Tag Archives: Galatians 5:16 &25

Firecrackers Of Regret??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #18

01 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Are You Ready, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Cleansed from all sin, Confidence, Doubt and Confusion?, Firecrackers of Regret!, Forgetting or Remembering?, Forgiveness, Renewing or Reviewing, Restoration, Take Up YOUR Cross, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Blood Of Jesus, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way

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Firecrackers Of Regret???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #18

It’s firecracker time in America, and while I don’t spend much, if any, time or money shooting fireworks, I do enjoy the light show; yet the money that is spent on fireworks always seemed to me like lighting a match to a hundred dollar bill.  We all make choices, and some choose to indulge in the fun and celebration with fireworks.  But I want to talk about the ‘firecrackers’ of regret that we will often endure for more than the few minutes that the firecracker or other fireworks may last—it’s a puff of smoke and it’s gone—yet our life choices can leave us with a continual barrage of regret more like a gatling gun going off in our heart and mind!

How many regrets will you have because you (like me) failed to make godly, biblical choices in life; and the regrets of tomorrow can seldom be erased, nor the fire put out for long.  Believe me, you may sit one day asking God to ease the pain of the choices you are making today, wishing that you had chosen more wisely.  You may find yourself praying for God’s intervention in the painful consequences of your choices—the ones you make in haste, or in anger, or in total rebellion to God and HIS Word, or just that fleshly indulgence that you wouldn’t let go of.  You’ll be praying for “crop failure” as my father (thank God for a praying, loving father) did for me many years ago.  What do I mean?  Well, I mean—you get to plant your crop, but God sets the harvest!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:7-9

How interesting as I write this, God reminded me through the music I’m listening to, that no matter how bad we mess up—if we will look to Jesus, we can find forgiveness at the cross, for “Jesus Paid It All” (written by Elvina M. Hall in 1865)!  Yet, obedience will always prevail over regrets, when we are willing to follow HIS Spirit each step of the way (See Psalm 37:23, in fact you can read the whole Psalm for real insight into God’s plan)!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would…

…. 24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.  

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16-17 & 24-25

What are you sowing today?  The choice is yours but remember there is a test.  And for us adults—remember there are little eyes and ears watching and listening, and they WILL copy our actions much more often than just our words.  Again—we “reap what we sow”!  Yet as we think of all that God has done for us, for our nation, for our world—may we fall before HIM, asking Him to “forgive… and to cleanse” us from our “SIN”.  And I’d like to simply share some scripture for us to ponder today (and each day)!  I pray God’s Spirit will direct each of us to hear and obey!

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:9-10

“Righteousness exalteth a nation:

but sin is a reproach to any people.”   Proverbs 14:34

“For whosoever exalteth himself

shall be abased;

and he that humbleth himself

shall be exalted.”  Luke 14:11

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6

Please don’t watch your life go up in smoke like the fireworks that will light the skies of America this weekend; remember it’s your choice but choose wisely—there is a test—and a consequence!   Will yours be joy and delight as you see the blessings of God abound, or regrets beyond measure? You can try to justify your actions, but God knows your heart and mine, and HIS accounts are sure and certain!  Yet, praise God, HE heals hearts, HE forgives sin when we repent and receive HIS cleansing.  Look up today—Jesus is waiting for you!

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;

and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

….10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:7-10

I praise God that He has granted me the forgiveness, healing, and restoration that only the blood of Jesus can provide.  He has truly given the opportunity to “restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten”!  Thank you, Jesus!

“And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.”  Revelation 12:11

“And I will restore to you

the years that the locust hath eaten,

the cankerworm,

and the caterpiller,

and the palmerworm,

my great army

which I sent among you.”  Joel 2:25

I pray God’s blessing on you and yours!  And—Father God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and precious Holy Spirit—Please bless America!

