jesus Christ will be our object of worship and devotion—not the ‘mammon’ of the world, regardless of what it is! Who or what are you serving? Whose love is in your heart? Have you come to the Lord in repentance and faith? Have you been born again? Without Jesus, without the regeneration of His Spirit we have no spiritual life, “ye must be born again”, (See John 3:3-7).

“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 1:12-13

When Jesus gives us that ‘new life’, we become a “new creature” in Him—I’m not the same as I was before He saved and changed me! When I received HIM, He took me for His own and I love Him for it. No, I am not perfect, but I am redeemed/bought back from sin, by the blood of the Lamb. I belong to Jesus—I want HIM to be seen in me!!!

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”   1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I’m not made right by what I do, but I can do right because I’ve been made right with God, and I have the Spirit of Jesus Christ dwelling in me. I serve HIM because I love Him, not because I have to!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.…….10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” Portions of John 14:6-16

If the servant truly belongs to the one he obeys then, what does my obedience say? Again the question is the answer!!! Jesus said above, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”, and that He would empower us to keep His commandments with the indwelling presence and power of HIS Hoy Spirit, which He would shortly send, on the Day of Pentecost. (See Acts 1 & 2)

While some take this verse and say that it calls us to obey and be devoted to the Mosaic Law, I think it means something much deeper than the “Law”. While the New Covenant declares that God will write HIS laws upon our hearts (see Jeremiah 31:31-33, Ezekiel 11:19-20 & Hebrews 8:8-13), He declares something equally as important when He says, “I will be their God, and they will be my people”! This goes so far beyond a ‘legal’ obligation, God is talking about a ‘relationship’ of devotion. One not bound by the “law”, but one that is totally focused on Jesus Christ and His relationship to the Father, and what He would accomplish at Calvary and then share with us who would trust in Him. Not a relationship of legality, but a loyalty and devotion of love—the obedience of ‘oneness’!

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:11

I don’t believe that Jesus obeyed the law because it was the ‘law’, He obeyed HIS FATHER’s will because ‘They’ were One. He knew the ‘Law’– He wrote the ‘Law’! It wasn’t a question of rules and regulations, but of relationship. What issues caused Jesus more opposition as He encountered the ‘religious’ leaders of Israel? The Law, the Sabbath, the ‘washings’—the ceremonial Law!!! Jesus confronted the hypocritical substitution of the “Law” for God.

What are you serving? Are you serving a “Law” that you think will keep you in right relationship with God? Are you devoted to “Service” for God instead of being devoted to God himself? What drives your life? Keeping commands and doing work never saved anyone, grace through faith saves–past, present and future. The Law was, as Paul put it, a schoolmaster to show us our need for a relationship with the Lord. Otherwise how did Israel continue to keep the outward form of the Law, even in Jesus’ days, but were rejected and punished because they had no relationship (as a whole nation, there has always been a remnant of faithful servants of the Lord God and of Jesus His Son) with the God who’s law they claimed to keep!!! Jesus even called those who were the most ‘religious’ a brood of vipers—not my words, but HIS!

So what do I think Jesus meant by ‘keeping’ His commandments? I think Jesus was talking about a relationship of obedient submission to HIS Spirit, to HIS written Word-The Spirit of the Old and New Testaments–, and to HIS Kingdom. We are called to the oneness that we saw Him pray about in John 17. He didn’t pray that we’d be “legally compliant”, but that the Father would make us “one….as we are one….”. Jesus calls us to total ‘yieldedness’ to HIM as a person—

As my God—

As my friend—

As my guide and compass.

       As my Lord and Savior!!!

I am to feast on His Word that when HE speaks I will recognize His voice (see John 10) and obey HIM!!! You can observe all the Mosaic Legalities and do all the ‘religious works’ that you choose, but it will never replace being ‘born again’ and listening to and walking with Jesus Himself. Jesus called us to love and follow Him, and to love others and lead them to HIM because:

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9b

So??? Whose servant are YOU???