Tag Archives: Matthew 11:28-30

This IS The Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #73

06 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, His Mercies Are New Every Morning, HOPE

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This IS The Day???         A Word from THE WORD!!! #73

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

What will you and I do with our “day”?  Whatever you are facing, whatever trials have come your way, whatever choices are crushing your soul–God is in your day!  If we will but look up and be willing to receive the answers that God whispers into our hearts!  Just a word from an old grandma–the choices that you make today can be led by God or your own fleshly desires–they will be the delights or regrets of your old age!  Let God rule in your day today–and today–and today–and today!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek

and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

And as God spoke long ago, I have found this to be a dependable truth!

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,

This is the way, walk ye in it,

when ye turn to the right hand,

and when ye turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21

Amen and Amen!!!

What Are You “IN”to??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 03

05 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by in IN Jesus!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows

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What Are You “IN”to??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No.03

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers

of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore,

having your loins

girt about with truth,

and having on

the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod

with the preparation

of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield

of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able

to quench all the fiery darts

of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet

of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God:

18 Praying always

with all prayer

and supplication

in the Spirit,

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance

and supplication

for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

While I often refer to the “armor of God” as an essential of our spiritual walk, growth, and dependence on our Lord, I want us to spend a short time today looking at the preface, and as I often teach in my classes, important things are often found in the small details, so let’s take a look.  Paul often sums up his teachings with the phrase, “finally my brethren”, summing up some conclusions from his teachings.

“be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might”

We have to keep our “eyes on Jesus”, and Paul makes it clear that we can only find our strength “in the Lord” and “in the power of his might”.  It is easy for us to think that we simply have to put on the “armor” and then take off on our own, but Paul makes it very clear to us that we MUST keep our dependence set “IN” The Lord!  Our strength must be rooted and grounded “IN” Jesus, “in the power of his might”–NOT our own!  It is so easy to get off track and let the enemy convince us that we can do it all on our own!  Jesus makes it clear over and over again that HE is our strength, and we not only don’t ‘have to’ but we’re not ‘supposed to’!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Another way to keep ourselves on track is to remember some instructions from our Lord.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.”  Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus makes it clear that we are to remember that our heart and prayer is to be “THY” kingdom come, “THY” will be done, IN ME!  We are to be “IN” tune with our Lord, “IN” Jesus we are to “live”!

“That they should seek the Lord,

if haply they might feel after him,

and find him,

though he be not far

from every one of us:

28 For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being;

as certain also of your own poets have said,

For we are also his offspring.”  Acts 17:27-28

Jesus IS the only way, our only hope, and sufficient to sustain us in our walk every day!

“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 in closing, Peter reminds us that God is our pursuit “IN” holiness; and that our only defense from the enemy (the roaring lion/Satan, but as I heard long ago, our enemy may be a lion, but with/in Jesus, he is toothless!) is “IN” Jesus!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion, walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:”  1 Peter 5:6-8

Humility is the key–and while humility isn’t being a doormat, it does mean yielding to the authority, love, and sovereignty of God.  IN HIM you’ll find all you need.

Amen and Amen!!!

What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No. 02

29 Sunday Jan 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Born Again, God's Faithfulness, God's ways are not our ways, Good News, Jesus Saves!, Restoration, REvival, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith

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What Can’t REvive??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 20 No.02

“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:” Ephesians 2:1-6

I love God’s Word, it is so true, hopeful, and enlightening to help us see where we have come from, and to see how urgent it is to help others come to Jesus.  The thing I want us to think about today is what does “Revival” mean?  I have prayed for revival for many years and will continue to pray for it until Jesus comes, or HE allows me to see a real Holy Ghost, heaven-sent, knee-bending, sin-confessing, tear-stained altar (and sadly to me, many young people don’t even know what that is!) filling, life changing, church-altering, REVIVAL!  The kind of revivals that I knew and saw as a child and a young adult that brought conviction to bear on believers to the repenting of sin, the recommitment of hearts and lives, then a world that takes note of the change!

But there is a catch!

Revival: restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc. ….an awakening in a church….an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting of a religious (my word is Spiritual) awakening…

The key I want us to note is “restoration”, for to be ‘re’stored, something must exist first; and that is what Paul is pointing out to the Ephesian believers, and to us!  Only when we realize that we are “dead in trespasses and sins” will we see the need to come to Jesus to be “born again”, or as Paul says here in Ephesians 2, that God has “quickened us”, in Blanche’s paraphrase, “God has given us life from the dead”, or as the Apostle John wrote in 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

It’s like what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3, we “must be born again” by the power of God through the Holy Spirit!  And my friends, if we haven’t received the new birth–NEW LIFE– from Jesus then we are still “dead in our trespasses and sins” and we can’t be “Revived”! Revival is for those who have received new life in Jesus.  It is for those who know Jesus, but have grown cold toward spiritual things, or have lost their ardor, or just become muddled and confused in the fray of life and need a rekindling of the fire in their heart.  Sort of like a fireplace where the coals are either close to the fire and glowing, or they have become cold with the distance between them and the fire!  Jesus IS our fire!

