Tag Archives: JESUS

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 3 Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, Grace, He's Alive, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Joy To The World?, Just Jesus!, Overcoming By His Blood, Rejoice IN The Lord, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Trusting Jesus, Welcome Home, When Will You Bow?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17 Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.3

 

We talked last time about the first family and how our sin was the reason that Jesus came!  We also talked about the truth that Jesus as The Redeemer was God’s plan for our redemption “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”! (See 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus was, is and ever will be “the way….the truth….and the life..” that leads us “unto the Father”!  One plan, provided in the mind of God “before the foundation of the world”!  It is so important that we sink our anchor into this truth, as we continue in the last part of this series; focusing on this One who came that we might celebrate not only Christmas, but every day of the year! For He came that mankind “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”!  I pray that you are as aware and grateful for that wonder as I am!

Yet Jesus is so much more than a “baby in a manger”!  He is ever God, and in the incarnation, He became the God-Man/Savior by His sacrifice for our sin; so, let’s spend this time together rehearsing the beauty, nature and character of our Lord and King—the Messiah of the world—Jesus Christ The Lord!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8   Amen

We talked last time about the first family, their sin, and the first promise of the coming Messiah who would redeem mankind—all who would come to Him in repentance and faith.  The promise John spoke of:

“Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29b

This same Jesus—who IS “the same”– identified Himself to the Apostle John in the book of the Revelation amazingly.

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from him which is,

and which was,

and which is to come;

and from the seven Spirits

which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests

unto God and his Father;

to him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen…

…10 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;

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna,

and unto Pergamos,

and unto Thyatira,

and unto Sardis,

and unto Philadelphia,

and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 

And being turned,

I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks

one like unto the Son of man,

clothed with a garment

down to the foot,

and girt about the paps

with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs

were white like wool,

as white as snow;

and his eyes

were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet

like unto fine brass,

as if they burned

in a furnace;

and his voice

as the sound of many waters.”               Portions of Revelation 1:4-15

In verse 6 we see that Jesus ascribed to Himself glory and dominion—that is significant!  Jesus reiterated His deity, just as He did in the Gospel of John.

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

This declaration along with what Jesus says to John here in chapter 1 of The Revelation, requires that Jesus IS God—not God The Father, but God The Son—that “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”; who along with The Holy Spirit comprise the three persons of the trinity.  But God revealed long before what would confirm the deity of Jesus:

“I am the LORD:

that is my name:

and my glory will I not give

to another,

neither my praise

to graven images.”  Isaiah 42:8

And God didn’t give “His” glory to ‘another’, He gave it to “His only begotten son”—that Lamb who came as “God with us” to save us “from our sin”!  We could spend the rest of the year rehearsing the names of Jesus, but we’ll just take our time today and consider what He has told us about Himself!

HE IS:

 Jesus Christ—

 The faithful witness—

 –from GOD–

 –to us—

 The First Begotten from the dead—

  –He Arose—

  –He’s not dead—HE IS ALIVE-

   (No longer a babe but The Risen Redeemer!)

 The Price of the kings of the earth—

  The One who loved us and washed us from our sin—

  –IN HIS own blood—

  –To make us kings and priests unto our God—

  The ONE WAY who is worthy of glory and dominion– FOREVER!

And just as important as these titles is how He revealed Himself to John—the power of His very person:

HE HAS:

Hair like wool, like pure white snow—

He is the sinless Son of God—

 Eyes like fire—

He is the One who sees all of our being—

Feet like brass–

 The day of HIS judgment is coming—

Because God has made Him Lord and Judge—

“For the Father judgeth no man, but

hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”  John 5:22

His voice as the sound of many waters—

 You can avoid listening to Him—

 But you will bow before Him!

The question isn’t will you bow?  But when will you bow?  You can bow before Him now as Lord and Savior, or you will bow before Him as Judge—a judge where there is only one standard, JESUS!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth

and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Jesus can be your salvation, hope and life, or He will be your judge.  It’s your choice as to when you will bow, but you will bow!  Choose wisely, there will be a test, and the consequences will be true and righteous according to God’s Word and YOUR choices!

