Tag Archives: Following Jesus

Seeking To Receive Or Provide??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #454

18 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Dependence, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Me, For Such A Time As This, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Perseverance, Salvation, The Only Way, The Same Yesterday, The Word, Thy Will Be Done, Trust God, Wait on the Lord, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Heart?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #454 Seeking To Receive Or Provide???

 

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen……

6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them

that diligently seek him.”   Hebrews 11:1 & 6

When we follow Jesus, we are to be a people of faith! The author of the book of Hebrews describes faith for us; it’s not ‘pie-in-the-sky by-and-by’, but rather a sure confidence in an unfailing creator. It is “substance” and “evidence” that our God IS God; and time and time again throughout history HE has shown Himself faithful, and continues doing so still. His hand is present everywhere, in everything, but we often fail to recognize His presence and His work!

Abraham was one who recognized the call of God, and saw His hand at work in his life. But I’d like us to take a bit of a different approach to Abraham’s legacy than we normally do, and with the culture and climate of today, I think it a worthwhile study. We live in a “me” culture—a culture of ‘selfies’, me first, my needs, rights and entitlements take precedence over any other options around us. Yet Abraham had a different approach to life—not always doing it perfectly– but continually doing life by drawing closer to God, and pursuing that which was pleasing to HIM!

When called to leave his home, family and country, he went—not perfectly– but he went in the right direction, and grew more and more intimate with God on the journey. And that ought to be our pursuit! But there was a difference about Abraham that we often overlook amidst his success, affluence and influence.

“By faith Abraham,

when he was called to go out

into a place which he should

after receive

for an inheritance,

obeyed;

and he went out,

not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,

as in a strange country,

dwelling in tabernacles

with Isaac

and Jacob,

the heirs with him

of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city

which hath foundations,

whose builder

and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

Abraham (Abram first, till his name was changed because he believed in, and received the promises of God!) was looking for a city far beyond ‘Canaan’, yet his journey led to “a land” of the promises from God of; a land that would come to his descendants, rather than himself. That amazes me—this man set out on a journey to seek, pursue and find God and God blessed him, but not with things which we would often expect—God promised Abraham a land, a nation, and a people, and even more importantly a “seed”—the Messiah, who would come of Abrahams offspring. Yet Abraham never saw these promises fulfilled, but believing they would come–and they did—he accepted the promises of God and provided for those who would come after him, by his faith and dependence on God’s perfect provision. (See Gen. 15)

“Therefore sprang there even of one,

and him as good as dead,

so many as the stars of the sky in multitude,

and as the sand which is by the sea shore

innumerable.

13 These all died in faith,

not having received the promises,

but having seen them afar off,

and were persuaded of them,

and embraced them,

and confessed that they were strangers

and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things

declare plainly that they seek a country.”    Hebrews 11:12-14

While they were seeking “a country”, we often forget that God, who “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”, calls us to look up—not around (Although God blesses us daily with “abundantly more” than we even recognize)—for what it is laid up for us, is in HIS kingdom and presence. We must tune our hearts and minds to consider those who come behind us, to leave a godly heritage over any earthly reward! Not a popular message, but one that I think we desperately need to hear today. Jesus Himself clearly reminds us to keep our focus heavenward, and not to be ‘earthbound’ by the foolish greed of the world. Abraham only ‘saw’ Isaac, Jacob and Esau in the flesh, but he believed that God’s Promise would come, and that his descendants would receive the ‘land’, that they would be a ‘nation’, and that the promised ‘Messiah’ would come of his heirs—heirs of not just an earthly land—but heirs of an eternal kingdom. He was concerned about providing an example of faith and obedience, more than the material things that he would leave behind! What about us?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures

upon earth,

where moth

and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through

and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures

in heaven,

where neither moth

nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”   Matthew 6:19-21

In closing this morning, let’s examine our own hearts. Where is ‘my’ treasure? Am I more concerned with receiving more ‘treasure’ or providing a heritage of faith that leads others to the cross? If you or I leave our children and family millions of dollars and no Jesus, what will they have? May we be faithfully living out the gospel in our daily lives, praying and yielding to God so that others see Jesus in us!!!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

Will you join me in seeking Him today, and if you don’t know Jesus, He may be knocking at the door of your heart? If He is, won’t you open the door and let Him in, and begin this amazing journey of faith, creating a legacy of eternal life more than temporary riches?

