Tag Archives: John 14:6

Rehearsal Is A Good Thing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #58

04 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Lord, The Little Things., The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT Reigneth!, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Love of God, The Only Way

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Rehearsal Is A Good Thing???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #58

As we begin a new year, I thought it prudent to rehearse some of the things we need to remember about our God as we press on in this year of 2023.  I pray that our walk will be closer, our trust will be more complete, and our growth an honor to our Lord, and a blessing to the world and those around us!  I hope these reminders will be an encouragement to each of us today and each day through the coming year!

“Will the LORD be pleased

with thousands of rams,

or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

shall I give my firstborn

for my transgression,

the fruit of my body

for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee,

O man,

what is good;

and what doth the LORD require of thee,

but to do justly,

and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly

with thy God?”  Micah 6:7-8

Simply put, “to walk humbly with thy God”, is to continually remember, walk and act like I know that there is only ONE GOD, and I’m not HIM!  That I know that just like Jesus made it clear, there is only One Way, and JESUS is HIS name:

“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

Job made a bold statement of faith which brings me great comfort and assurance, and I pray that it will minister to you today (and note ‘maintain mine own ways’ is not an indication of going our own way, but walking in HIS ways, no matter the circumstances–or what others may think!!)!

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.”  Job 13:15

This reminds me of the old hymn, “Trust and Obey” (written by John Sammis), while it’s such a simple statement, it is a challenging life to walk consistently!  So how do we do it?  By following the shepherd!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:” John 10:27

Are you following Jesus or stealing the lead?  It’s a question that we each must face daily, and I’m so glad that the Psalmist David left us one of the greatest passages to remind us not only how to follow, but why!  Because “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD”!  Is HE yours!

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down

in green pastures:

he leadeth me

beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth

my soul:

he leadeth me

in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff

they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table

before me

in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest

my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me

all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for ever.” Psalm 23:1-6

May we commit to walking near to our shepherd each day in this new year.  He has promised to “never leave thee nor forsake thee” (See Hebrews 13:5-6)…but like the old joke about the married couple riding in the car, the wife asks, “Why don’t you sit close to me anymore?” and the husband driving down the road replies, “I haven’t moved!”!  How’s your ‘closeness to God’ quotient?  Have you moved?  God hasn’t!  Let’s determine to abide with “The Great Shepherd”, and follow HIS lead no matter the cost, joining with Job in knowing that HE is trustworthy!  Completely!!  Always!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

May I Hide Myself IN THEE??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 26

01 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, One Foundation, Only One Way

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

May I Hide Myself IN THEE???     Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 26

“A good name

is rather to be chosen

than great riches,

and loving favour

rather than silver and gold.

2 The rich and poor meet together:

the LORD is the maker

of them all.

3 A prudent man

foreseeth the evil,

and hideth himself:

but the simple

pass on,

and are punished.

4 By humility

and the fear of the LORD

are riches,

and honour,

and life…

….17 Bow down thine ear,

and hear the words of the wise,

and.

18 For it is a pleasant thing

if thou keep them within thee;

they shall withal be fitted

in thy lips.

19 That thy trust may be in the LORD,

I have made known to thee this day,

even to thee.

20 Have not I written to thee

excellent things

in counsels

and knowledge,

21 That I might make thee know

the certainty of the words of truth;

that thou mightest answer the words of truth

to them that send unto thee?”  Proverbs 22:1-4 & 17-21

This passage that I read this morning just hit me as a great verse for this New Year’s Day!  That we truly might strive to pursue God’s truth and heed the words of the Psalmist in that same vein!

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth

in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:133

All of this brings me to share an old song, that doesn’t seem to be sung very much anymore, yet it is so full of truth and a powerful reminder that it’s all about Jesus.

Rock Of Ages by Augustus M. Toplady

1.Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

2.Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3.Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4.While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

So, I have but a few simple questions for us today: where are you hiding?  What are you hiding behind?  Where is your confidence placed?  If the answer to all of these isn’t JESUS, you might want to reconsider your choices.  It is your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him

doth this man stand here before you

whole.

11 This is the stone,

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

Jesus is that stone, and HE made it clear that HE was, is and ever shall be “the only way” –you can trust in Him, or set HIM at nought as many did all those years ago!

“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

And Jesus told Martha the same thing in a different way.

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord:

I believe that thou art the Christ,

the Son of God,

which should come into the world.”                    John 11:25-27

Will you proceed through 2023 with Jesus or rely on something or someone else?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Happy New Year!!!

What Greater Joy??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 24

12 Monday Dec 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Lies, Lies That Defeat Us, Life or Death?, The Things of God, The Word, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Truth, Truth is True, Words Matter

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

What Greater Joy???         Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 24

“The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius,

whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things

that thou mayest prosper and be in health,

even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly,

when the brethren came and testified

of the truth that is in thee,

even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy

than to hear

that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:1-4

While I know this sounds like a strange Christmas message, I wanted to take this time to remind each of us (myself at the top of that list!) that Jesus IS TRUTH! Why does that matter?  Because if we aren’t walking in Jesus–IN TRUTH–then we aren’t walking the way that God would have us to walk.  It was Jesus’ prayer for His own before He left this world, along with His declaration in John 14, that HE IS TRUTH!  And truth is not only important–it is vital to LIFE!

