Tag Archives: God’s Faithfulness

Ever Faithful??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #472

27 Wednesday Jun 2018

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #472 Ever Faithful???

 

Our God is truly faithful and I would like for us to consider what that means to those who belong to Jesus. While God’s faithfulness is evident all around—whether people are paying attention to it or not—a testimony drawing people to The God Almighty who loves them, sometimes we become so distracted that we forget that God’s principles never change regardless of what is going on in the society around us. Paul wrote some simple imperatives (what we’re called to do!) for us to consider today.

“See that none render evil for evil

unto any man;

but ever follow

that which is good,

both among yourselves,

and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things;

hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God

your whole spirit

and soul

and body

be preserved blameless

unto the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you,

who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-24

As we’ve talked about a lot lately—we can only have spiritual maturity and success as we learn to lean continually on our Lord—it’s all about His faithful provision and not our fleshly efforts. It’s “fixing your eyes on Jesus” and walking in the power of HIS precious Holy Spirit’s guiding in our lives.

“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

Yet as we learn to ‘walk in the Spirit’, we will see God’s hand at work all around us, and make a difference in the world around us for HIS kingdom, as we reflect HIS love and grace to those He places in our path. How?

“I can

do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”    Philippians 4:13

And “I can” because God IS faithful to accomplish His purpose in HIS own!!!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

And because of His love, grace and continual work in our lives, we can be confident in Him and His faithfulness! Always. I simply join Paul, and hope to encourage each of us to keep looking up and pressing on with, for and by the power of our King! Let’s feast on the depths of this truth!

“But

my God

shall supply

all

your need

according to

his riches

in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto

God and our Father

be glory

for ever

and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20

May God speak His love and truth to your heart to day, reminding you of how much you are loved and cared for by Him—and me! I am praying that each of us will draw near to Him today and let HIS light shine through us. And if you don’t know Him you can, by simply repenting of your sin and calling on Jesus to save you today. (“…if any man….open the door….I will come in….” Revelation 3:20)

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

Amen and Amen!!!

In The Beginning, Really??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.01

28 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Confidence, Every Knee Shall Bow, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Me, Holy Spirit, In The Beginning, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No.01 In The Beginning, Really???

 

Jesus is the beginning and the end, and what we believe about the beginning will affect what will happen to us in “the end”! John the beloved Apostle saw the Lord Jesus while on the Isle of Patmos, and heard His own proclamation of who HE was, is and ever shall be!

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying,

I am Alpha and Omega,

the first and the last:

and, What thou seest,

write in a book,

and send it unto the seven churches

which are in Asia….”    Revelation 1:10-11a

“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first

and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive for evermore,

Amen;

and have the keys of hell and of death.”   Revelation 1:17-18

Jesus is the first and the last, and while many refuse to accept or believe this truth, it is the essential, the cornerstone, of our faith, and we need to remind ourselves of its veracity and import often, and that is what I want us to think about today. Let’s spend some time rehearsing what we know (and introduce truth to those who may have never heard!) about Jesus so that we can stand fast in assurance of the truth of His Word!

Many believe that God was in the beginning, but Jesus was an ‘after-thought’ and only came when plan ‘A’, the law, failed, but that is not true. Jesus was the Redeemer before the foundation of the world, and when Genesis 1 says “in the beginning God…” it doesn’t mean God’s beginning but ours!

“In the beginning God

created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form,

and void;

and darkness was upon the face

of the deep.

And the Spirit of God moved

upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be…….” Genesis 1:1-3a

“In the beginning God” created us—it’s of Him and through Him and to Him—all because He wanted a relationship with you and me.

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

This verse is in a context of Paul rehearsing the faithfulness and goodness of God’s salvation through Jesus—it all started with God, and He will bring it to pass.

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”   Philippians 1:6

God was not only “in the beginning” of creation, He is the “beginning” of our new birth, our spiritual life. It is God that brings us to “be born again”!

“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

All because HE first loved us—you and me, and sent His Son to die for us, to be payment for our sin.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”     1 John 4:19

“The beginning” is always of God, and He made provision for us before we ever failed Him.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest

in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him

do believe in God,

that raised him up

from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith

and hope

might be in God.”    1 Peter 1:18-21

God knew we would fail when He created us, and He had already made provision for our redemption back to HIM—we who were enemies with Him because of our sin, would have a way back to Him!! Oh, what a wondrous blessing—one that we can ever rejoice in! Amen and Amen! All because “HE first loved us”! Jesus paid for our sin with His own blood—He sets us free!

“My little children,

these things write I unto you,

that ye sin not.

