Tag Archives: John 12:32-33

Lifting Up Jesus Or ‘Me’??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #77

17 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Born Again, Cross, Crucified With Christ, If I be lifted up---, IN HIS TIME!, IN Jesus!, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Lifting up Jesus, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!

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Lifting Up Jesus Or ‘Me’???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #77

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”   John 3:14-16

Jesus told Nicodemus that HE would be lifted up “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness”, and later HE told His disciples the same thing; and I believe HE is calling us to understand the very same thing today.  Even as Paul declared, may we make the same commitment in our hearts, our lives, and our words today.  Who are you and I “lifting up”?  Jesus and the cross upon which HE paid for my sin and yours, or our own agenda, our own opinion, our glory, our advancement, our notoriety?  I stand with Paul and hope to always be lifting up Jesus Christ–and HIM alone!

“And I, brethren, when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified…

…. 4 And my speech and my preaching

was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith

should not stand in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2 & 4-5

Jesus was born to die!  To die for your sin and mine–intentionally, on purpose, that we might have eternal life.  It wasn’t by accident, it wasn’t by the power of the Jewish leaders, or the Romans, but by God’s intentional purposes for the salvation of all who will believe, and come to HIM in repentance, and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

Just as Peter preached after the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Acts 2:22-24

Even as Jesus told His followers before His death; a death they weren’t expecting, but which Jesus wanted them to understand would save all who would believe their message of the cross! (For He also told them that His death would not be the end but that HE would RISE AGAIN! –and HE DID!!!)

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

So, my friends, will we choose to lift up Jesus or something else?  The choice is yours, but remember there is a test, and I can’t help but believe that The Master is not very long from coming for His own!  Remember HE died for YOU!  May we who belong to Jesus lift HIM up today–He’ll do the rest!

Amen and Amen!!!

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

29 Wednesday Sep 2021

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

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

 

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

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

“For I will not dare to speak

of any of those things which Christ

hath not wrought by me,

to make the Gentiles obedient,

by word and deed,

19 Through mighty signs and wonders,

by the power of the Spirit of God;

so that from Jerusalem,

and round about unto Illyricum,

I have fully preached

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

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you

according to my gospel,

and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation

of the mystery,

which was kept secret

since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest,

and by the scriptures of the prophets,

according to the commandment

of the everlasting God,

made known to all nations

for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise,

be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.

Amen. ……”     Romans 16:24-27a

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

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

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

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

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless

I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

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

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see

the kingdom of God…

… 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

… 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

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

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

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:12-13

And as Jesus declared before His death:

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men

unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

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

“Whereof I am made a minister,

according to the dispensation of God

which is given to me for you,

to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid

from ages

and from generations,

but now is made manifest

to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known

what is the riches of the glory

of this mystery among the Gentiles;

which is

Christ in you,

the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach,

warning every man,

and teaching every man

in all wisdom;

that we may present every man

perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour,

striving according to his working,

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

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

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that

good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

All by HIS power—not mine!!!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Amen and Amen!!!

Making Worship For Me Or GOD? Bible Ballistics: BBs #737

23 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Are You Ready, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, False Lives, Holiness, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Repentance, REvival, Righteousness, Salt & Light, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #737. Making Worship For Me Or GOD?

 

I may lose some of you today, but I must share the burden on my heart.  I am so grieved with the worldly things that are called ‘worship’ today; there was a time when holy things came out of the church to the world, but it seems to me, that many times now and in many places, the world has been invited into the ‘church’ to attract a crowd!  Let’s draw a crowd is the new “mantra” of the church in many ways, rather than lifting up Jesus, and calling people to repentance and faith, then “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”!  (See Matthew 28:19-20). We spend way more time teaching people “books about The Word”, if we teach them anything, rather than teaching them “The Word of God” and how to apply it.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see

the kingdom of God…

… 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

…14  And as Moses

lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.”   Portions of John 3:3-15

As Jesus told the crowds shortly before His death—for HE knew HE would give HIS life for our salvation– HIS CROSS was, is and ever shall be the only way to God.  Jesus gave HIS life for yours/mine; knowingly, willingly, lovingly—yet we think we can come with our pretty words and claim HIS salvation without cost! Yes, salvation is the “gift of God”, but we can’t hold on to our way and cling to the cross at the same time!

