Tag Archives: John 14:6

Honoring Or Dishonoring??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #557

22 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Dishonor, Every Knee Shall Bow, God Is In Charge, Honor Or Dishonor?, How much goodness is enough?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Our God Reigns, Sanctified To Serve!, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Transformation, Truth

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Bible Ballistics: BBs #557    Honoring Or Dishonoring???

 

As much of our country is enduring difficult weather events, I am reminded of the truth that ‘man’ isn’t in charge!  And as we think of the God who is, I’d like to spend some time this morning considering our actions toward the God who Reigns! While the world can often be condescending to people who believe in Jesus, it is important to keep our focus on what God says, not what others, or even we ourselves, may think about Him, but what God says!  For truth is still truth no matter what is popular or accepted as ‘politically correct’! God has made clear that HIS standard is HIS Word—not ours!

“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

God is the creator and the judge!  And He will judge according to His Word not mine or yours!

“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.”  Revelation 20:12-13

God knows who we are, and He knows all “the thoughts and intents of the heart” of every heart and mind—yours and mine; and He has revealed through His Word, what we need for “life and godliness” (See 2 Peter 1:3-4)! The question isn’t the question that Pilate asked of Jesus, “What is truth?” (See John 18:38), but rather what have we done with “truth”?  Jesus IS truth—in essence, in reality, in body and in eternity.  HE is the standard of judgment.

“Because he hath appointed a day,

in the which he will judge

the world

in righteousness

by that man whom he hath ordained;

whereof he hath given assurance

unto all men,

in that he hath raised him

from the dead.”  Acts 17:31

God raised Jesus from the dead to save us, to prove that HE is the only way!  Many say today (and have for years) that Jesus isn’t the only way to God, and that He never claimed to be God!  Well, my friends, I beg to differ—HE did both!

“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

“My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them,

Many good works have I shewed you

from my Father;

 for which of those works

do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying,

For a good work

we stone thee not;

 but for blasphemy;

and because that thou,

being a man,

makest thyself God.”  John 10:29-33

The Jewish leaders clearly understood what Jesus was saying, and they were going to stone Him for blasphemy; but because He is truth, He spoke truth and declared to them—and to US—that He was, is and ever shall be God.  In fact, in another place He claimed His eternal being.

“Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Before Abraham was,

 I am.”  John 8:58

Jesus IS God, and HE is the standard of judgment for all, and all will bow before Him and acknowledge HIM for who HE is.

“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

So, my friends, the question isn’t “What is truth?” but “Who” is truth!  And the answer is, JESUS IS truth, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess.  The real question is “when” will you bow!  Will you bow before Him now as Lord and Savior of your life, in repentance and faith–giving your life to Him; or will you reject Him now and bow before Him ‘then’ as your judge, with no recourse for salvation.  Yet I want us to consider what you/I are doing with the life that He has given to us, and as believers the “life” that HE purchased for us—HIS abundant life?  Scripture is replete with admonitions to holy and faithful living for our Lord, for even believers will give an account of our actions (but at the judgment seat of Christ, not the great white throne, see Revelation 20, and Romans 14:10, and 2 Corinthians 5:10)! Let’s look at a few things for your consideration today:

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.”  Hebrews 13:4

Sex outside of God’s design for marriage (one man and one woman becoming one flesh—you get the picture) is sin.  Adultery is the umbrella term for all sexual deviance—sex before marriage, outside of your marriage; and whoremongers (a fitting word for our culture) are those who are consumed with sexual activity of every kind and sort (Read Ro. 1:18-32), yet “God will judge”!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are

not only vessels of gold and of silver,

but also of wood and of earth;

and some to honour,

and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these,

he shall be a vessel unto honour,

sanctified,

and meet for the master’s use,

and prepared unto every good work.”    2 Timothy 2:19-21

Is my/your life an “honor” unto our God, or a dishonor?  Are we continually purging ourselves of those things which dishonor our God?  Are we seeking God’s face and yielding to HIS work of sanctifying us?  It’s my choice and it’s yours, what will I/you do?  Or are you thinking, “I’m good enough”?  When is ‘good enough’ ‘good enough’?  Only one ‘goodness’ will do—the goodness or righteousness of GOD—the righteousness which only Jesus provides at the Cross!