“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 and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand Fed??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 11

15 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Choose You This Day!, Confidence, Drought & Patience?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Me, For Such A Time As This, God of all comfort!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, I Will Never Leave You, Knowing God's Word, Not By Bread Alone, Prayer, Rain, Rest In The Lord, Showers Of Blessing, Spiritual Drought, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Trust God, Wait on the Lord, Weariness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 11 Hand Fed???

 

I know this is a bit of a strange title for a Bible post, but it just seems to fit what I’d like to share with you today, as we look as Elijah; a powerful and unique prophet of Israel, yet a man of flesh and blood just like you and me, one whom God provided for in unusual ways. Yet Elijah was a man often misunderstood, so let’s begin our consideration of him in the book of James.

“Elias was a man subject to like passions

as we are,

and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth

by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”    James 5:17-18

James calls us to a life of humility, prayer and openness in our lives—not the “ranting and venting” that many are known for on social media—but an openness of our faith and dependence on our Father God, Jesus His Son and the directions and promptings of His Holy Spirit, which He has given to direct our steps from within! In this passage James gives us an example of Elijah (also called Elias in the New Testament) and his life of prayer and dependence on God.

When many people look at this verse they don’t dig deep enough—they read that Elijah prayed and things happened, or didn’t happen—and they often take this as a license to be presumptuous upon God! Many in our culture have twisted God’s Word to make prayer a way of ‘twisting’ God’s arm to get what we want; they have missed the call of our Lord Jesus to have a heart that is ready to “delight thyself also in the Lord…” even as Jesus put it in The Model Prayer:

“Thy kingdom come…..Thy will be done….”

Elijah had a heart after God, but James already knew that, and when we read in this letter “he prayed earnestly that it might not rain”, James knew that Elijah hadn’t been presumptuous, but that he was doing what God told him to do. How about you and I? Have we allowed God to lead and direct our steps, or are we walking our own way?

“And Elijah the Tishbite,

who was of the inhabitants of Gilead,

said unto Ahab,

As the LORD God of Israel liveth,

before whom I stand,

there shall not be dew nor rain these years,

but according to my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

God sent Elijah unto Ahab, the king of Israel (the northern kingdom, known as ‘Israel’, who had a continual string of kings who had refused to obey God for many years); Ahab was the most wicked of kings and you might remember his wife, Jezebel!

“And Ahab made a grove;

and Ahab did more to provoke

the LORD God of Israel to anger

than all the kings of Israel

that were before him.” 1 Kings 16:33

Elijah didn’t come to speak for himself, or to show off his “prayer prowess”, but he came to Ahab at the bidding of God, and relayed the message of God to a wicked king. Note, it wasn’t a message that Ahab or anyone else would have been eager to receive, but Elijah not only prayed, he took the answer, knowing it could cost him his life at the hands of this wicked, evil, idolatrous, un-repentant king!

“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence,

and turn thee eastward,

and hide thyself by the brook Cherith,

that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink

of the brook;

and I have commanded the ravens

to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto

the word of the LORD:

for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith,

that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh

in the morning,

and bread and flesh

in the evening;

and he drank of the brook.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” 1 Kings 17:2-7

We often miss the fact that while God made provision for Elijah in unusual ways, Elijah was also enduring the drought that God had sent! Yet Elijah pressed on, knowing that his GOD was faithful, and the people needed to hear from God rather than their wicked kings and leaders. God wanted Israel to look to Him and trust Him. While we don’t have time to look at all the things that God did for Elijah, I do want us to look at the provisions that God made; in particular one that even Jesus confirmed.

“And he said, Verily I say unto you,

No prophet is accepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth,

many widows were in Israel

in the days of Elias,

when the heaven was shut up

three years and six months,

when great famine

was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent,

save unto Sarepta,

a city of Sidon,

unto a woman that was a widow.” Luke 4:24-26 (See 1 Kings 17:8-24)

Jesus validated the account of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath/Serepta, knowing that the people as a whole were only interested in what they “saw” and “ate”; like the account of the day after HE fed the five thousand!

“The day following,

when the people which stood on the other side of the sea

saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples,

they also took shipping,

and came to Capernaum,

seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea,

they said unto him,

Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Ye seek me, not

because ye saw the miracles,

but because ye did eat of the loaves,

and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat

which perisheth,

but for that meat

which endureth unto everlasting life,

which the Son of man

shall give unto you:

for him hath God the Father sealed.”    John 6:22-27

Much like these people, we get our eyes on the material rather than the spiritual—and Jesus calls us, as well as them, to seek “for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life”! Even as He told the disciples in John 4 as He encountered the ‘woman at the well’.