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s What I’m CALLED To Do!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 09

23 Sunday Jan 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, All Sufficient God!, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Cross, Dependence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Father of lies, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, Glory To God, Responding Rightly, Resting In Jesus, Roaring Lion, Strength-vs-weakness, The Call of God!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 09   It’s What I’m CALLED To Do!!!

 

My call is to service—whether teaching, or serving others to meet their physical needs, their material needs, their spiritual needs, or their dying needs—it is what God has saved, called, and equipped me to do.  Even when we become weary—God is faithful to meet our needs.  Jesus became weary, but HE knew HE was doing the will of HIS Father—yes, HE rested, but HE walked up that hill regardless of HIS weakness—HE even fell, but God sent HIM help to get up and go on.  It’s the example that JESUS left for me/us!

“For what glory is it, if,

when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if,

when ye do well, and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”   1 Peter 2:20-25

While weariness is often hard to bear and work through, trusting to the sovereignty of God/Jesus, IS the source of my confidence, strength, and power!  Yes, I can get weary sometimes and be ‘driven’ instead of ‘lead’, but my absolute lodestar is the Cross of Jesus! For He died for me, and I am called to die to “ME” and live for HIM in weariness or strength, no matter what others may think.  When I am asked, “How do you do this or that, or how do you go on?”, my answer is and must always be ‘through my Lord and King’s power and Spirit’!  For I KNOW that HE is working all these things out for my good, and HIS glory.  Little else matters!

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 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.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:28-29

Because Jesus is working “all things” to conform His children, including you and me—and all who have been born again, into HIS image, Paul could assure the Philippian believers that they could do “all things” regardless of what they may have been facing.  All by God’s grace and power—the power of the Cross, and the risen LORD Jesus–including ‘resting’ in Jesus (I will give you rest, see Matthew 11:28!) when HE says “come… apart… and rest” (See Mark 6:31), I just need to work on the listening.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

While it is often hard to do the things that Jesus calls, leads and directs me/you to do, I must—I must press on, for HIM, through HIM and to HIS glory—praying with the Psalmist, “order my steps in thy word” (see Psalm 119:33), not my flesh!

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

 in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14

Of primary importance, as I pray the armor of God on each day, and put on that “helmet of salvation”, is, I believe, the call to have the “mind of Christ Jesus” my Lord in all these things—even when I don’t like it—even when I fail by trying to do it in my flesh—when I don’t understand the strain—it IS THEN that I must go back to the cross, pursuing that “mind of Christ Jesus” to be able to serve with total trust in the sovereign control of God my King, and my Lord Jesus Christ!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who,

being in the form of God, thought it not robbery

to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient

unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved,

as ye have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only,

but now much more

in my absence,

work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God

which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”   Philippians 2 :5-13

I almost always come back to what Paul told the Corinthian believers when I fail, or become distracted, or forget my focus.

“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

In contrast to what Satan is ever using to pull us down, we are to rehearse all the truths of whose I am/you are, and determine to walk in that truth, especially when I’m weak, weary, or worn.  It’s His Person, His truth, His power, and His Spirit, that carry me, as the song says, there’s often “one set of footprints in the sand” (‘Footprints In The Sand’, by Margaret Fishback Powers)! Yet, remember we do have an enemy of our soul, but he is a defeated foe, a ‘toothless lion’—one who roars loudly, but his end is certain by the blood of Jesus, our victorious King!

“Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not…

….47 He that is of God

heareth God’s words:

ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.”  Portions of John 8:44-47

I must hear and believe God’s truth—JESUS— not the lies of the enemy!  So, in considering a difficult question, “How am I to take care of ‘myself’?”; I do try, but I often simply forget what that looks like, and I need to remember that my Father will direct me to rest, if I will but listen to HIM, and let go of the perfectionism, the desire to control, the false need to ‘correct all wrongs’, and the plain old “FLESH”!  I MUST learn to more consistently “walk in the Spirit” not “the flesh”!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would…

….25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Portions of Galatians 5:16-25

And to me, the greatest call of all is to “abide” in the right person, place, and things!  JESUS and HIS WORD!