“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.”  Psalm 85:6-8

God is ever at work conforming His own into the “image of His Son”; our job is to stay near to our “fire” –the fire of Holiness and truth! Jeremiah shared that he had a fire of God’s power in his life, we also have a call, a ministry, a life of obedience, and I think I understand what Jeremiah means, for God’s call is ever on my heart.  I would love to be the one God calls to write the “fluff stuff”, but God has called me to often speak the hard things, may I ever hear his call and like Jeremiah speak as God directs.

“Then I said,

I will not make mention of him,

nor speak any more in his name.

But his word

was in mine heart

as a burning fire shut up in my bones,

and I was weary

with forbearing,

and I could not stay.”  Jeremiah 20:9

So, as I pray for revival amongst God’s own, won’t you join me and seek revival in your own heart–for revival must start with “ME”!  How about you?  And if you don’t know Jesus and are just trying to play the game, use the right words, do the right deeds, be in the right church, or belong to the right group…God wants YOU and YOUR heart not your stuff or your abilities to get to heaven. HE wants you to come through Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice!

“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.”  Revelation 3:20

 Jesus calls us to Himself for rest as well as life–take HIS yoke, and you’ll never walk alone!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Amen!!!

T.G.F.T.F.??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #789

15 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Repentance, Resurrection, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #789       T.G.F.T.F.???

OK!  What is TGFTF?  Pretty simply, much like our famous “TGIF” (thank goodness it’s Friday), I just want us to ponder our need to “Thank God for “this” Friday”!  And while I won’t take the time today to debate the issue of the truth that Jesus wasn’t crucified on a “Friday”, I do want us to thank The Lord God Almighty for the gift of HIS SON, Jesus, and the sacrifice that HE made for our sin, and the absolute truth that HE was raised from the grave three days later.  That is a gift and a “Friday” to thank God for.

So, I just want to share a few scriptures together this morning to draw our hearts and minds to our Lord Jesus Christ and the amazing grace that HE extended to us at Calvary!

“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

And again, a short time later Peter reminded the people of who Jesus really was, and what HE had really done, and that HE died to save men, women, boys, and girls—all who will believe in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN!

“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

Oh, what glorious news!  Jesus saves!  He did then, and He still does today.  Do you know HIM?  Can you celebrate HIS resurrection in spirit and truth?  I pray that you can, and that you will!  Blessings on your “Good Friday” and the blessed “Resurrection Day” that is the symbol of us being raised to walk in newness of LIFE in Jesus.  And the glory of “Christ in you, the hope of glory”!

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

And even as Jesus told Martha, who was heartbroken over the death of her brother, and not understanding that Jesus had delayed His arrival that a much greater thing than Lazarus’ recovery was about to happen—“I AM”!

“Then said Martha unto Jesus,

Lord, if thou hadst been here,

my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now,

whatsoever thou wilt ask of God,

God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her,

Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him,

I know that he shall rise again

in the resurrection at the last day.

25 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 11:21-27

In closing I simply ask, “Do YOU believe?”  If not, I pray that you will call upon HIS name in repentance and faith (simply put, turning from your sin, and running to Jesus instead)!  If you already know HIM, I pray that you and I will draw near to the Risen Lord and reflect HIS glory to a lost and dying world today and every day, in all that we do.

“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?

27 For the Son of man

shall come

 in the glory of his Father

with his angels;

and then he shall reward

every man

according to his works.”   Matthew 16:24-27

Amen and Amen!!!

The God Who Knows My Pain??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 14

27 Sunday Feb 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Comfort, God of all comfort!, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's love, God's provision, God's ways are not our ways, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Grief

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 14   The God Who Knows My Pain???

 

It’s been an unusual season for me lately, for having lost my only daughter just over two years ago, it seems like an inordinate number of my friends have lost children of late; and while they have been grown children, that really doesn’t lessen the pain.  So, I’d like to take today’s time and share some of the things that I have learned about the faithfulness of God and the need in the human heart for the touch of that faithful God for healing, comfort, and restoration.

