A Thankful Heart??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #291

22 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving, The Word

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A Thankful Heart???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #291

Today I want to share a message of gratitude; gratitude to each of you that have been a part of Bible Ballistics, you make my heart smile!  So I just want to share some words of gratitude from God’s Word!

“Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God

upon every remembrance of you,” Philippians 1:2-3

God is so gracious and kind to give us friends, acquaintances and loved ones to share our lives with, and I thank each of you for helping to make this blog beneficial, to those I haven’t yet met, as well as those I have known and loved for years.  May we continue to bless and encourage one another.

“I thank my God always on your behalf,

for the grace of God

which is given you by Jesus Christ;”  1 Corinthians 1:4

And more from Paul, and like many of you whom I have never met, Paul hadn’t been to Colossae either, yet because he had heard of their faith in Jesus, he prayed for them and sent an amazing letter to encourage them. (Read it today!)

“We give thanks to God

and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus,

and of the love which ye have

 to all the saints,” Colossians 1:3-4 

This theme of gratitude and praying for one another is found throughout scripture, and it is there to remind us that we are to care for one another as we have opportunity and pray for our fellow believers continually.  God hears and answers prayer—not always in our way or in our in our time, but I serve a prayer-answering God, I hope you do to!  I pray that you know Him as well.  As we develop and grow in our attitude of gratitude, it is amazing to see the blessings of God; for we are all blessed, we all aren’t always paying attention.  Look up my friends, Jesus loves you and so do I.

“Rejoice evermore.     

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

 for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Of course we couldn’t end a post on gratitude without a word from the Psalms; oh how replete are they with the joy of the Lord, comfort for the sorrowful, hope for the downtrodden, and the eternal message that our “God reigneth”!

“O give thanks unto the God of heaven:

for his mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 136:26

May your day be full of peace “that passeth all understanding” as you thank God in all things.  Remember, we win!

“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.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice,

and give honour to him…”. Revelation 19:6-7a

Amen and Amen!!!

When Do You Need Jesus??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #290

20 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, HOPE, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Relying on self or Jesus?, Seeing Truth, Seek ye first The Kingdom of God, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, The Word

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When Do You Need Jesus???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #290

Life happens, time flies, and the world around us seems to suck us in sometimes but are we who claim the name of Jesus depending on Him or our own devices—the amazement of the techno-world gadgets, our own wisdom, intelligence or are we walking with our Lord, as the old song says, moment by moment!  There are days that I know that I am conscious of depending upon my Lord second by second.  I’d like to share some scripture that may help us to keep our eyes on Jesus—for one of Satan’s ploys is to keep us going on the toddler’s cry, “I can do it myself!”  How about you?  Are you leaning on the promises and truths that God’s Word provides, or something else.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,

All power is unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore,

and teach all nations,

baptizing them

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them

to observe all things whatsoever

I have commanded you:

and, lo,

I am with you alway,

even unto the end of the world. Amen.”                Matthew 28:18-20

Acts also records Jesus’ instructions as He was about to ascend to heaven, and they are words on which we must depend and keep in mind, for our strength is small, but as Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”!  And Jesus made it clear that, “without me you can do nothing…”!

“And he said unto them,

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons,

which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But

ye shall receive power,

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

and ye shall be witnesses

unto me both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,

and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  Acts 1:7-8

When we are born again, we receive the gift of Jesus’ Holy Spirit to go with us; we could take a whole session to discuss the things which Jesus said The Spirit would work in and through us but suffice it to say we have all we need in Jesus by The Spirit’s work!  It’s one of the reasons that Paul warned the believers at Thessalonica to “quench not the Spirit”!  Stop the maverick lifestyle!  If you don’t have The Spirit, you don’t have Jesus.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

How can we do this?  You hit the nail on the head; “I” can’t but with The Holy Spirit’s work “we” can!  Remember what Jesus said, “without me you can do nothing…”; how much “nothing” are you spending in your own resources?  Let’s check out some great advice from scripture.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall                                        

not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16

“If we live in the Spirit,

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

Paul also gave some great advice to young Timothy.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”   2 Timothy 2:15

Isaiah also shared an amazingly helpful word that I rely upon continually.