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:32-33

Jesus had a lot to say about the “cost” of following HIM; but we seem to have neglected that part of Jesus’ message.

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

… 5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

Repent means to make a 180-degree turn, from my sin into the arms of Jesus, trusting in His substitutionary (in my place), atoning (making up for wrong), sacrifice (payment for my sin)!  And there’s even more!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If

any man

 will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

Yet the popular “t-shirt” philosophy of the day rules with total disregard for what Jesus said, I’ve seen several of late and it grieves my heart!  You fill in the blank, “I love Jesus, BUT_____”: I drink a little, I cuss a little, I fornicate a little, I lie a little, I steal a little, I disobey God a little (a lot really!)!  What kind of transformed life is this?  Jesus made it clear.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”    John 14:15

We have so compromised the message of Jesus, that we have a culture—a church—which believes and preaches the love of God apart from the holiness of God; or that God calls those who come to HIM to take up their own cross, denying themselves to follow Jesus—not in our own power but in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  And my friend, if you don’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you DON’T have Jesus! Ouch!  Hard but true according to GOD’s WORD!

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus

from the dead

dwell in you,

he that raised up Christ

from the dead

shall also quicken your mortal bodies

by his Spirit

that dwelleth in you.”  Romans 8:9-11

Paul also goes on in Romans 12 to call us to a holy walk, a holy life before God and the world.

“11:36 For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

12:1 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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

 the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

What are you thinking?  Who are you seeking?  God, others or simply self?  We seem to have made the message, the music and the ministry of the ‘Church’ about gratifying the flesh rather than calling men to repent and asking God to send real heaven-sent, Holy Ghost “RE”vival!  When our music makes people want to do the ‘boogaloo’ dance instead of breaking our hearts for our sin and neglect of our Lord, and falling down before God Almighty, what do we expect?  Well, if you’ll pardon my ‘French’, I think we have gotten exactly what we’ve asked for: crowds with no conviction—people with no power—followers with no fire!  Oh, precious Lord, please send the convicting power of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT upon our hearts, that our churches may fall down before you in repentance, restoration and renewal to the Bible and The CROSS!  “There Is Power In The Blood” (written by Lewis E. Jones) and nowhere else.  May we truly sing “Revive Us Again” (written by Willian Mackay), and not “I’m Satisfied With ME” (instead of asking “Is my Savior satisfied with me?” from “I Am Satisfied With Jesus”, Written by B.B McKinney).

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,

the Lord will not hear me:”  Psalm 66:18

James made it very clear that we will give an account.  So, those of us who claim the name of Jesus, and especially those of us in positions of leadership, I pray that we fall down before our God and ask HIS forgiveness as we repent and humbly seek HIS face!  May we truly take James’ advice and humble ourselves “in the sight of the Lord” asking that HE “shall lift you up”!  Oh, Jesus may it ever be so—today!

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore

will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 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.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

May we not be like Cain, bringing the fruit of our own hands, expecting to please God doing “our own thing”, building on the sand and not the “Rock”! Jesus still saves lives today!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

Please Lord, have mercy on us today.  Amen and Amen!!!

Are You A Part Or Apart??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #716

24 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Clothed In His Righteousness, Come out of her, Commitment Or Convenience, Compromise, Conviction, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, False Lives, Filled With His Spirit, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, Forsake Not Assembling, God Who Sees, Growing in Jesus!, He Died That We Could Live, Hearing God, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Iron Sharpening Iron, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #716   Are You A Part Or Apart???

 

We live in a culture, a world in fact, that says we ought to accept everything, believe anything we hear, and follow the crowd.  But God calls us to march to HIS drum not the world’s, and Paul has a great thought in this regard in his letter to the Corinthian church.  We certainly need to hear and heed his admonition today as well.