“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

It’s all about Jesus! And when we know Him, when we are “in him” by His saving grace, only then can we live that new life!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

 the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.”   2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Will we bring honor to our King, knowing the price that Jesus paid for our ‘reconciliation’—the forgiveness of sins—treasuring the gift of forgiveness of sin, and sharing this truth through HIS love with the world?  I pray that God will speak to our hearts through HIS Word—the written Word and Jesus, the living Word!

“In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:14

Believe It Or Not??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 12

05 Sunday May 2019

Posted by in Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, Hearing God, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Not Of This World, Salvation, Seeing Truth, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Truth

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.12      Believe It Or Not???

 

I have a brief message today, brief in the sense that I have little to say about the passage I want to share with you, but rather want to let you ponder the words of Jesus!  I truly believe that the day of His approaching return is very near, and we live in days when, like the people who heard and saw Jesus in person, men are unwilling to heed the voice of the Son of God.  And as Jesus said Himself, HE is the 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 IS the only way to God, and regardless of what the world says, there is NO other way. And when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we will find that HE is sufficient to our every need, and all that we do is dependent on HIM!  Even as His child, I am only profitable to God as I yield to and depend on the work of God in me through the Holy Spirit of Jesus!  How sad that so many who claim to know Him, preach a different gospel—one of self-reliance, greed, and prosperity—rather than the call of Jesus to “take up your cross and follow me…”!

“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 15:5

Without Jesus there is no future but death and hell, but with Him we can have eternal life through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ—for our sin! (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Jesus is our life, hope and assurance, and truly “without me ye can do nothing”!  But with Him we can truly say with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  (Philippians 4:13)

The passage from John’s Gospel,  is Jesus’ own message to those who refuse to receive HIM! I simply ask that you read this passage and ponder its content, and the heart of the Messiah who spoke it to us all those years ago!  Do you know Him?  Are there those whom you love who need to know Him?  Will you determine today to be a reflection of The Savior to a lost and dying world?  Will you stand by the truth of The Word rather than the ‘gospel of convenience’ that is clamoring all about us?  The choice is yours, but remember, there is a test at the end!  His love is written in RED!

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that heareth my word,

and believeth on him that sent me,

hath everlasting life,

and shall not come into condemnation;

but is passed

from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you,

The hour is coming,

and now is,

when the dead shall hear the voice

of the Son of God:

and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself;

so hath he given to the Son

to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority

to execute judgment also,

because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this:

for the hour is coming,

in the which all that are in the graves

shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth;

they that have done good,

unto the resurrection of life;

and they that have done evil,

unto the resurrection of damnation.

30 I can of mine own self do nothing:

as I hear,

I judge:

and my judgment is just;

because I seek not mine own will,

but the will of the Father

which hath sent me.

31 If I bear witness of myself,

my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me;

and I know that the witness

which he witnesseth of me

is true.

33 Ye sent unto John,

and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man:

but these things I say,

that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light:

and ye were willing for a season

to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness

than that of John:

for the works which the Father hath given me

to finish,

the same works that I do,

bear witness of me,

that the Father

hath sent me.

37 And the Father himself,

which hath sent me,

hath borne witness of me.

Ye have neither heard his voice at any time,

nor seen his shape.

38 And ye have not his word

abiding in you:

for whom he hath sent,

him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures;

for in them ye think ye have eternal life:

and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me,

that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honour from men.

42 But I know you,

that ye have not the love of God

in you.

43 I am come in my Father’s name,

and ye receive me not:

if another shall come in his own name,

him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe,

which receive honour

one of another,

and seek not the honour

that cometh from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you

to the Father:

there is one that accuseth you,

even Moses,

 in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses,

ye would have believed me:

for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings,

how shall ye believe my words?”   John 5:24-47

Whose words will you believe?  God’s Word both written, spoken, and the “living Word”, or will you choose to believe the one who will “come in his own name”?  And as John the Apostle wrote—there is “one” coming, but there are many of “his” already at work.  Be aware, be prepared, be saved while you still can!