And if any man sin,

we have an advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation

for our sins:

and not for ours only,

but also for the sins

of the whole world.”    1 John 2:1-2

And simply put, ‘propitiation’ means the payment in full for a debt due—in our case the sin debt that demanded a penalty of death. He came to be our payment—the righteous, sinless Son of God, came to pay for our sin, so that we could have God’s righteousness applied to our account.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”    Romans 5:1

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness

of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The God who created us, made provision for our salvation, who loved “us first”—is the God of all creation, and Jesus His Son is creator too!!! He also is “the beginning”, and unless we believe and know Him, we will surely fall.

“And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us

to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings

and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain

to receive power,

and riches,

and wisdom,

and strength,

and honour,

and glory,

and blessing.” Revelation 5:9-12

This Jesus—the Lamb of God—will receive glory, for HE is Lord and creator! HE is God!!

“I and my Father are one.”   John 10:30

Jesus claimed for Himself oneness with God, and God verified that claim when He raised Him from the dead—and He remains God forever. And He is coming again soon.

“In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

              all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:14-17

So we can stand fast on the assurance that our God IS the creator of all things—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He began the ‘good work in you’ and He “will complete it”; yet we are called to stand fast in Him and His truth. We can know that He was, and is and evermore shall be, and we are to serve Him faithfully until He comes for us!

“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.”    Philippians 2:8-11

I pray that these things will help you spend some time this week rehearsing the truth, faithfulness and goodness of our God—Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us

by his Son,

whom he hath appointed heir

of all things,

by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory,

and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged

our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;

4 Being made so much better

than the angels,

as he hath by inheritance

obtained a more excellent

name than they.”    Hebrews 1:2-4

May we rejoice in HIM who IS the ‘beginning’! Amen and Amen! And may I just close with this reminder; if the fist 11 chapters of Genesis are not true, then there is no need for the rest of The Word. For if there was not “Adam and Eve”, then there was no perfect creation, no man and woman with a relationship with God, and no sin! If there was no sin, then we have no need of a Redeemer!!! Genesis is the foundation of all that we believe—and Jesus is that ‘founder’!

“According to the grace of God

which is given unto me,

as a wise masterbuilder,

I have laid the foundation,

and another buildeth thereon.

But let every man take heed

how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.”    1 Corinthians 3:10-11

Only One Way—Jesus!

Only One Foundation—Jesus!

Only One Message—Jesus!

Is HE your beginning? I pray that He is!!!

The Faithful Promisor!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #384

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Knowing God's Word, Rest In The Lord, Salvation, Showers Of Blessing, The Word, Trials, Troubles, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #384 The Faithful Promisor!!!

 

As I sit here praising God for the wonderful ‘August’ rain here in Oklahoma, my mind goes to the scripture that God has given to us as a shower of His love, His Spirit and His truth into our lives, if we will but avail ourselves of it. The Word reminds us endlessly that God is our anchor in the storms. And God’s Spirit will open our hearts to receive and understand the truths of The Word. So let’s spend a few minutes together this morning rehearsing God’s goodness as He reveals truth in The Word, and He keeps every promise! (Always practice integrity toward The Word and don’t take specific promises out of their normal, natural context!! There are general promises for all, specific promises for particular individuals/groups, and specific promises for particular times or events. Remember—Context Is King!)

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”    Matthew 11:27-30

Jesus calls us to come to Him for every need, and our greatest need is His saving grace! And He has promised to give us rest, in fact total release, from the burden of sin that weighs us down. And He keeps His promises, and we can rest assured of His faithful provision as HE brings us to maturity, to be all that HE has created and gifted us to be.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

And we can take that confidence with us through every day and every difficulty or trail that we may encounter, and not only for ourselves, but also to share our confidence, hope and encouragement with one another as we go!!!

“Let us draw near

with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised😉

24 And let us consider one another

to provoke unto love

and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling

of ourselves together,

as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another:

and so much the more,

as ye see the day approaching.”    Hebrews 10:22-25

So, take heart today, for faithful is HE that has “promised”!

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2

Do You Hear What I Hear??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.2

16 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Knowing God's Word, Salvation, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.2  Do You Hear What I Hear???

 

Joshua is one of my favorite Bible characters because he was a faithful servant of God and of Moses. He served as Moses’ “assistant” for some 40 years, and an obedient servant of God. We’re not told much about his early life, but like the rest of the Israelites he was born into slavery in Egypt, but he saw the hand of God along with the Israelites, but he was different from may of them—he believed God. He didn’t just go through the motions of following Moses, crossing the Red Sea, seeing the miracles of God, he believed. And ‘belief’ is necessary to ‘hear’ God!