“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

Praise God we can bow before the Lord Jesus Christ and become children of God, and all the work has been done for those who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and your sin!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 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 12:1-2

Jesus is creator of all and yet He loves us so much that He came to be my sacrifice and yours—for all who will come unto Him.  He is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end—the “author and finisher of our faith”!  Are you counting on knowing about Him, knowing about His Word, or are you counting on knowing the Author of all things, including our salvation?  Will you come to Him and know the real “joy” of Christmas—JESUS?

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

This Son would pay the price for my/your sin, crying from the cross that HE was paying the price required for sin.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

he said, It is finished:

and he bowed his head,

and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

And there is another time coming when He will call something else “done”, finished—the time when He will complete His work, and He will return as King of Kings not as a babe in the manger; when He will come and take His throne and finally complete the defeat of sin, death and hell!

“For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end,

when he shall have delivered up the kingdom

to God, even the Father;

when he shall have put down all rule

and all authority

and power.

25 For he must reign,

till he hath put all enemies

under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed

is death.”  1 Corinthians 15:22-26

And after ‘these things’ there will be a new world where we will be with our God and He will dwell with us!

“And I saw a new heaven

and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away;

and there was no more sea…

…. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.”                              Portions of Revelation 21:1-5

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming and just as surely, HE will fulfill those about His second coming!  Are you ready? Are you in the family of God?  Do you know the Christ of Christmas?  I pray that you do, and if so, that you will remember that He came to save us and give us entrance into HIS kingdom!  Rejoice and be glad!!!  It is all about the “family” of God.  If you don’t know Him, He wants to give you life!  Won’t you listen for His voice and respond in repentance and faith to His sacrifice for You.  The angels will rejoice, and you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

“I say unto you,

that likewise joy shall be in heaven

over one sinner that repenteth,

more than over ninety and nine just persons,

which need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

“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.”    See Rev. 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 2 Bible Ballistics: BBs #608

06 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Blessed by God, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, IN Jesus!, SIN

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #608  Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.2

 

Continuing with our look at Christmas and family, I want us to go back to the first family—the place where the promise of Jesus was first announced (the promise that would culminate in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension back to His Father—and the “rest of the story”, HIS coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!) in the midst of sin and failure; Adam and Eve’s sin initiated the promise of redemption; which, by the way, was no surprise to God!  For He had the plan all along, for He knew our choices would lead to sin, death and hell for mankind—BUT GOD!  Oh, how I love those words—BUT GOD—our God knew all along that we would fail, yet He had already made provision through the sacrifice of HIS “only begotten son”!

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying,

Of every tree of the garden

thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge

of good and evil,

thou shalt not eat of it:

for in the day that thou eatest thereof

thou shalt surely die.”  Genesis 2:16-17

God warned the man, yet by the same token, without the opportunity to choose, we would have been puppets, rather than free moral agents; and while God knew that man would fail, out of His love for us and desire that we choose Him, He gave Adam and Eve a choice! People often say, ‘Well, they didn’t die!”, so, God didn’t mean what He said!  But truly He did—man died spiritually and lost His soul-tie, and beautiful intimacy with his creator!  His soul was marred by sin, and that’s why Jesus said we must be “born again” to see God’s kingdom, much less enter it!  And Jesus is (as my pastor often says) the ‘issue’ and the “issuer’ of salvation, life to all who will believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and yours!  Jesus was, is and ever shall be the answer to the sin problem. (And sin IS the problem!)