“Beloved,

believe not every spirit,

but try the spirits

whether they are of God:

because many false prophets

are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:

Every spirit that confesseth

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh

is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh

is not of God:

and this is that spirit of antichrist,

whereofye have heard that it should come;

and even now already

is it in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3

Satan is alive and well on planet earth!  But we win because:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

The Webs We Weave??? Bible Ballistics: B?Bs #544

29 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Lies, Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Bible Ballistics: BBs #544  The Webs We Weave???

 

There’s and old adage which says, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when once we practice to deceive.”  (Written by Sir Walter Scott, in his 1808 poem, “Marmion”.). And while this isn’t scripture, it certainly is founded in scripture, for lies and deception will cause trouble, confusion and trouble for the deceiver and the ones affected by the deception and lies!

“A wicked doer

giveth heed to false lips;

and a liar

 giveth ear

to a naughty tongue.”  Proverbs 17:4

When we practice deceit, we lie—it’s that simple; it’s not a “joke”, it’s not “teasing”, it’s not “just for fun”— a lie is a deception whether it is spoken, or simply a false impression that we intentionally allow to go uncorrected.  And when we practice deceit, we align ourselves against God!

“The foolish shall not stand

in thy sight:

thou hatest

all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them

that speak leasing:

the LORD will abhor

the bloody

and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:5-6 

We can choose truth, integrity and honor, or we can fall into speaking as the world speaks!  And the world (as a whole) is following the greatest liar of all.

“The transgression of the wicked

saith within my heart,

that there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself

in his own eyes,

until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth

are iniquity

and deceit:

he hath left off to be wise,

and to do good.”  Psalm 36:1-3

Will we heed the truth or follow the “father of lies”?  Will we choose to believe and follow Jesus, “the truth”; or will we fall for the lies of the enemy of our souls?

“Ye are of your father

the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.” John 8:44-45

The truth isn’t always popular—even Jesus was minimalized, ridiculed, and rejected for speaking absolute truth, for HE IS truth!  What will you and I choose to believe and follow?  Jesus and His Father God, or will we choose to believe the lies. You do have the God-given right to choose but remember there is a consequence to every choice; and while we are free to make our own choices, we aren’t free to set the consequences. Jesus has made it clear that there is only “One Way” to God—and He IS it!  What will you choose?

“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

The question is simple, “Whom will you/I choose to follow?” Will we spin more and more webs of deceit, even deceiving ourselves; or will we choose “Truth” and come to Jesus in repentance and faith.  We are free to choose—what will you do with that freedom?  Every choice has a consequence, and there is a test at the end!  It could be today!

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh

reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit

reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season

we shall reap,

 if we faint not.”   Galatians 6:7-9

May we stand with Joshua in the “power of HIS might” (God’s), without webs of deceit!  (See Ephesians 6:10-18)

“but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”. Joshua 24:15b.

Amen and Amen!!!

Am I Listening??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #542

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in Confidence, Hearing God, Listening To God

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #542   Am I Listening???

 

“The fear of the LORD

is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools

despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son,

hear the instruction of thy father,

and forsake not

the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace

unto thy head,

and chains

about thy neck.”  Proverbs 1:7-9

Proverbs is one of the books of ‘poetry’ and is also referred to as ‘wisdom’ literature; and here we see wisdom proclaimed in the first chapter. The question is, ‘will we listen and heed the message’?  Or will we neglect truth to our own detriment?  I pray that today we will determine to listen to God’s voice (via His Spirit) and refuse the other voices that clamor for our time, attention and devotion!

“Come, ye children,

hearken unto me:

I will teach you

the fear of the LORD.”  Psalm 34:11

We live in a “self-sufficient” culture—I can take care of myself!  I can make my own way!  I can pull myself up by my own ‘boot straps’: but the point is, we are not able to care for ourselves, and we certainly can’t save ourselves—only Jesus can do that for those who come to HIM His way!  Yet we must have ears to hear and a heart willing to seek God and hear His direction.