“While it is said, To day

if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation.

16 For some,

when they had heard,

did provoke:

howbeit not all that came out of Egypt

by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years?

was it not with them that had sinned,

whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom sware he

that they should not enter into his rest,

but to them that believed not?”    Hebrews 3:15-18

God reminds us that just being a part of “the crowd” isn’t what saves—only being born again by faith in Jesus saves!!! Salvation for those who believed Messiah was coming to save them, and since the cross for all who believe in His coming, His death, burial and resurrection for our sin!

“For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Jesus did it all for us—and it’s no coincidence that Jesus and Joshua are different forms of the same name!! Joshua served as God’s deliverer of the people into the Promised Land. Jesus was, is and ever shall be God’s deliverer from sin to the ‘Promised Land’ of eternal life–that which Jesus provided at Calvary!

While Joshua wasn’t “The Messiah”, he was the deliverer whom God called to serve him in a particular time and place. And like you and me, he wasn’t always sure of how to do God’s will; and while he didn’t always succeed, he did always pursue God, and even when he failed, he made things right when God revealed his failures and called him to correct them. Joshua stepped out in faith and trust in the God he had followed for 40 years, learning to go where God led, even thought it wasn’t always easy.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass,

that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead;

now therefore arise,

go over this Jordan,

thou, and all this people,

unto the land which I do give

to them,

even to the children of Israel….

5 There shall not any man be able to stand

before thee all the days of thy life:

as I was with Moses,

so I will be with thee:

I will not fail thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 Be strong and of a good courage:

for unto this people shalt thou divide

for an inheritance the land,

which I sware

unto their fathers

to give them.” Joshua 1:1-6

As Joshua heard the call to lead God’s people into Canaan, he was also called to “Be strong and of a good courage”; more than once God reminds Joshua of the need to depend on God’s power and provision, not his own!

“7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest……. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid,

neither be thou dismayed:

for the LORD thy God is with thee

whithersoever thou goest.”

“17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:17-18

We can learn from Joshua that God calls us to strength and courage to depend upon Him. When we will hear God, as Joshua did, we will find Him just as sufficient in our weakness. Paul also reminds us to stand up for Jesus. Let’s peruse some passages to help encourage us all today.

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.”     Ephesians 6:10-11

No matter our need, God is sufficient to meet it!

“The LORD is my rock,

and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

my God,

my strength,

in whom I will trust;

my buckler,

and the horn of my salvation,

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”    Psalm 18:2-3

God is our strength, the One in whom we trust; He is also the sovereign God of all, and can be trusted in all things—even those trials and puzzles of life which we often don’t understand—yet!!! He is completely trustworthy and it is HIS strength and understanding we can rely on. One of my favorite passages, one I rely on continually, compels us to trust HIM not ourselves.

“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.” Proverbs 3:5-6

When we commit to trust God, He provides in every way, even when we face those things beyond our capacity to understand (yet). Paul, one of the great men of God, faced a situation, an affliction, and he sought the Lord’s provision to deliver him from it. But God gave him an answer that he probably wasn’t expecting—nor what we often expect. But God is trustworthy and faithful in every way, both then and now! We need to hear His voice—and heed the message!

“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.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,

in reproaches,

in necessities,

in persecutions,

in distresses

       for Christ’s sake:

for when I am weak,

then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

God has promised to be our strength, and He is the provider of our salvation, because we are helpless to save ourselves. He always cares for those who will come to HIM by faith in Jesus! Have you heard His voice? Do you hear Him now?

“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.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.” Romans 5:1-10

Jesus transforms us from enemies of God into the children of God!!! His blood paid for our sin, and saves us from the penalty of sin (death), the power of sin (temptation), and eventually He will return and deliver us from the very presence of sin. Until then, we can depend on HIM to strengthen us and direct our steps; we can give Him our doubts, our worries and fears, knowing that God is ever at work conforming us “to the image of His Son” (See Romans 8:28-29). And we can have victory today!

“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.

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us

unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11

God is ever at work to grow us in faith and power by His Spirit, His Word because of the blood of Jesus! Are we hearing and obeying the call of faith?

“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 11:6

Yet we can come to God any time, with any problem.

“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 11:6

So my question for us today is, “Do you hear what I hear?” Are you walking with God and learning to “Be strong and of a good courage”? Are you leaning to hear His voice, studying His Word to recognize truth, and standing courageously for Jesus? May we join Joshua today?

“….choose you this day whom ye will serve; …… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

“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