“But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:57-58

We can walk in victory (not to be confused with popularity) when we keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus—and stand steadfast in His Word and His ways.  Where are you walking?  We are also called to be committed to the body of believers—the church—who are also committed to The Word of God in Spirit and in Truth; not committed in conforming ourselves to look like the culture so as to be appealing to the world.  Jesus Himself, said that the world would hate us if we followed Him in loving devotion to HIS truth—The Word of God!  Why then, do we keep trying to look like the world to appeal to the lost?  The lost world needs what the world can’t provide, and we need to lift up JESUS not popular venues of entertainment—we have been called to lift up Jesus, and to preach the Good News that Jesus saves.  We are to lift up the cross not entertain and placate a pagan culture.

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me. 

33 This he said, signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

Jesus even told Nicodemus that light and dark are diametrically opposed.  Get off the fence and decide if you want to follow Jesus or the world?

“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.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”   John 3:17-20

And as He told his disciples shortly before His death:

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:17-21

Oh, how we need to be reminded that Jesus is our master and lord, and we ought to expect no less difficulty than our Lord and Master told us would come!  We all wrestle with rejection and the opinions of those around us, but Jesus has called us to “take up your cross” and follow HIM, regardless of the cost!  For our salvation caused our Lord to willingly, lovingly, sacrificially lay down HIS life for my/your deliverance from HELL!  Oh?  So, let’s be that “iron” sharpening “iron” and press on together “in spirit and in truth”.  Don’t give up on Christ’s body, we are to love one another and encourage each other to good, true and righteous works and words.  We aren’t called to be like the world but like our Lord and Savior.

“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.   

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

Well said, Brother Paul!  What will we do with this challenge?  May we march to the drumbeat of our Lord and God rather than the world. (I know I’m repeating myself, but maybe you, like myself, need reminding frequently!). Let’s band together for HIM!

“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 10:22-27

Sometimes when we are walking with our Lord, He calls us to separation—not isolation, but a calling out from the ways of the world.  Usually, a matter of conviction over particular activities and/or behaviors, yet a calling out to live holy lives that make a difference.  I have learned that when God lays a particular issue on my heart, I need to heed His voice speaking to my heart and obey—no matter the cost or inconvenience.  It’s often the kind of thing that will cause others to think us odd or peculiar, but if God calls me to it—or away from it—I surely try to heed His call and obey no matter what others think or say.  It’s not always easy, in fact it’s usually a hard place to be but I have found God faithful to everything He has ever called me to do or “not” to do or participate in.  What about you?  Are there places you go that dishonor your Lord?  Are there words you use that would embarrass Him?  Are there people that use you as an excuse to participate in questionable activities.  It’s kind of like I read in a life-changing Gospel tract many years ago, its title makes the point concisely, “Others may, YOU cannot”!  God may be calling you to a separation; and when He calls us to a stand on issues of personal holiness, it will usually mean a separation of associates—just saying.  Here’s God’s word on it!

“Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you,”  2 Corinthians 6:17

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,

Come out of her, my people,

that ye be not partakers of her sins,

and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven,

and God hath remembered

her iniquities.”   Revelation 18:4

I pray that this will bring conviction to our hearts, and that Jesus would truly find us faithful when HE comes, or when He calls us to Himself.  May we truly pursue His holiness and a heart that honors God by a life well-lived IN, BY and Through the power Jesus’ Holy Spirit living and working within ME/YOU!

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end for the grace

that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves according

to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy; for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

Praying that we will pursue Him in Holy living.  Blessings on your week.

Amen and Amen!!!

Revival To “Alive”al??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 24

30 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by in Be not conformed to this world, Believe IN Jesus, Born Again, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Cross, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God's Judgment, God's love, God's provision, Good News, Holiness, Holy Spirit, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Only One Way, Salvation, Saved by grace, The Blood Of Jesus, Transformation, Transformed life, Trust God, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 24 Revival To “Alive”al???