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,                               and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head,

and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

The promise of the One who would crush the serpents head—and bring us victory over sin, death and hell.  Jesus received the ultimate blow from Satan, yet God knew all along that it would only crush His heel, but His resurrection from that blow of death would deliver all who would trust in His blood, crushing Satan!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Paul reveals this principle of spiritual death in his letter to the Ephesians—we are all born dead spiritually, but Jesus came that we might have not only “life” but “that they might have it more abundantly.”!  Jesus truly is our all in all, even before the world began—before sin!  Jesus was, is and ever shall be The Only Way!  There never was, nor is there now plan ‘A’ which failed, making Jesus plan ‘B’—Jesus has always been, and now is The Only “way….truth…..life” which reconciles to God!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

       even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:1-7

Oh, how excited I get just writing these words on paper—we are so loved, blessed and treasured by the God who created us and ‘bought us back’ from sin, death and hell—Amen and Amen!  Jesus saves today, and I’m so grateful for the truth that He changed me!  How about you—do you know the Christ Jesus of Christmas.  Do the bells ring true in your heart the song of saving grace?  Does the light shine in your heart no matter how dark it is around you?  I pray that you will rejoice in the gift that God gave to us the night that Jesus was born so many years ago; and regardless of the date, or exact spot, or the circumstances—God came into this world as a babe to live the perfect, sinless life that we never could, to die as the Lamb of God who “taketh away the sin of the world”, that we might be “born of God”!

We’ll continue our quest to know God’s truth next time, and I pray that you will ponder these things and that God will draw you to Himself, that you might rest in HIM!  May you rejoice with the angels who proclaimed the glory of this marvelous gift of God!

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings

of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.”  Luke 2:9-14

Amen!

Our Savior And Our Example!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #589

20 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Comfort, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #589 Our Savior And Our Example!!!

 

While Jesus IS our Redeemer and Lord, He is the One to whom we look, the One on whom we depend—and The One who IS the way to God—not one of many but the One and Only Way!

“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

Jesus lay aside the glory of heaven to come to us, take on flesh and blood, live a sinless life, and die in our stead—all because He and The Father love us!

“For God so loved

the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.”  John 3:16-18

Jesus is the only way to life!  No matter how many lies the enemy spreads—God’s Word stands true and is the standard of all judgment in the end; and there is a day of reckoning coming, but in Jesus we are saved from the judgment and wrath of God. The choice is yours and mine, but the consequences of our choice will follow us into eternity!  Choose wisely, there is a test!

“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 2:9-11

The question isn’t ‘will you bow’; for God has declared that “every knee should bow”! As the old hymn says “nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling” (From ‘Rock of Ages’, by Augustus M. Toplady), Jesus came that we might have life and know that we are loved by a faithful Father God, who is working all things for our good and His glory—and they never conflict! (Even when we think they do!)!  But as we learn to know Him and come to trust to His care, we can follow the example of our Lord in the midst of every trial and difficulty.  Jesus didn’t come to simply ‘be’ an example, He came to purchase our salvation with His own blood, but in doing that He left us the greatest example of selfless love ever expressed!

I have learned and continue to learn that HE IS faithful at every turn, and when I keep my eyes fixed on Him, I can be victorious in this walk of faith with my Lord Jesus Christ!  Whatever you may be facing today, I can assure you that HE is faithful and worthy of our love, trust and devotion.  May you find strength and comfort in His Word.  I am praying for YOU!  We can join with Paul and say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

And as Peter reminds us, no matter the suffering that we may encounter, we can trust in and rely upon the Lord who suffered the ultimate rejection, and a gruesome death, all for you and me!

“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

We can choose today, to trust to our God, or try to run our own lives; I’ve done it both ways and, believe me when I say, we can overcome and have victory when we “do all things through Christ” rather than trying to go our own way!  May we all “fix our eyes on Jesus” and “press on” today, and today, and the next today!  For dear ones, today is all we have, and HE is ever faithful!  May Jesus’ words bring comfort and encourage you today!

“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 6:33-34

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

You’re Not A DIY!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 02

25 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Compromise, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Dependence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Filled With His Spirit, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God Is In Charge, God's provision, Gospel, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Living, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Listening To God, Living Right, Make Like A Tree?, Plumbline?, Polluted by the world?, Salvation, Saved by grace, SIN, Sovereignty, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus, Walking With Jesus, Who are YOU following?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 02  You’re Not A DIY!!!