“But he said unto them,

I have meat to eat

that ye know not of.

33 Therefore said the disciples one to another,

Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

34 Jesus saith unto them,

My meat is to do the will of him

that sent me,

and to finish his work.” John 4:32-34

When we pursue God, He is ever making provision for us and directing our steps. Even as Elijah, so let’s look at one more account of His walk with God, and the other end of the “prayer” which James mentioned.

“And it came to pass after many days,

that the word of the LORD came to Elijah

in the third year,

saying,

Go, shew thyself unto Ahab;

and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria……17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him,

Art thou he that troubleth Israel?v

18 And he answered,

I have not troubled Israel;

but thou,

and thy father’s house,

in that ye have forsaken

the commandments

of the LORD,

and thou hast followed Baalim.

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.           

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said,

How long halt ye between two opinions?

if the LORD be God,

follow him:

but if Baal,

then follow him.

And the people answered him not a word.”    1 Kings 18:1-2, 17-21

Elijah wasn’t concerned with popularity, but with following and obeying his God, so he called the people together that they might see the hand of God and return to HIM! Most are familiar with the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal and the challenge to call for a sacrifice to be supernaturally burned up proving who is the “true” God.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,

that Elijah the prophet came near,

and said,

LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,

let it be known this day

that thou art God in Israel,

and that I am thy servant,

and that I have done all these things

at thy word.

37 Hear me, O LORD,

hear me,

that this people may know

that thou art the LORD God,

and that thou hast turned

their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell,

and consumed the burnt sacrifice,

and the wood,

and the stones,

and the dust,

and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it,

they fell on their faces:

and they said,

The LORD,

he is the God;

the LORD,

he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:36-39

Did you see the issue? Elijah was following and obeying God, with a purpose of manifesting the glory of God and calling the people back to God Almighty, who loved them! Same now as then—our prayers are to be Spirit led and not flesh led! Yet there is even more to the story! While Elijah had a great victory with God, and the people acknowledged God with their words—the challenge for us is the same today—will we simply ‘speak’ allegiance or will we “be” aligned and devoted to our God! But when we stand with God there will be those who hate us for it—and Elijah was no exception. He prayed and the rain stopped—he prayed again and the rain came—but only at God’s leading, direction and provision.

“And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;

and he cast himself down upon the earth,

and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant,

Go up now,

look toward the sea.

And he went up,

and looked,

and said, There is nothing.

And he said,

Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time,

that he said,

Behold, there ariseth

a little cloud out of the sea,

like a man’s hand.

And he said,

Go up, say unto Ahab,

Prepare thy chariot,

and get thee down,

that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the mean while,

that the heaven was black with clouds

and wind, and there was a great rain.

And Ahab rode,

and went to Jezreel.

46 And the hand of the LORD

was on Elijah;

and he girded up his loins,

and ran before Ahab

to the entrance of Jezreel.”     1 Kings 18:41-46

Elijah prayed, and it rained—but by God’s direction, and provision! Elijah knew whom he served, but the boom was about to be lowered by the enemy! Yet God was there with him even then!

“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying,

So let the gods do to me,

and more also,

if I make not thy life as

the life of one of them

by to morrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that,

he arose,

and went for his life,

and came to Beersheba,

which belongeth to Judah,

and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey

into the wilderness,

and came and sat down under a juniper tree:

and he requested for himself

that he might die;

and said,

It is enough; now, O LORD,

take away my life;

for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree,

behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him,

Arise and eat.

6 And he looked,

and, behold,

there was a cake baken

on the coals,

and a cruse of water

at his head.

And he did eat and drink,

and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the LORD came again

the second time,

and touched him,

and said,

Arise and eat;

because the journey is too great

for thee.

8 And he arose,

and did eat and drink,

and went in the strength of that meat

forty days

and forty nights

unto Horeb the mount of God.”    1 Kings 19:1-8

Often times when we see great victories, we will encounter great spiritual warfare (often, before, during and after, it’s why we must put on the “armor of God” each day—see Ephesians 6:10-18) and yet even when it catches us by surprise, our God is always faithful to meet us where we are. There is no rebuke here, just a time of God’s provision for Elijah to be “hand fed” by angels, and given time to sleep and be refreshed; for our God knows that there are things that drain us not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and zap our strength and stamina. It’s not a sin to “REST”! We all need it, and God will provide if we will but listen to the voice of His Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts and minds!