“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

May I sing ever in recognition of my weakness becoming strength in HIM: “TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS” (by Helen Howarth Lemmel); truly learning to lean on HIS strength, obeying in all things—whether in service or in rest! Even as God told Paul, “my strength is made perfect in weakness”! ‘Nuff said!!!

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,

that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ

may rest upon me.”  2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Amen and Amen!!!

Worship Is About GOD Not Me??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #748

18 Wednesday Aug 2021

Posted by in Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Worship Him!, Worship?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #748  Worship Is About GOD Not Me???

 

We are called to worship our God in “spirit and in truth”.  What we often seem to be doing is worshipping in the “me” mode rather than the “GOD IS GOD” mode.  In fact, Jesus repeated this phrase twice in His conversation with the woman at the well.

“Our fathers worshipped

in this mountain;

and ye say, that in Jerusalem

is the place where men

ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her,

Woman, believe me,

the hour cometh,

when ye shall neither

in this mountain,

 nor yet at Jerusalem,

worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what:

we know what we worship:

for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit and in truth:

for the Father seeketh such

to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him

in spirit and in truth.”  John 4:20-24

The “hour cometh, and now is” ought to call us to heed the things going on around us, especially the things going on in the name of Jesus in, through and from the “church”!  How is it that we have decided that the way of the cross is not sufficient to spread the Gospel.  Jesus had something to say about the effectiveness of appealing to the flesh, I know that this is a lengthy passage, but I think it worth the time and space that we may consider the truth that Jesus was sharing.  Yet, first of all I would like to preface it with one of the most profound, yet simple, and often neglected passages about our preaching!

“Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom

knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified,

unto the Jews a stumblingblock,

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called,

both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God,

and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God

is wiser than men;

and the weakness of God

is stronger than men.”  1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Now, back to the words of our Lord:

“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.

28 Then said they unto him,

What shall we do,

that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them,

This is the work of God,

that ye believe on him

whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him,

What sign shewest thou then,

that we may see,

and believe thee?

what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert;

as it is written,

He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Moses gave you not that bread

from heaven;

but my Father

giveth you the true bread

from heaven.

33 For the bread of God

is he which cometh down from heaven,

and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him,

Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And Jesus said unto them,

I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me

shall never hunger;

and he that believeth on me

shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you,

That ye also have seen me,

and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me

shall come to me;

and him that cometh to me

I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven,

not to do mine own will,

but the will of him

that sent me.”  John 6:24-38

I pray that we will return to dependence upon the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls to bring them to the cross; relying upon the work of The Holy Spirit to convict souls of sin and bring them to repentance and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ for their sin.  When people do not come face to face with their sin, their will never be the life-changing transformation which the blood of Jesus can accomplish in “whosoever will” come!  And remember Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to “go and sin no more”!

“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 6:44

“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

“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:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged.”  John 16:7-11

I pray that we will ponder these truths, asking God to open our hearts, minds, and lives to order our “steps in your Word”! Please, Lord?  And in my own words worship is not measured by attendance or exuberance in events but:

Worship IS a life lived

in obedience to The Voice of God—

written,

spoken,

and lived out as

a light in the darkness

and a reflection of the glory of Jesus!!!

Worship is yielding to The Holy Spirit of Christ/God and not feeding, following, or promoting the flesh!  Now, let me say that when we truly worship God, our flesh will be blessed but when we design our worship to feed the flesh, or try to “drive” people into frenzy instead of creating an atmosphere that “leads” and “draws” people to the cross of Christ and not their flesh to jump up and boogie, then we have missed the boat—in my humble opinion!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh…

…. 25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25

Amen and Amen!!!

Learning To Wait And Listen??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #742

14 Wednesday Jul 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus, Wisdom

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #742  Learning To Wait And Listen???

 

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience

have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect

and entire,

wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth

 is like a wave of the sea

driven with the wind

and tossed.

7 For let not that man think

that he shall receive any thing

of the Lord.