 

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people

may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD,

and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak:

for he will speak peace

unto his people,

and to his saints:

but let them not turn again

to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is nigh them

that fear him;

that glory may dwell

in our land.”   Psalm 85:6-9

The prayer of my heart for many years has been for God to bring revival to HIS people.  I say that for the same reason that I used the title that I did; many seem to think that revival will bring hoards into the church, hence the church would be “revived” but that is far from true.  Revival is the:

“restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength…an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion…”

Revival is the awakening of those who have life, whereas salvation brings “life” to the spiritually dead.  It’s what Paul so aptly describes in Ephesians 2.

“And you hath he quickened, (brought to life)

who were dead in trespasses and sins; (dead)

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.”   Ephesians 2:1-3

Much like the picture that Paul painted in his treatise to the Roman church (and Romans is the foundational essence of the Christian faith in a capsule, howbeit a large capsule) that sin is sin, we all have it, and only Jesus can provide the cure, and how the ‘cure’ is worked out in each believer!

“As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth,

there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone

out of the way,

they are together

become unprofitable;

there is none that doeth good,

no, not one.”  Romans 3:10-12

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

 that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him which believeth

in Jesus.”   Romans 3:24-26

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” and without being “born again” we are dead in sin! But praise God, Jesus came that we could be “born again” and have eternal life with Him, when we come to Him in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for us.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born

when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter

into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

Jesus came that we might have “life, and that they might have it more abundantly”!

So, if the church’s job isn’t to infuse itself with “new members”, what is it?  Well, that is a question that Jesus answered before He left this world to take His place at The Father’s right hand. Let’s consider the call/commission that HE gave to His own—those who are born again!!!

“Go ye therefore,

and teach all nations,

baptizing them

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them

to observe all things

whatsoever I have commanded you:

and, lo,

I am with you alway,

even unto the end of the world.

Amen.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus also made some observations as He spoke to the churches in The Revelation; some pertinent messages that I think we need to consider and heed today, several seem to be apropos to our focus today.

“These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;

I know thy works,

that thou hast a name

that thou livest,

and art dead.”  Revelation 3:1b

“I know thy works:

behold, I have set before thee

an open door,

and no man can shut it:

for thou hast a little strength,

and hast kept my word,

and hast not denied my name.”   Revelation 3:8

And what I think is the most important for us to consider:

“Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not that

thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me

gold tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes

with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.”  Revelation 3:17-18

So, what can we take away from all of this?  I think we must do as God told Israel through the prophet Haggai, “consider your ways”, good advice that God still has for us today.  We must consider our ways and measure them by God’s Word rather than the popular buzz of the world.  The church is to lead the world to transforming life in Jesus, NOT to be “transformed” into the image of the world.  God calls us to be changed into the image of our Lord, The Son; and when we will choose to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit of Jesus, we will find that revival will come to us, spread to other believers and then the lost will be drawn to the Master.  Just the way that Jesus told us in John!

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said, signifying what death

he should die.”  John 12:32-33

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.”  John 3:14-16

He was lifted up for our sin, may we ever lift HIM up to draw others to the cross! Like Paul, I believe the church is called to stand on the gospel of Jesus and not the imitation “religion” of the world, entertaining people right into hell.  False security is no security.  May we determine to stand fast in the sufficiency and total provision of the cross.

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony

of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:2

And as Jesus said of Himself:

“…….I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

So, will you join me in truly pursuing Jesus and praying for revival amongst born again believers, so that our transformation into truly holy reflections of our Lord will draw others to the cross—by HIS transforming power!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

May our lives ever be reflective of Jesus; may we truly be the evidence that God is ever at work around us?  May we be found faithful to HIS WORD; knowing it’s God’s standard that we will be judged by, not man’s!

“For the word of God

is quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

The choice is yours, but there will be an accounting before God, and only those who have bowed before the cross will be able to stand by JESUS’ blood.

Amen!