God gives renewal, as Elijah went on the rest of his journey, he heard from God in a new and vibrant way (and while God sometimes speaks in new ways to us, we aren’t to base our decisions or choices on the spectacular, but on the historic faithfulness of God and HIS Word!)!!! God showed Elijah that HE wasn’t necessarily in the spectacular, but in the simple things from God, which speaks to our hearts!

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.

And, behold, the LORD passed by,

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD;

but the LORD was not in the wind:

and after the wind an earthquake;

but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire;

but the LORD was not in the fire:

and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it,

that he wrapped his face in his mantle,

and went out,

and stood in the entering in of the cave.

And, behold, there came a voice unto him…..

15 And the LORD said unto him,

Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus:” 1 Kings 19:11-15

Whatever your need—rely on God’s provision today! Simply rely upon HIS faithfulness, stay in His Word, and put on that armor of God each day, and you can be ready for the battles that will come! Remember, God will meet you in those times of need: “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him”, (Psalms 37:7a)! Amen and Amen!!!

Is It Always MY Way??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #452

11 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, God of all comfort!, Great is Thy Faithfulness, I Will Never Leave You, Look UP

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #452 Is It Always MY Way???

 

Just a short word this morning, as I sit here watching the windmill turn in the breeze—and for Oklahoma, it’s nice to have a breeze and not the gusty winds we often have—and relish the beauty of God’s creation. I couldn’t help but think about how often we begin to think that we are the “creator” and have the right to tell God what to do. Yet God calls us to come to Him with our burdens, our needs and our frustrations, trusting to His provision and care not our own!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come

boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

Praise God for His abundant grace and mercy—He saves us and calls us unto Himself, that we might know His goodness and faithful provision. As an old song says, “if I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that He could solve them…” (Through It All, by Andre’ Crouch!), and we can trust all our cares to the One who gave Himself for us.

“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

So instead of exalting ourselves in our own pride and self-importance, we must humble ourselves before The One who loves us and cares about everything in our life, especially His work of drawing us near to His own heart, to conform us into the image of 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

No luck, no chance, but the mighty hand of Almighty God ever at work in the lives of His children to conform us “to the image of his Son” that we might have life “more abundantly” through Jesus Christ The Son! And the ultimate picture of the life that Jesus lived on earth is seen in one of my favorite passages. Ponder it today; think on it’s principles; feast on its power; and rejoice in the goodness of our God—and humble yourself in HIS presence—God’s got this (no matter what your “this” it!)

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” Proverbs 3:5-6  Amen and Amen!!!

Bearing It Or Baring It??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #450

04 Wednesday Apr 2018

Posted by in Bearing It Or Baring It?, Reaping and Sowing

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #450 Bearing It Or Baring It???

 

Scripture calls us to “bear” one another’s burdens—and while we all often feel that we have enough to bear on our own, as followers of Jesus we are to help carry the burdens of others. But we are to “bear” not “bare”!!!

Bear: to hold up; support….

Bare: without covering or clothing; naked; nude….

Sometimes we confuse these two ideas, so my focus for today is to examine the crazy world we live in and the sad state of affairs on much of social media—where many people feel compelled to “bare” it all, focusing on themselves rather than being concerned for the welfare and needs of others. Rather than “bearing” the burdens of others, many seem to be inclined to slam them all over social media, often without bothering to know the facts of any given situation.

“Brethren,

if a man be overtaken in a fault,

ye which are spiritual,

restore such an one

in the spirit of meekness;

considering thyself,

lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens,

and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something,

when he is nothing,

he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work,

and then shall he have rejoicing

in himself alone,

and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

6 Let him that is taught

in the word

communicate unto him

that teacheth

in all good things.

7 Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.”   Galatians 6:1-7

This last verse of our passage is where I would like us to begin—but with a twist. This verse that we have heard so often is clear and plain—we can’t fool God, and what we “sow”, we will also “reap”!!! This agricultural example that Paul uses hits pretty close to home, as I’m married to a farmer—and if we plant wheat seed, we will reap wheat (with the right temperatures, sunshine and rain); and in life whatever we plant will produce a harvest. So the question is, “What are we sowing?” Are you ready to reap the same?

Will we follow this call to uncommon decency to others—uncommon in the sense that the supernatural “… love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost..” when we are saved by Jesus? Or do we sometimes fall to the common indecency that is displayed all around us, particularly on social media in unkindness and mean-spirited spite and vitriolic fury!