8 A double minded man

is unstable

in all his ways.”  James 1:2-8

James gives us some amazing advice, yet we so often find ourselves being “double minded”!  What does that mean?  Well, I’ll give you my grasp on that picture, and I think it’s simple; it’s when we try to serve “God and self”.  Jesus calls it trying to serve “God…and mammon”, if you would, the things of this world—money, luxury, ease, power, popularity, promotion, worldly success, and the list could go on to include any idol that we build or allow to consume our thoughts, our time, our energies, our money, and desires.  As I’ve often heard, and said myself, “Let me look at your checkbook and I’ll show you what you love.”  Try it yourself!  So, what is our desire to be set on?  We choose what we love and then that love will conform us to one thing or another, usually the divide between God and the world.

“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

Jesus goes on to call us to realize that when we know HIM and Father God, we can depend on HIM to supply our every need; even when we’re not sure what that looks like.  Just as James talks about, there are times when we just don’t know which choice to make, yet our GOD WILL grant us direction when we choose to seek HIS face and wait upon HIS answers.  Even when they seem difficult, we can trust our God completely for “HE careth for you”! (See 1 Peter 5:7)

“Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

What are you/I seeking?  Our actions will usually reveal the answer to that question.  And to keep this brief, I want to take us to a great passage in the Psalms that is one of my ‘go to’ favorites; reminding me ‘how to’ keep my “eyes on Jesus”!  I pray that it will help you and encourage you in whatever choices you may be facing.  And know that I totally understand as we are also facing some life-changing decisions at our house too.  But I know that our God is able, faithful, and true to HIS Word!  He has never failed me yet, though I have often failed HIM, and I know HE will continue to direct our steps as we seek HIS face.  And my great prayer is that I will be found faithful before HIM!  How about you?  And just a reminder, what you “delight” in will usually lead to the desires of your heart!

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth

thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD,

and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself

because of him

who prospereth in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise to do evil.”   Psalm 37:3-8

And in closing a bit of advice from James again, to remind us that we must strive to walk in The Spirit not the flesh.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not

the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

And Paul gives a great closing challenge; may we take heed to our walk—are we in the flesh or The Spirit?  It’s your choice but choose wisely!  There is a test!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

… 25 If we live in the Spirit,

 let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Revisiting Deuteronomy 6??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #724

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Born Again, Children, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Decency, Obedience, Only Jesus, Only One Way, The Crucified Life, The Little Things., The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Thy Will Be Done, Yesterdays made Todays!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #724  Revisiting Deuteronomy 6???

 

We shared last time about God’s plan for man, the home and life, and I’d like to spend our time today taking a closer look at the passage from Deuteronomy 6; it is worth our time to consider the power of the truths in this Word from God about the home.  And if we ever needed to consider God’s plan for the home, it is surely now.

“Now these are

the commandments,

the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD your God

commanded to teach you,

that ye might do them

in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,

to keep all his statutes

 and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou,

and thy son,

and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the LORD God of thy fathers

hath promised thee,

in the land that floweth

with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

 shall be in thine heart:”   Deuteronomy 6:1-6

This passage begins with a call to all, but particularly the parents, before launching beyond to the family.  We can never pass on what we don’t possess; be it money, love, truth, morals or most importantly a personal relationship with God through His Son—and for the contextual accuracy of this passage, their belief was in the coming Messiah who would bring in the New Covenant, The Holy Spirit who would save and dwell in them (See Jer. 31:31-34 & Ez. 36:25-27)!

God calls us to recognize that these are HIS precepts and principles for godly living—for successful living—for the passing of the baton to the next generation. We cannot ignore and violate the principles of God and expect to be successful and content in our lives, much less to pass the baton faithfully to our children and grandchildren.  We cannot pass on what we do not possess!  So, we must acknowledge God’s right to lead, and be willing to rely upon the truth of HIS Word for our life, our belief system and our practices of life—otherwise we are just hypocrites and no one see’s hypocricy more quickly than children—especially our own offspring!