“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity,

and the water of affliction,

yet shall not thy teachers be removed

into a corner any more,

but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,

This is the way, walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:20-21

So my question for us today is, “Are you walking with Jesus?  Do you need Him, or are you the ‘solo flight’ of the year?”  I close with a passage that is probably familiar to most, yet I want to explain the context.  Jesus is calling to the church at Laodicea who claimed His name, yet Jesus described their attitude as “needing nothing”!  They had become self-sufficient, and Jesus called them to come to Him.  I find it most interesting that Jesus is outside knocking on the door to get in!  Are you walking in your own self-sufficiency or have you opened the door to Jesus and learned to depend upon HIM continually?

“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 & Amen!!!

God’s Plan Not Man’s??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #289

18 Monday Nov 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Amazing Grace, IN Jesus!, In The Beginning, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus In Genesis!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus lives today!, Jesus said I could come!, Jesus Saves, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, One Day Too Late?, One Foundation, Only Jesus, Only One Way

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God’s Plan Not Man’s???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #289

With the popularity of social media of all kinds it seems that everyone feels called to share their opinion about everything.  While it can be good to have a platform, everything that you read, hear and see on the internet may or may not be true.  I want to talk about one of those subjects, the Bible and God’s plan for the salvation of mankind.  The opinions we hear and see on the internet run the gambit, but I want us to take a look at scripture for our standard, not the opinions of people.  And yes, I’m a ‘people’, but if you’ve followed this blog for very long, you know that I am committed to help people go to God’s Word and read and study it remembering to take all scripture in its context, and in the larger context of the whole counsel of God (meaning all scripture—from Genesis to Revelation!)!  The first passage that I want us to consider is from Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost—50 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The followers of Jesus had watched Him ascend into the heavens after He had instructed them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come to them before they began to “go ye therefore” (see Matthew 28:19-20) and spread the good news of The Gospel.  So after about 10 days the assembly of some 120 believers received the Holy Spirit and went forth in great power and purpose to share the truth about Jesus saving sacrifice and His grace to save.

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven,

lifted up his voice, and said unto them,

Ye men of Judaea,

and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem,

be this known unto you,

and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken,

 as ye suppose,

seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken

by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days,

saith God,

I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:

and your sons and your daughters

shall prophesy,

and your young men

shall see visions,

and your old men

shall dream dreams…

…. 21 And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles and wonders and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Portions of Acts 2:14-24

Jesus wasn’t crucified by the plan of man, rather He laid down His life willingly for your sin and mine.

“Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received

of my Father.”  John 10:17-18

Jesus had this power because He was, is and ever shall be God!  And yes, He said so Himself!

“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 10:27-30

Are you His sheep?  It’s a question that only you can answer.  Have you come to Jesus in repentance of your sin and faith/belief in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for you—and all of your sin!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is a test, and it may be soon.  So, back to Jesus’ claims.

Jesus went on to proclaim that HE is the only way—one way, one Savior, one who was crucified, buried and risen again in the power of God to pay for our sin; but that cost was His life’s blood on Calvary.

“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

“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.

12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him:

but the Jews cried out, saying,

If thou let this man go,

thou art not Caesar’s friend:

whosoever maketh himself a king

speaketh against Caesar.”  John 18:10-12

Jesus was the plan from the beginning—before “the beginning”!  God created us knowing that we would sin, yet He loves us so much that He created us anyway.  I’ll share just a few passages that reveal this to us, when we will listen and receive God’s truth, starting in Genesis.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head,

and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

“Father, I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation of the world.”  John 17:24

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,

whose names are not written

 in the book of life of the Lamb

slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 (the ‘him’ mentioned here is the antichrist)

“Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

 that your faith and hope

might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:18-21

And just as the followers watched Jesus ascend into the heavens, He is coming again—and I believe, very soon.  The question then is, are you ready?  Have you bowed before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven

as he went up,

behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said,

 Ye men of Galilee,

why stand ye gazing up into heaven?

this same Jesus,

 which is taken up from you into heaven,

shall so come in like manner

as ye have seen him go into heaven.”   Acts 1:10-11

Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly, but grant grace unto those who need to come to YOU!