Paul seems to present an oxy-moron in this passage when he calls us to bear “one another’s burdens” by way of compassion and truth; while at the same time, calling each one to bear “his own burden”! Well, it is and it isn’t; we are to carry our own load (which is always measured by God, see 1 Cor. 10:13) with courage and faith, without whining, but to know that as believers and followers of Jesus, we can share the load with one another! What a glorious privilege and blessing we have in Jesus.

My challenge for us today is that we will exhibit the compassionate character and actions that Paul calls us to in this letter to the Galatian believers, we are to be:

Spiritually mature—

Reconcilers of those who have stumbled—

Humble in our ministry, considering our own weakness-

Bearing each other’s burdens (as Christ does for us)—

Wise and discerning about our own human frailty—

Living a life that reveals that Christ Jesus dwells in us—

“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

Sharing with those in need—

Sharing and caring for those who minister to us—

Ever conscious that GOD sees and knows our hearts–                                                    and our deeds                                                                                            & we will reap accordingly!

So, my friends, may we go forth today bearing “one another’s burdens” and not falling to the low and baser nature of this world, and “baring” naked souls of corruption to a lost and dying world who needs Jesus not more hate. May we ask God to search our hearts and reveal what’s really there, so that we can walk with Him in “spirit and in truth”? Remember, ‘saying so, doesn’t make it so’!!!

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:17 (Read verses 14-22)

Amen and Amen!

Commitment Or Convenience??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 09

25 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Commitment Or Convenience, Confidence, Holy Spirit, Perseverance, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, TODAY, Wait on the Lord, What Voice are You Listening to?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 09 Commitment Or Convenience???

 

We live in a world of rushing, pressure and stress, and often we get so caught up in the “hurry” of the minute that we forget that there are things that we are to set as priorities in keeping our commitments to God and others. But we often say, “I’m in a hurry!” And hurried we are, but have we allowed ‘hurry’ to excuse convenience over commitment? Let’s take a glimpse at a couple of people who show us that the hurried decision isn’t necessarily the right decision!

Let’s start with Abraham (Also known as Abram). Abram had been called by God to leave his country and his people to go to a place that God had for him. Abraham started on a journey of the “unknown” by faith, but a faith that wasn’t the faith that he would come to have. When we read of Abram starting in chapter 12 we find him called by God—and it is always God who initiates our relationship to Him—it was then and it is now. Salvation is never our idea, but God’s!

“Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”    John 6:43-44

It’s the convicting work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to God, and keeps us when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith! That’s why the author of the book of Hebrews describes Jesus in the way that he does:

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

  endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

God by HIS Spirit convicts and calls us to the cross, and then leads us by the power of Jesus’ cross!

“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:” John 16:7-8

We must understand that God’s work is done by God, and God alone. Only God can bring a sinner to see his sin, and cover that sin with the blood of His “only begotten Son”! We don’t receive salvation at our discretion but at the call of God. But back to Abraham’s call—he was called of God and came to be a believer in the coming Messiah (which is how anyone is saved—by believing in Jesus’ work of atonement for our sin, by His death, burial and resurrection for our sin—whether Old or New Testament believers! They in believing it was coming, us in believing in its accomplishment!)

“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in the LORD;

and he counted it to him

for righteousness.

7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”   Genesis 15:5-7

Paul helps us to understand that salvation was, is and always will be by grace through faith!!!

“For what saith the scripture?

Abraham believed God,

and it was counted unto him

for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh

is the reward not reckoned of grace,

but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not,

but believeth

on him that justifieth the ungodly,

his faith is counted

for righteousness.”    Romans 4:3-5

“Even as Abraham believed God,

and it was accounted to him

for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that

they which are of faith,

the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture,

foreseeing that God would justify

the heathen

through faith,

preached before

the gospel unto Abraham,

saying,

In thee shall all nations

be blessed.” Galatians 3:6-8

It is by faith that we are God’s, and by faith we walk with HIM—Jesus is that blessing, The Savior! But faith isn’t perfect, and even Abraham had a major faith failure simply because he was “in a hurry” and he and Sarah decided that God needed “help” in bringing His promises to fulfillment. This man who received the promise of God that The Messiah would come through his descendants! But like us, Abraham got into that “I’m in a hurry!” mode!

“Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram,

Behold now,

the LORD hath restrained me

from bearing:

I pray thee,

go in unto my maid;

it may be that

I may obtain children

by her.