God calls us to:

–recognize HIS WORD—we must dig into THE WORD—

–DO IT—obey GOD’S WORD—

–FEAR HIM—in reverential awe and love—

–KEEP HIS COMMANDS—not forsaking HIS way—

(“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 30:21)

–Share these commands with our offspring—

–Hear them and observe them—

–to be blessed and receive the goodness of God—

–in the land of God’s promise—

And God’s prime directive to all:

— thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might—

And how do we do this?  By having HIS WORD—

— in thine heart—

The bottom line is, I must love GOD myself, and have Jesus, and HIS Holy Spirit, in my heart!  Pretend won’t work.  As a parent I can only impart to my children what I personally have, know and live by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  Paul describes this much better than I can.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would…

…. If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Portions of Galatians 5:16-25

And while those to whom Moses gave these commands were not blessed to have the indwelling Holy Spirit yet, we have the power of God’s Spirit to be able to accomplish God’s ways.  We can be victorious, but we must be born again ourselves in order to have a personal relationship with God and to have HIS Holy Spirit to lead and guide us—HE IS this “new covenant” which Jesus died to impart to us.

“I have yet many things to say unto you,

but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he,

the Spirit of truth,

 is come,

he will guide you

into all truth:

for he shall not speak of himself;

but whatsoever he shall hear,

that shall he speak:

and he will shew you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me:

for he shall receive of mine,

and shall shew it unto you.”   John 16:12-14

So, we have an empowerment that the Old Testament saints did not all have; for the Holy Spirit was not imparted to each believer continually then, but to chosen individuals, at chosen times, for specific purposes of God.  We are truly blessed beyond measure.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

 of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.”   Romans 5:1-5

The question is, have you received this “love of God” which “is shed abroad” in YOUR heart?  We can never share Jesus with others, if we don’t have Jesus in our own hearts—if we haven’t been born again by the Holy Spirit of God.

“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 we go back to Deuteronomy 6, we find that with God’s power, and a willingness to walk in HIS ways, we can pass on our love of God to those who walk behind us.  God’s ways are dependable.  Let’s consider what God’s plan was and still is.

“And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates…

….. Then beware lest thou forget the LORD,

which brought thee forth

out of the land of Egypt,

from the house of bondage.

13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God,

and serve him…..”  Deuteronomy 6:6-13

We are to teach, instruct, serve God, and lead our children to know God and do the same—we are to use teachable moments to share the truths of God with our children and the children we are privileged to have in our lives; we are to live it, teach it, and share it in all our daily activities—walking, sitting, resting, preparing for sleep, or rising up; we are to adorn ourselves with ornaments of godliness rather than the ornaments of worldliness.  We are to have our homes adorned with godly evidence of what we believe and who our GOD is—and what HE means to us; our homes can have great impact on those who enter there—what does your home advertise?  Yet God doesn’t stop there, HE goes on to tell us the ultimate progression of this way of life.

“And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean

the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders,

great and sore, …

… 23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do

all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do

all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:20-25

In Blanche’s paraphrase:  if we lead our children in truth and righteousness before God, when we behave differently than the world, the time will come that our child will ask “why do we do these things, or don’t do other things?” Then we can share the truth of what God has done for “ME/US” and lead them to the cross (for we are on this side of the cross!) where they can find Jesus for themselves.  But our words must match the life we live, or we will have little ability to influence those whom we love the most.  You decide!  Will you live for Jesus and lead those around you to the cross or will you lead them straight to hell by your faithless choices?  The choice is yours!  But choose wisely, there is a test.  And in Jesus own words we find the import of our choices!  For “what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world” or loose “his own children”?

“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?

27 For the Son of man

shall come in the glory of his Father

with his angels;

and then he shall reward every man

according to his works.”  Matthew 16:24-27

May God open our eyes and work in our hearts to help us realize the serious times in which we are living:

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21:28

Amen and Amen!!!