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If Not The CROSS, What??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #755

29 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by Blanche in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Are You Ready, By Him We Live, Choose You This Day!, Consider Your ways, Cross, Crucified With Christ

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1 Corinthians 2:1-2, Being or Doing?, Born Again by God's Spirit, Chose you THIS Day!, Christ Alone, Colossians 1:25-29, Galatians 2:20, John 12:32-33, John 15:5, John 1:12-13, John 3:4-16, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 15:18-19, Romans 16:24-27, The Cross and The Crucified Savior, What is your life preaching?

Bible Ballistics: BBs #755  If Not The CROSS, What???

 

I am burdened greatly that we seem to have mindlessly set aside the CROSS in our zeal, compassion, and sometimes a simple desire to “help” people.  Yet, like Paul I truly believe we must, yes, we must, get back to the cross; for no matter how much kindness, love, compassion, and benevolence we bestow on those in need—be it spiritual, physical, emotional, or any other apparent need—when we put meeting their material or emotional needs over, or in place of, the need to bring them to see that they need the cross, we have missed the mark.

Paul had a lot to say about the preeminence of the cross and the Gospel of the cross of Christ Jesus.  Let’s peruse a few.

“For I will not dare to speak

of any of those things which Christ

hath not wrought by me,

to make the Gentiles obedient,

by word and deed,

19 Through mighty signs and wonders,

by the power of the Spirit of God;

so that from Jerusalem,

and round about unto Illyricum,

I have fully preached

the gospel of Christ.”    Romans 15:18-19

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you

according to my gospel,

and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation

of the mystery,

which was kept secret

since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest,

and by the scriptures of the prophets,

according to the commandment

of the everlasting God,

made known to all nations

for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise,

be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.

Amen. ……”     Romans 16:24-27a

And one of the most powerful and foundational calls for us to be faithful to preach Christ and HIS CROSS:

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”    1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Nothing but JESUS–and the call for us to live unto Christ through the new life that HE gives to each one who comes to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for MY sin and yours! And by the power of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, we can die to self and LIVE UNTO JESUS in all we are, and all we do!

“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

Jesus Himself, makes it clear that it’s all about HIM, and only HIM!

“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…

… 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…

… 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”   Portions of John 3:4-16

The Apostle John clarified this “birth” in chapter 1 of His Gospel:

“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

And as Jesus declared before His death:

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men

unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

He died for YOU and ME—HIS life for mine!  What is your life preaching?  What “Gospel” are you spreading?  Jesus or some other message?  As the Apostle Paul reminds us again and again, our hope isn’t in “doing” good but it’s in “being” Christ’s and “having” HIS Spirit within us: “Christ in you, the hope of glory”!  Oh, if we could just return to and pursue devotion to “Jesus Christ, and him crucified”!  That’s the only hope that is real HOPE, and may we be lifting up Jesus and not man’s philosophies, plans or programs!

“Whereof I am made a minister,

according to the dispensation of God

which is given to me for you,

to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid

from ages

and from generations,

but now is made manifest

to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known

what is the riches of the glory

of this mystery among the Gentiles;

which is

Christ in you,

the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach,

warning every man,

and teaching every man

in all wisdom;

that we may present every man

perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour,

striving according to his working,

which worketh in me mightily”.   Colossians 1:25-29

In closing for today (for we will come back to this theme again!) may we ever take Romans 12:1-2 as our battle plan, remembering that “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (See 2 Chronicles 20:15)!  Yet, we have a part—may we pursue God in every step—HIS way not ours!  And if I may add, ‘God’s will’ will never contradict or compromise HIS Word!

“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

All by HIS power—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

Amen and Amen!!!

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Worship–A State Not A Place??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #691

11 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by Blanche in A Father's Love, All About Jesus!, Dependence, Glory To God, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows, Salvation, Witness, Worship Him!, Worship?

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1 Corinthians 15:57-58, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Acts 1:6-8, Because He first Loved us, Being or Doing?, God Loves YOU, John 17:11-23, Know Truth--Jesus, Matthew 4:10, Matthew 6:24, Real Worship?, Romans 11:36, Romans 12:1-2, When do you worship, Worship Him!, Worship Jesus

Bible Ballistics: BBs #691  Worship—A State Not A Place???

 

Just a few thoughts this morning about worship: what is worship; where does it take place; when does it take place; why does it take place; who really worships; how can we become true worshippers?  All these are questions we need to consider, especially in these tumultuous days which seem to confront us in such mind-boggling ways!  If worship is a state of mind and heart rather than a “place”, how do we get there.  Let’s allow scripture to answer these questions.

Worship—reverent homage and honor paid to God or a

Sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred-

One of the definitions of the Greek word that Jesus used in Matthew 4:10, says:

Worship–To crouch…to prostrate oneself in homage…to do reverence to…to adore—worship—

Jesus makes it clear for us that real worship of God will yield service in the life of the worshipper.  I find it apropos that this was one of the three temptations that Satan challenged Jesus in; what would our answer have been?  What have we bowed down to?  Where have we failed to truly worship God?

“Then saith Jesus unto him,

Get thee hence, Satan:

for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only

shalt thou serve.”  Matthew 4:10

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus makes it clear that we are called to be “exclusionists”—not a popular idea—but we are called here by Jesus to worship “him only” and we are to serve “him only”.  Jesus also makes this clear in another passage that we need to consider in our ‘multi-tasking’ mindset.  We have allowed our cultural influence to rollover into our idea of worship (thinking we just add worship on to our already loaded schedule and give “God a nod” when we have the time!).  Jesus says different!

“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

And as we spoke of recently—we must understand and acknowledge that we are “bought with a price” and we are living in God’s presence—whether we act like it or not—and to know and submit ourselves to our God and King is the beginning of true worship.  Living in God’s presence at every turn, giving ourselves to be His “witnesses” before a lost and dying world.

“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

When we are “born again” we receive new life in Jesus, and our life is to be lived unto Him.  Paul put it best to the Romans—we need a mindset toward God in all things.

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”  Romans 11:36

Whom are we glorifying?  Self?  The powers that be?  Power that we want?  Fame?  Fortune? Prominence?  We are to be the witnesses of Jesus.  It’s what He left us here to BE!  And when we will BE His witness, the right doing will always accompany the ‘being’!

“When they therefore were come together,

they asked of him, saying,

Lord, wilt thou at this time

restore again the kingdom

to Israel?

7 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 1:6-8

Don’t fret over yesterday or tomorrow, or the times and seasons, rather live for Jesus in each and every moment that HE gives us “TODAY”!  Live in His presence deliberately!  Walk in His ways continually!  Speak godliness in all things.  Remember that we “are” a witness in all we do and say—all be it, a good one or a bad one, but we are witnesses!  Are you glorying God by a life of worship?  Or are you ashamed to let others know that you are HIS?  Or even worse, are you oblivious to your condition and you unwittingly bring shame to the name of Jesus?

I’d like to share two other passages that I pray will encourage you on your way as good witnesses to the King who bought our salvation with His own blood.  May God speak anew and afresh to you and me through HIS Word!

“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

Is your labor “in the Lord”?  If you’ve been born again, it ought to be?  Consider Paul’s call to the believers at Rome:

“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

May God speak to our hearts, and may we truly learn to live a life of total worship before our God; not just in songs (of whatever kind) at church or raising “holy hands” in a “worship service” (not that there is anything wrong with those things—But God wants our all—all the time), but by living a life of devotion to the God who saves us, keeps us and desires for our hearts to be in tune with HIM.  Even as Jesus prayed for us all in John 17.

“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…

….23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”  John 17:11 & 23

Amen and Amen!!!

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