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What “Form” Of Godliness??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #62

18 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by Blanche in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abiding In The Vine, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Following Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Which form?

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2 Timothy 3:1-5, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding In The Vine, Choosing to follow Jesus, Jesus IS the way, Jesus Saves!, John 1:10-13, John 3:3-7, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, What form do you possess?

What “Form” Of Godliness???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #62

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Paul was instructing this young pastor in many things, including verse 2:15 where he instructed him to “study to shew yourself approved UNTO GOD” (emphasis mine), and then as he continues in chapter 3, he reminds him of the veracity (look it up!) of scripture, and its power to establish our way.  So what is this “form of godliness”?  I think it is the very thing that Jesus talks about in Matthew chapter 7, those who want to impress, succeed, progress, profit, or fit in–regardless of their reasons– those who want to do it their way, but claim to be working “for God” but “denying the power thereof”!  Those who aren’t willing to come to God and let Him work in or through them, for they are too busy doing it ”my way”!  Just as it was then, it is still the same today.  Let’s see what Jesus said about it.

“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 15:4-5

I believe that “form of godliness” is the work we do “without” Jesus!  You can talk the talk, and even pretend to walk the walk, but without really knowing and possessing Jesus, and being HIS child, you/I can do little of real value, and virtually of no value to the kingdom of God.  In fact Jesus told Nicodemus something very similar to this– he was a high-placed religious leader– which reminds us that we can have men’s credentials without having Jesus!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

The Apostle John also wrote about this in chapter 1.

“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

Remember the “power” that was denied in 2 Timothy 3 is the power that saves; and just as John says above it’s not by blood (birth, relationships), not by flesh (working it up), nor the will of man (passed on by any other person)!  As the old proverb says, “every pot must sit on its own bottom”!  What are you counting on?  Let’s see what Jesus says.

“Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he

that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many

wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23

Earlier in this chapter Jesus makes another profound assessment of life choices, which is still true today!

“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.” Matthew 7:13-14

So, my question for us all is, “Do you/I only have a “form of godliness”?” Or have you been “born again” by the blood of the Lamb which cleanses us from all sin, for Jesus is THE ONLY WAY!

“For all have sinned,

 and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Amen and Amen!!!

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Double Of Nothing IS ____??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #735

16 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by Blanche in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows

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1 Peter 5:6-7, Abide In The Vine, Abiding In The Vine, Do you Abide in Jesus?, Double of Nothing, Isaiah 49:5, John 15:1-11, Treading Water

Bible Ballistics: BBs #735 Double Of Nothing IS______???

 

I am a bookkeeper by nature—but it wasn’t always that way.  When I was in High School, I hated math; my dad did his best to convince me to take ‘bookkeeping’, but I just kept telling him that I hated math and didn’t heed his advice (for he saw something that I couldn’t see then!)!  Sure enough, when I was about 22 or so, math finally clicked in my little pea brain!  So, of course I came to love “bookkeeping”!

Well, my friend Jesus knows what we don’t; even when HE asks us to go, or do, or accomplish some task that doesn’t make sense to us—we can trust that HE KNOWS something that we don’t know, yet.  How often I’ve regretted not taking a “bookkeeping” class, so I’d have more of a grasp of the things I’ve done in the keeping of financial records through the years.  All because I failed to take the wise advice of my earthly father!  How much more do we need to heed the advice of our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ THE LORD!  We all know that “double of nothing” is “nothing”!  It’s a family joke in our household about double of nothing; for when we married Zane asked me to quit work and stay home and tend to our home, which I most willingly agreed to, and he told me then he’d double my wages every week!  He jokingly tells people that, and I always chime in, “It took me 5 years to figure out that double of nothing, was nothing!”  Ha ha ha!  But in the spiritual realm it’s a tragedy that we have failed to realize that without JESUS, we are simply treading water, trying to double our ‘nothing’!  I would simply like to share one of my favorite passages with you this morning and call it a day.

“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.

6 If a man abide not in me,

he is cast forth as a branch,

and is withered;

and men gather them,

and cast them into the fire,

and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me,

and my words abide in you,

ye shall ask what ye will,

and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified,

that ye bear much fruit;

so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me,

so have I loved you:

continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments,

 ye shall abide in my love;

even as I have kept

 my Father’s commandments,

and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you,

that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full.”    John 15:1-11

May you take this ‘food for thought’ and ponder the import of Jesus’ own words to His disciples before HE left this earth.  True then—true now! Are you abiding in “the vine” or trying to be and do things on your own?  As an old song says, “Without HIM, I could do nothing!” (Without Him, by Mylon Lefevre), and I don’t even want to try!  Won’t you “cast all your cares upon HIM”?  He’s ever calling you to abide—not run, not rush, not think up your own plans, programs, and propositions!  Abide in HIS plan and you’ll “bear much fruit” (but remember, you may not always see the crop!)!