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.”  John 6:44

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:6

God has made provision for our salvation, but we must hear His voice, and receive His grace, through faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection “for our sin”!  And when we come to Jesus, He will transform our lives and impart to us His indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and direct our steps—and we must never quench His work in our hearts and lives.  Yet we often do, by our willful neglect of our relationship with HIM!  I pray that this will remind us to draw near to HIM, that we might come to know Him intimately and grow in our confidence that HE IS ever working to make me/you more like Jesus.

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we knowthat all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

 to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”  Romans 8:27-29

Jesus The Son, God The Father, and the precious Holy Spirit are ever at work in us—it’s our job to yield to His work in us.  May we ever turn our ears, our hearts and our minds to hear and know all that Jesus has called and will equip us to be!  He is ever faithful!

“My sheep

hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them

eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man

pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father,

which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

We have a Father who loves us, A Savior and Redeemer who loves us and gave Himself for us!  Are you hearing from HIM?  To whom and what are you yielding?  Give it all to Jesus, He’s worthy of our trust, may we say with Paul:

“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.

Amen!!!

Where Are Your Idols??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 02

24 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Idolatry

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.02  Where Are Your Idols???

 

Ezekiel was a Levitical priest taken into Babylonian captivity during the second siege of Jerusalem; there he was called to prophecy to the people during their captivity.  You might say that while Jeremiah was called the ‘weeping prophet’, Ezekiel was the ‘graphic prophet’—for God called him to act-out various ‘skits’ before the people showing what was yet to come in Jerusalem/Judah!  And while there was very little good news, God did give us a mighty picture of what He thinks about our sin—whether it’s open or hidden.

“And he put forth the form of an hand,

and took me by a lock of mine head;

and the spirit lifted me up

between the earth and the heaven,

and brought me in the visions of God

to Jerusalem...”  Ezekiel 8:3a

Ezekiel was taken in this vision to Jerusalem, but what God showed him was heartbreaking; and I think if we will receive the message ourselves, our hearts may be broken too!  Maybe we can start to see things the way that God sees them, and that’s what we need to do all the time.

“He said furthermore unto me, Son of man,

seest thou what they do?

even the great abominations

that the house of Israel

committeth here,

that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations.

7 And he brought me to the door of the court;

and when I looked,

behold a hole in the wall.

8 Then said he unto me,

Son of man,

dig now in the wall:

and when I had digged in the wall,

behold a door.

9 And he said unto me,

Go in,

and behold the wicked abominations

that they do here.

10 So I went in and saw;

and behold every form of creeping things,

and abominable beasts,

and all the idols of the house of Israel,

pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

11 And there stood before them

seventy men of the ancients

of the house of Israel,

and in the midst of them stood

Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,

with every man his censer in his hand;

and a thick cloud of incense went up.

12 Then said he unto me,

Son of man, hast thou seen

what the ancients of the house of Israel

do in the dark,

every man in the chambers of his imagery?

for they say,

The LORD seeth us not;

the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

13 He said also unto me,

Turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

that they do.

14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate

of the LORD’S housewhich was toward the north; and, behold,

there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

15 Then said he unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

than these.

16 And he brought me into the inner court

of the LORD’S house,

and, behold,

at the door of the temple of the LORD,

between the porch and the altar,

were about five and twenty men,

with their backs toward the temple

of the LORD,

and their faces toward the east;

and they worshipped the sun

toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

Is it a light thing to the house of Judah

that they commit the abominations

which they commit here?

for they have filled the land

with violence,

and have returned

to provoke me to anger:

and, lo,

they put the branch

to their nose.”    Ezekiel 8:6-17

I know this is a lengthy passage, but it’s important that we see that just claiming to be God’s own, isn’t what it’s all about!  The nation of Israel had disregarded the worship of God and gone their own way! But even more heart-breaking is the fact that they didn’t walk away, but they brought all their idols, and abominations, and wickedness into God’s house!  The place that was to represent to them, the very presence of God, they had disregarded so much that they brought all of their ‘ways’ into His house and abandoned HIM!