I had some other things that I wanted to share this evening, but I feel compelled to simply repost an article that I wrote just over 2 years ago, in deep pain and sorrow.  And I’ll tell you that I told God I couldn’t do it.  In fact, as those of you who follow this blog know, I usually write on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and my daughter died on Thursday 6 days before Charismas in 2019, and I told my husband on our way home from the events of that awful day, that I just couldn’t write the next morning, and he told me to just do what I was up to.  Well, God had different plans, as I slept that night, God would wake me up, give me a scripture which I’d note on my phone.  Go back to sleep and He would wake me again with another scripture.  Well, this went on most of the night and when I got up on that Friday morning, I said, “God I can’t do this!  My heart is breaking!”  And God spoke so clearly to my heart, “Yes, you can!  YOU have hope—others do not!”  I got up and wrote the following “Word” from God.  I thank HIM for HIS faithfulness and for the privilege of sharing the HOPE of Jesus with those who might hear from this broken heart.  May it touch those of you who are aching with this same sorrow today.  God loves you, He loves me, and HE will strengthen those who will lean on HIM.  Praying for each of you.

“Bible Ballistics: BBs #612  Because HE Lives—I Can Walk On!!!

Christmas is many things to many people—some are filled with glee and joy, others think deeply on the meaning of the coming of This Newborn King, still others have difficult circumstances or memories that invade their celebration.  But I’m here to let you know that regardless of what is going on around you/me, whether for us or against us, GOD is still GOD, and we can trust HIM.  I’m writing an article that I never expected to write, but it is one that I am compelled to write.  I lost my only daughter under most tragic circumstances yesterday, and my heart is breaking but I must share, for all who also have broken hearts, not just at Christmas time but anytime, that GOD IS ABLE!

As Jesus told a grieving Martha and Mary, HE is still reminding us today that He has the final word—in fact HE IS THE WORD!

“Martha saith unto him, 

I know that he shall rise again 

in the resurrection at the last day. 

25 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 11:24-27

It is totally because HE not only lived a perfect, sinless life, died a substitutionary, atoning sacrificial death, but my friends, HE AROSE!  And because HE lives—I can live another day; my daughter who had given her heart to him years ago is in HIS arms today!  While our hearts are breaking, my heart is, at the very same time, full of gratitude for a Redeemer who loves me, and HE loves you—no matter the heartache that you may be experiencing today—whether new or old.  Like David I can rejoice in the truth of God’s incredible sovereignty!

“Then said his servants unto him, 

What thing is this that thou hast done? 

thou didst fast and weep for the child, 

while it was alive; 

but when the child was dead, 

thou didst rise and eat bread. 

22 And he said, 

While the child was yet alive, 

I fasted 

and wept: 

for I said, Who can tell 

whether GOD will 

be gracious to me, 

that the child may live? 

23 But now he is dead, 

wherefore should I fast? 

can I bring him back again? 

I shall go to him, 

but he shall not return to me.”  2 Kings 12:21-23

As the old song says, “We shall behold HIM…” (Written by Dottie Rambo).  My eyes are filled with tears, but my confidence is fully in my Lord Jesus Christ and His promise that He is coming for me (and you who have come to Him in repentance and faith)!

At this precious Christmas time, I rejoice in the truth that God keeps HIS promises!

“For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a son is given: 

and the government 

shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called 

Wonderful, Counsellor, 

The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Jesus IS the source of the peace that I feel right now, and I pray that you will rest in that peace yourself.  I if you don’t know Him, you can!

“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.”   Revelation 3:20

Jesus came to be our sacrifice and coming to Him gives us not only the “peace of God” but also “peace with God”.

“Therefore being justified by faith, 

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

2 By whom also we have access 

by faith 

into this grace 

wherein we stand, 

and rejoice 

in hope of the glory 

of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

I don’t know why the events of yesterday took my loved one, but I do know that the God who does know, loves my daughter, He loves me, and HE has a plan that I am resting in, even in the pain of my heart, and through the tears in my eyes.  And I’ll simply leave you with some passages of confidence and assurance in this ONE who gave Himself for you and me.

“Therefore we are always confident, 

knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, 

we are absent from the Lord: 

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 

8 We are confident, I say, 

and willing rather 

to be absent from the body, 

and to be present with the Lord.”   2 Corinthians 5:6-8

And as Peter reminds us:

“Humble yourselves therefore 

under the mighty hand of God, 

that he may exalt you 

in due time: 

7 Casting all your care 

upon him; 

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

And Jesus word for each of us:

“Come unto me, 

all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you, 

and learn of me; 

for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

30 For my yoke is easy, 

and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30”

Amen & Amen!!!