“And now,

saith the LORD that formed me

from the womb

 to be his servant,

to bring Jacob again to him,

Though Israel be not gathered,

 yet shall I be glorious

in the eyes of the LORD,

and my God

shall be my strength.”  Isaiah 49:5

HE is here, calling YOU to abide!  What will your reply be?

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

Amen!!!

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Has Harvest Passed??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 08

08 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by Blanche in Faithful, One Foundation, The Harvest is past

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1 Corinthians 3:10-16, Abiding In The Vine, Be ye doers of the Word, Do you Abide in Jesus?, Doers of the Word, Ephesians 2:8-10, Good good works, James 1:21-27, Jeremiah 8:14-22, John 15:1-5, Temple of the Holy Spirit

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 08  Has Harvest Passed???

 

I am still burdened over the subject from last week of the “harvest” and what that means to our nation and our world; much like Israel in Jeremiah’s day, we are living in a world gone mad with rejection of God, His Word and His ways. Regardless of any political situations going on around us, we must face the fact of our sins against God and either continue in the way we have gone or turn to God through His Son, Jesus in repentance and faith unto obedience.  I would like to consider a rather lengthy passage that God gave to Jeremiah.  I pray that we will hear “the word of the Lord” and respond in recognition of our own sin, repentance toward God/Jesus, and a broken heart for those around us.  Only God can make the changes that we need!

“Why do we sit still?

 assemble yourselves,

and let us enter into the defenced cities,

and let us be silent there:

for the LORD our God

hath put us to silence,

and given us water of gall to drink,

because we have sinned

against the LORD.

15 We looked for peace,

but no good came;

and for a time of health,

and behold trouble!

16 The snorting of his horses

was heard from Dan:

the whole land trembled

at the sound of the neighing

of his strong ones;

for they are come,

and have devoured the land,

and all that is in it;

the city,

and those that dwell therein.

17 For, behold,

I will send serpents,

cockatrices,

among you,

which will not be charmed,

and they shall bite you,

saith the LORD.

18 When I would comfort myself

against sorrow,

my heart is faint in me.

19 Behold the voice of the cry

of the daughter of my people

because of them that dwell in a far country:

Is not the LORD in Zion?

 is not her king in her?

Why have they provoked me to anger

with their graven images,

and with strange vanities?

20 The harvest is past,

the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then

is not the health of the daughter

of my people

recovered?”  Jeremiah 8:14-22

May God’s people—you and I who are born again by the “blood of the Lamb” who was slain for us “before the foundation of the world” (See Ephesians 1:3-5 & Revelation 12:11)—see and acknowledge that our Lord is totally worthy of our devotion.  And devotion to Him is seen in our love for Jesus and His Word, as well as that Word being lived out in all we do and say.  James said it best:

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face

 in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being

not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer

of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.

26 If any man among you

seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion

is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father

is this,

To visit the fatherless

and widows

in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

from the world.”   James 1:21-27

What ‘spots’ do you/I have?  Our lives are to be a testament to the Lord Jesus Christ who has redeemed us and called us to do a work for HIM.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

What have you and I done with the “good works” that God has “ordained” for HIS own?  Have we fiddled away our summer as the grasshopper, or have we been busy about “my Father’s business”?  Has my opportunity for harvest passed?  Have I been doing God’s work or my own?  Am I depending on Jesus strength, power and grace to do HIS work by abiding in HIM?  Jesus Himself gave us the key; abiding in HIM!  It’s all about Jesus—not me.  And the harvest will reflect my focus.

“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

And in closing, Paul’s message to the Corinthians, reminds us that there is a day of accounting coming, and the only foundation we are to build on is the Gospel of JESUS!  What are you building on?  What with—gold, silver and precious stones; or wood, hay, and stubble?  It’s your choice but choose wisely!  There is a test (accounting)!

“According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation

can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble;

13 Every man’s work

shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed

by fire;

and the fire

shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work

shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”   1 Corinthians 3:10-16

I pray that we each will heed the Word of God and pursue the harvest that counts!  Oh, to see a great harvest of souls before we have to cry with Jeremiah, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved”!  May we stand in the gap for those who need JESUS!  Consider the fire’s affect on—gold, silver, gems-vs-wood, hay, stubble?

Amen and Amen!!!

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