Much like the church of today, which has chosen so often, to replace God’s way with the world’s way! We are no longer contented to seek God’s way, to spread the undiluted Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ The Lord; but have invited the world to come in with their glitz and glamour, so to speak, to replace the truth of God.  We no longer cling to The Word of God, we trust to popular psychology, men’s ideas, plans and programs instead of the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was shown a religious people—even the leaders of the nation and the temple—yet they had brought idolatry, false worship, and abominations into the sanctuary of God! How it breaks my heart that we have so abandoned the piety that used to represent the church.  I’m not talking about arrogance or hypocrisy, but a genuine regard for the purity and humility that God’s Word calls us to.  As well as the desire to cling to and preserve biblical standards, and the exclusivity of the Gospel!

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die

in your sins:

for if ye believe not

that I am he,

ye shall die

in your sins.”   John 8:24

We are all born in sin, but we have the opportunity to choose life in Jesus.  As Jesus told the religious people of His day, and us today—if we don’t believe that HE IS the God-Man-Savior, we will die in our sin—HE is the only cure for the penalty of sin.

“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

Even the Apostle Paul calls us to singularity of purpose—to preach Christ alone for the salvation of men, women, boys and girls!

“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

Jesus is not only our only hope—He is the One who saves and transforms lives to the glory of God, and for our good. He came to save us from sin—not leave us in it!

“ 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

Jesus came to be “God with us”, to pay for our sin! Sin is the issue, no matter how our culture renames it, colors it, or tries to make it look acceptable—Sin Is Sin!  It is, it has been, and it will always be the issue!

“For all have sinned,

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

Yet, because God loves us, we don’t have to die for our own sin!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I hate to be so repetitive, but with so many voices around us denying the truth of the Gospel, I must proclaim HIS truth, no matter how old the message seems!  Jesus makes it perfectly clear in His conversation with Nicodemus.

“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

We can never be good enough to gain God’s favor, or work our way into heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He makes us new creatures IN Himself, because HIS blood cleanses us from sin, and makes us new!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us

from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:5-9

John wrote that if we continually walk in darkness, we ought to check out what we think saved us. He says that we are deceived if “the truth is not in us”, for Jesus IS the truth, and if His truth isn’t in us (in the person of the Holy Spirit), HE isn’t in us—and if HE isn’t in us, then we can’t walk in the light!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 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.”   Romans 8:8-9

 It is the Holy Spirit of God who imparts the new life to us and comes to dwell within those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, by the blood of Jesus.  It is Jesus’ blood and His righteousness that helps us be what HE saves us to be.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

 unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation…….

21 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 5:17-19 & 21

Jesus took our place when He died on Calvary, and God imparts His righteousness to us when we receive HIM, because HE took our sin upon Himself on that cross!  Praise God for His amazing grace, love and mercy.

But back to Ezekiel and his people; are we lying to ourselves and others just like Israel did? Have we brought our idols into HIS church?  Have we, are we now, trying to conform the church to the world?  Or are we willing to stand fast and hold the church to God’s biblical standard?  Would we rather accept whatever makes people feel good about themselves; or are we willing to speak the truth in love, trusting to God to bring them to the cross for whatever need they may have?  Have we died to self, that we might live to Christ Jesus our Lord with our whole being?

“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.”   James 4:1-4

James was writing to those in the church—he called those who were being friends of the world—adulterers and adulteresses!  Who is your friend?  Jesus or the world?  Only you can choose.  And no matter who you may fool in this life, you can never fool God.  Are you measuring life by God’s standard or the world’s?  What are your idols?  Or will you join me in asking God to help us to be a “living sacrifice” to our God—on HIS terms?

“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

Are you leading others to be conformed to Jesus?  Or is the world conforming you to the image of itself?  May God open our eyes to see truth—His truth.

“Search me,

O God,

and know

my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be

any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

Amen and Amen!!!