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s The Verdict??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #288

15 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Eyes that SEE HIM, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Living by Faith or Entertainment?, Living For Jesus, Living in Christ, Living Right, Living TODAY!, Living Waters

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What’s The Verdict???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #288

There’s a proverb that’s been around for a while, and I think it worth our consideration, especially in the day in which we are living; “If you were put on trial for being a Christian (a believer in and a follower of Jesus), would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  With our culture of “offence”, it is often easy to let our silence be construed as approval.  Now, I don’t think we need to go everywhere with “guns a blazin’ ” as the saying goes, but we are to speak the truth in love.  Oh, how needy our world is of real love—not lust, but real God centered, helping people centered, love of God.

“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:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase of the body

unto the edifying

of itself in love.”   Ephesians 4:14-16

Is our light shining for Jesus, reflecting His work in us, or are we letting the enemy have his way in our daily walk; what does my walk—my talk—my actions—my compassion and grace say to people about my Lord Jesus.  Would my life bring a verdict of guilty of belonging to Jesus?  Would there be a hung jury, for the compromise that prevails too often?  Would there be so little evidence that I would be set free for lack of evidence?  Am I more concerned with blending in than shining for Jesus.  Yes, it may have a cost, but nothing like the price that Jesus paid to save me!

Let’s look at what Jesus said our lives ought to look like.

“Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you

falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice,

and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:11-16

Nuff’ said!

Amen and Amen!!!

He Lives Within My Heart??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #287

13 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, He lives in my heart., Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Saves!, My sheep hear my voice..., Who's in your heart?

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He Lives Within My Heart???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #287

I grew up singing the old song “He Lives” written by Alfred Ackley, and I encourage you to look him up on the internet and read the story behind this song.  The last line of the chorus is what I want us to think about today, “You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart…!”!  Amen to that—it’s how I know. How about you?

“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;

These things saith he

that hath the seven Spirits of God,

and the seven stars;

I know thy works,

that thou hast a name that thou livest,

and art dead.”  Revelation 3:1

Jesus’ words to a church, a group of professing believers who claimed to know Him, yet He goes on to call them to repent!  I encourage you to read the seven letters this week and ask Jesus to reveal what is in your heart; who is in your heart.

I want to share God’s Word today and ask you to peruse the passages and let God examine your heart.  Stop, look and listen!

“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

Jesus also makes it clear in the Sermon on the Mount.

“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.”  Matthew 6:24

If I might make an observation; we often relegate “mammon” to money, and it does include money, but the deeper meaning is anything that we allow to stand between us and God; be that money, fame, popularity, power, success, social standing, ladder climbing, you name it!  We are called to submit to Jesus as Lord and King of our life, not to put him in some back closet until we have a prayer request, or an illness or some other crisis.  There’s an old saying, while not out of scripture, it does lend itself to consideration, “If Jesus isn’t Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all!”  You decide.  We can all be deceived, I was for many years—but Jesus is the only way, and if we are His, He is ours and the difference should show.  Let’s consider another part of this ‘sermon’, we’ll consider Jesus’ own words and call it a day!  Remember, saying so doesn’t make it so, and Satan is the “father of lies” and he does his job well.  Don’t believe everything you hear or even see—liars will go a long way to convince people of their stories!  Beware and listen to Jesus—and dig into The Word for yourself.  (If you want to see a most specific and truthful picture of false teachers/preachers/prophets read 2 Peter 2—the whole chapter!)

“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.

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 7:15-23

May we heed the words of Jesus!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  Calling wrong right doesn’t make it so.  Be sure you’re standing on God’s Word not man’s!  Please?

“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 10:27-30

Amen & Amen!!!