 

We live in a culture of DIY—Do it YOURSELF!  But God never calls us to ‘fix’ ourselves but to yield to HIS love, work and transforming power.  I would like to share from the scriptures some food for thought to perhaps readjust our thinking.  I pray that it will touch hearts, encourage the faithful, convict those who have fallen for the lies of the enemy, by speaking the truth of God in love.  I do love and pray for each of you that will read this post, that God will speak HIS Word to your heart; that you will come to know that you don’t have to DIY; you simply have to “let God BE God”!

“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 begins His work in us by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus—His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice of Himself for us.  We couldn’t save ourselves and apart from Jesus we surely can’t keep ourselves!

“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

Just as a branch broken off of the tree will not grow—neither will we unless we abide in Jesus.  He has provided everything that we need to be faithful, successful followers of His!  God has called and equipped us to grow IN HIM!

“Grace and peace be multiplied

unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us

all things

that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us

to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious

promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world

through lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4

As Paul said above—God began it—and He will finish the work in His own!

“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?

32 He that spared not his own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not

with him

also freely give us

all things?”  Romans 8:28-32

And how do we become HIS?  By coming to Jesus in repentance and faith!  Only One Way—only One Savior:  “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” And we come by faith in The One who died for you and me, who also said: “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”!  Amen! (See John 14:6 & 6:37)

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

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

Instead of a DIY project, God calls us to die to self, and live unto Him, by Him and for Him!

“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

It’s all about JESUS!

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

 to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.”  Romans 11:36

So my conclusion is that we must stop working on our own—doing our DIY project on ourselves–and let Jesus do HIS work in us, yielding to His Spirit, knowing His Word, His truth, and trusting to HIS perfect provision and providence (a word that we have mostly forgotten today)! Here are a few passages to help us focus on our Master Builder rather than ourselves!

“For it is God

which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13

“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.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25-26

And more from our brother Paul:

“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

Finally, how do we know what it looks like to choose HIS way?  Again, Paul gives us an amazing contrast that I’ll leave with you!  You must decide if you will focus on the way of the flesh or The Spirit.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such

there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.”   Galatians 5:19-24

Remember the fruit can only come from abiding in the tree!  May we learn to measure with God’s plumb-line not the world’s; and abide in our LORD Jesus in all our ways!  Be fruitful!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defacing The Landscape??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 20

01 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Defacing The Landscape?, SIN, Spiritual Drought, Sweet Words or Bitter Words?, The Only Way, The Same Yesterday, The Word, The Word Or The World?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 20  Defacing The Landscape???

 

Deface: 1. to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure, 

2. to efface, obliterate, or injure the   surface of, as

 to make illegible or invalid…

Landscape:      1. A section or expanse of rural scenery,

usually Extensive, that can be seen for a single viewpoint.

2. a picture representing natural …scenery.

3. Fine Arts, the category of aesthetics subject matter in which natural scenery is represented.

America is a great land—its landscape spans acres of beautiful geography from great ocean expanses to vistas and heights of trees and boulders that seem to touch the sky.  You can find almost any type of landscape that suits your fancy. But it would seem that as a nation we are speeding down a path of rack, ruin and destruction not of our geographical landscape but a cultural one (and if you are in another land, you surely face the same challenges)!  We are heading down a road that I pray we will veer from, but only God can help us out of the situation that we find ourselves in!  God, through Isaiah, aptly describes the state of our land!

“Woe unto them

that draw iniquity

with cords of vanity,

and sin

as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say,

Let him make speed,

and hasten his work,

that we may see it:

and let the counsel

of the Holy One of Israel

draw nigh

and come,

that we may know it!

20 Woe unto them

that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them

that are mighty

to drink wine,

and men of strength

to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked

for reward,

and take away the righteousness

of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore

as the fire

devoureth the stubble,

and the flame

consumeth the chaff,

so their root

shall be as rottenness,

and their blossom

shall go up as dust:

because they have cast away

the law of the LORD of hosts,

and despised

the word of the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 5:18-24

This passage is so full of truth and warnings and I want us to assess our own ‘landscape’ with that described in the message that Isaiah delivered to his own people.  With a heart of love for you, and a burden for our culture, I share it with you!