And Abram hearkened

to the voice of Sarai.” Genesis 16:1-2

Abraham “hearkened to the voice” of his wife, instead of waiting on God’s provision of that ‘child of promise’; yet even in his failure God still had a divine purpose for Abraham and a time for this ‘child of promise’!

“And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo,

Sarah thy wife shall have a son.

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age;

and it ceased to be with Sarah

after the manner of women.

12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying,

After I am waxed old

shall I have pleasure, 

my lord being old also? 

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying,

Shall I of a surety bear a child,

which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

At the time appointed

I will return unto thee,

according to the time of life,

and Sarah shall have a son.”   Genesis 18:10-14

Did you get that? “At the time appointed” God said that HE would return to perform HIS promise, and Sarah would bear a son at 90 years old, fathered by a man 100 years old. And God kept His Word! I find it most interesting that the book of Hebrews, once again, confirms what God promised and fulfilled—beyond the boundary of human ability (The ability to conceive and bear a child after the “child-bearing” years have passed, as well as a man’s ability to father a child!) And even as God asked Abraham, He asks us today, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” Yet so often, our answer is, “But Lord, I’m in a hurry?

“Through faith also

Sara herself received strength

to conceive seed,

and was delivered of a child

when she was past age,

because she judged him faithful

who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one,

and him as good as dead,

so many as the stars of the sky

in multitude,

and as the sand which is by the

sea shore innumerable.”    Hebrews 11:11-12

And one thing we need to remember in these volatile days is that we are still reaping the results of Abraham’s “hurried” decision! And when we hurry and go for convenience rather than commitment and devoted “faith” we too will have consequences—some small and some with generational effects! We could go on with our study of Abraham, but there is another man in scripture that I want us to look at today, for while Abraham rushed in and didn’t walk by faith, this other man let “hurry” push him to the point of destroying his own life, testimony and heritage. What about you and I, what are we doing when we get in a “hurry”? Are we waiting on God or rushing in “where angels fear to tread”? Are we more concerned with our own fleshly convenience? Or are we waiting on God to work out HIS will in our lives, in HIS time? Oh, I’ve just got to tell you, this is much easier to write than to practice, especially as we are seeing the need to apply this every day going through a major move in our lives—but the principle is true no matter the test!

Let’s take a look at the first King of Israel, Saul.

“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” 1 Samuel 10:1

Saul was anointed King of Israel, and went forth to serve God and lead the nation of Israel. Yet he faltered rather quickly, and while we will only consider one instance of his “faith failure” in this article, you can read of the compromise that he continued to exhibit as he went forward, giving more import to convenience rather than commitment to “wait on the Lord”! (You can read about another instance in 1 Samuel 15!) Oh that we would learn to trust to HIS timing in all our ways! That is my prayer for each of us!

“When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.

As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days,

according to the set time

that Samuel had appointed:

but Samuel came not to Gilgal;

and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said,

Bring hither a burnt offering

to me,

and peace offerings.

And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass,

that as soon as he had made an end

of offering the burnt offering,

behold, Samuel came;

and Saul went out to meet him,

that he might salute him.

11 And Samuel said,

What hast thou done?

And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me,

and that thou camest not

within the days appointed,

and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal,

and I have not made supplication

unto the LORD:

I forced myself therefore,

and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul,

Thou hast done foolishly:

thou hast not kept the commandment

of the LORD thy God,

which he commanded thee:

for now would the LORD have

established thy kingdom

upon Israel

for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom

shall not continue:

the LORD hath sought him a man

after his own heart,

and the LORD hath commanded him

to be captain over his people,

because thou hast not kept

that which the LORD

commanded thee.”   1 Samuel 13:6-14

Presumption and what seemed to be the convenient thing brought an end to a dynasty that Saul could have had, all because of his presumption and “I can’t wait!” attitude. Hurry can do that! When we choose convenience over obedience it will never end well. And just a portion about another ‘bad choice’ of Saul’s, may help us understand the import that God places on obedience and commitment to Him—regardless of timing or convenience!

“And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings

and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice

of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken

than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion

is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness

is as iniquity

and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected

the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee

from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul,

I will not return with thee:

for thou hast rejected

the word of the LORD,

and the LORD hath rejected

thee

from being king over Israel.”    1 Samuel 15:22-26

What are you afraid of? Will you choose commitment or convenience? The choice is yours! Don’t miss HIS voice!!!

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man…..”