“I have given them thy word;

and the world hath hated them,

because they are not of the world,

even as I am not of the world.

15 I pray not

that thou shouldest take them out of the world,

but that thou shouldest

keep them from the evil.

16 They are not of the world,

even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them

through thy truth:

thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world,

even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes

I sanctify myself,

that they also might be sanctified

through the truth.

20 Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also

which shall believe on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father, art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.”  John 17:14-21

(or as I just wrote ‘accidentally’–JESUS 17:14-21, as this is His High Priestly prayer for His disciples, but also for you and me who follow Him!)

Why the focus on “truth”?  Because contrary to popular belief, truth IS NOT subjective to man’s whims, but God has set truth in HIS Word, and HIS Son, whose incarnation we are celebrating at this time of year.  Jesus IS truth and it’s what He has called us to walk in–with HIM, for HE IS truth!

“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

Not to oversimplify, but if we claim the name of Jesus and walk in anything other than the “truth” we are being hypocritical!  Yet, how can we walk in the “truth” if we don’t know “truth”, Jesus Himself?  We can’t!  Truth isn’t just a set of facts, although it includes facts, but it is founded in and based on the ultimate expression of “the truth” —JESUS!  So, I think the question becomes rather simple; do I know truth?  Do I know Jesus, and if I do, I need to know HIS Word so I can walk obediently with Him, and see God work that Word into me! (See Phil. 2:5-12)

“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 just as amazingly, Paul reminds us of the assurance, power, and authority we have IN Him, and IN His Word when we walk according to its precepts and truth!  May we take some time during this celebration and exam ourselves and see how our lives align to the life that Jesus has empowered us to live according to The Word of God.  For remember, IN JESUS, we WIN!!

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died,

yea rather, that is risen again,

who is even at the right hand of God,

who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake we are killed

all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep

for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded,

that neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

39 Nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                   Romans 8:33-39

Yet, there are a few other thoughts that I’d like to share for our consideration; Jesus told us that it wouldn’t be easy to follow Him, just as it wasn’t easy for Him to walk this earth and proclaim God’s truth to people who didn’t want to hear it!  He calls us to stand fast in this “evil day”!

“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

And praise God we don’t have to do it on our own, don’t even try!

“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!!!

All About JESUS??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #48

18 Friday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

All About JESUS??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #48

Today I would simply like to set our focus on our soon-returning King Jesus!  It’s all about Jesus–for HE is the beginning and the end, and HE gave HIS life for you and for me!  It’s not just at Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or Resurrection time, or even prayer time; it’s about Jesus “ALL” the time, in every moment of every day.

“I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,

which is,

and which was,

and which is to come,

the Almighty…

….17 And when I saw him,

I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive for evermore,

Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.”   Revelation 1:8 & 17-18

Paul so powerfully told the Athenians that our God–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–IS THE GOD!

“For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being…”  Acts 17:28a

Much like the reminder that Jesus gave the disciples just before He went to the cross.

“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 15:4-5

 Did you catch that?  Jesus said clearly, “without me ye can do nothing”; yet we so often (Probably most often for some of us!) run off on our own tangents thinking “I’ve got this!”, then when we fall flat, we wonder why!  Well, my dear friends, Jesus told us “why” beforehand, “without me ye can do nothing”!  Oh, that we would walk in this truth–how peaceful our lives would be–not without trials and troubles, but we would know HIS peace in the midst of every storm!

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”  Philippians 4:13

We quote this verse so often, yet we regularly forget to walk in its powerful truth.  Paul gave us another reminder which is one of my favorites–I quote it often to myself!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

You see, my friends, we have been redeemed and given the power to walk victoriously over sin, and to live a life pleasing to our Lord Jesus, who is the only way to live this victorious life.  For HE IS the only way to God The Father, heaven, and eternal life.

“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

I pray that this brief reminder of “whom” we ought to be thankful for, and how we can walk in HIS victorious power will encourage you today!  For:

“And he saith unto them,

Be not affrighted:

Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth,

which was crucified:

he is risen;

he is not here:

behold the place

where they laid him.”  Mark 16:6

Praise God JESUS LIVES today!  Walk in resurrection power, my friend, remembering that it’s all about JESUS!!  We win!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Am I Thankful For??? A Thanksgiving Word for today! #5

05 Saturday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Comfort, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thankful, Thanksgiving

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

What Am I Thankful For???  A Thanksgiving Word for today! #5

I am thankful for second chances (and third, and fourth….God’s infinite grace and mercy can only count…) in Jesus Christ my Lord.  For He has promised to forgive us, and not only to forgive but to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”!  Praise HIS dear name.  If you are wrestling with guilt or shame, won’t you simply confess your sin and ask for Jesus’ forgiveness and cleansing.  He is standing ready to meet you right there!

“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.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:7-10

Don’t be a liar—especially to yourself—but call on the TRUTH!

“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

 Blessings on your day and remember that attitude of gratitude!!!