God proclaims His ‘woe’ on those who cling to sin and its trappings—like clinging to a rope to pull a cart.  Paul also describes the nature of those who reject God as those who cling to sin, but not only cling to it themselves, they pursue others to propagate their wickedness, sharing their heart for evil, and their despite toward God.  It leads to only one fate.

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of

envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,

unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

in them that do them.”   Romans 1:28-32

Oh friends, God will grant your desires, even when they will lead you to destruction, death and hell.  It’s your choice and mine.  What are you choosing? Remember: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) And HE said:

 “Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly

they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:13-15

According to Jesus, when we choose HIS way we won’t often be fighting ‘crowds’!  We must keep our Lord’s warnings in mind as we deal with others (it’s why I write these articles and posts without regard for the number of respondents—my job is to sow the seed, the numbers and the harvest is God’s business)– understanding that just as Jesus wasn’t always popular, if we share truth, we may not be either! (Take some time and read John 13-17, and you’ll see that Jesus warned us that when we follow HIM, we will experience the same responses that He did—some will heed but not all.)  Jesus also reminded us in John 3 of the fate of those who choose sin over Him. (And remember that ‘not making a choice’ IS making a choice!)

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:16-19

Our landscape is cluttered with the choices of those who relish sin over righteousness.  We must pray for God’s mercy, His grace, and the conviction of His precious Holy Spirit to show us our failures, as well as to convict the lost of their need for Jesus.

“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

Steeped in the same message that God shared through Isaiah, God has always called men and women, boys and girls, to come to Himself through faith in the promised ‘deliverer’!  Those in the Old Testament believed and looked forward to His coming, those of us after the cross believe in the completed work of Jesus to save people “from their sins”!  (See Matthew 1:21).  Just as Isaiah described the wicked of his day, we see that same evil flourishing in our day, and yet we have often responded in an ‘other than biblical’ way. If you take your spiritual ques from social media (which we shouldn’t) then you will follow the mindset that we are to rise up and ‘put a stop’ to this or that; well my friends, what we are experiencing is exactly what scripture says we will experience, and we are to respond as Jesus did!  We are to “stand fast in the evil day”; we are to be “salt and light”; we are to understand that in these last days/times “perilous times shall come”!  We must remember and know that even in these times we are saved and called to be faithful proclaimers of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing His truth with all those whom God places in our path; not hateful and crude, but full of HIS Spirit, and not our flesh, as Jesus so aptly put it:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted

for righteousness’ sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil

against you falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10-16

While we must never be those “that call evil good, and good evil”, or those “that put darkness for light, and light for darkness”, nor ever replace truth with the poison lies of the enemy by being those “that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter”, we are called to love (not compromising truth, but to exhibit compassion).  The Apostle Peter called us to recognize our call to spread truth not lies, to share love not hate—remembering that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood”! (See Eph. 6:10+)

“Finally, be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren,

be pitiful,

be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing:

but contrariwise blessing;

knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life,

and see good days,

let him

refrain his tongue from evil,

and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him

eschew evil,

and do good;

let him

seek peace,

and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord

are over the righteous,

and his ears

are open unto their prayers:

but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always

to give an answer

to every man that asketh you a reason

of the hope that is in you

with meekness

and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation

 in Christ.”  1 Peter 3:8-16

I know this is a lengthy passage, but so necessary in this day and age in which we live. So, I pray that we will humbly hear God’s voice speaking to our hearts through His Word, and be those who will fulfill Peter’s admonition, and fill our landscape with the “beauty of holiness” rather than the corruption of the world.  Let’s think, live and respond with biblical truth?  May we truly “stand fast in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”! God’s way not man’s! We can change the landscape for Jesus, with Jesus and to HIS glory, and for the redemption of the lost!

“Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

 your good conversation in Christ.”

Amen and Amen!