Tag Archives: Matthew 1:21

To Know HIM More Today??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 22

14 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Born Again, King Jesus, Take Up YOUR Cross

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 22     To Know HIM More Today???

 

We heard a good message this morning about our Good King!  Jesus, The King of Glory!  Oh, how blessed we are to know Him, to be His, to be privileged to share the “Good News’ of the salvation that our ‘Good King’ has provided through our Lord Jesus Christ—The very Son of God—our ‘Good King’!  And it’s HIM that we want to focus on today.

“Lift up your heads,

O ye gates;

and be ye lift up,

ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory

shall come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads,

 O ye gates;

even lift them up,

ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory

shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

he is the King of glory. Selah.”  Psalm 24:7-10

And Jesus IS His name—He came through those ‘gates’ once in human flesh and blood!  He lived a perfect life, gave His life to die as the perfect Lamb of God, rose from the dead on the third day, and HE IS coming back again, to walk through those ‘gates’ again.  Do you know HIM?

“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

Jesus was, is and ever shall be “one” with The Father!  And because HE IS God, His sacrifice was the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that provides salvation for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith!

“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

Jesus came—and oh how glad I am that He did; and because He did, we can have new life in Him, now and into eternity.

“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.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

 (and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

 of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-14

When we come to Jesus, He gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within and to provide all that we need to live a life of godliness.

“Grace and peace be multiplied

unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge

of him that hath called us

to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these

 ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”    2 Peter 1:2-4

But, not only do we have all we need for “life and godliness”, we have a Lord and Savior who is coming again to establish His Kingdom on this earth—and I believe HE is coming soon!  Are you ready?

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house

are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place

for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place

for you,

I will come again,

and receive you

unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither

thou goest;

and how can we know

the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:1-6

Jesus is the only way to God, and we can not only be known of Him, but we can draw nearer and nearer to Him, and come to know Him more and more.  That is to be the pursuit of our lives—to know Him more each day.  To grow in intimate relationship and fellowship with Him! Paul paints a wonderful picture of this relationship that we are pursuing.

“But what things were gain to me,

those I counted loss

for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss

for the excellency

of the knowledge of Christ Jesus

my Lord:

for whom I have suffered

the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through the faith

of Christ,

the righteousness

which is of God

by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable unto his death;

            11 If by any means I might attain

unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend that

for which also I am apprehended

of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:7-14

I’d like us to simply take a walk through this message, my paraphrase, if you will.  With Paul may we:

Measure life with Jesus ruler—

See all as rubbish, compared to Knowing Jesus—

Want to KNOW Jesus more than anything else—

Suffering for Jesus is less than HIS suffering for us—

Victory is in HIS righteousness imparted to us—

To KNOW Him more—is to be conformed to HIS image—

I haven’t arrived, but as I walk with Jesus, I will—

To ‘arrive’, I must

 Forget the past—

 Pursue what is ahead—

 Press toward the God’s ‘mark’—

 Seek His prize—JESUS IS the prize!

Simply said, but not easily done—but it is doable as we follow our Lord in all things—giving up self to seek the Savior!  This picture pricks my heart, every time I read it! It calls me to draw near to God and seek HIS face, and not my own ways.  Oft times that is difficult with all the busyness around us; but we must choose the things of “the Spirit” rather than the things of the flesh.  As Paul said so clearly:

“That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable

unto his death”

And as Paul told the Galatians and us there is only one way to be “made conformable unto his death”, and that is to “die” to self, even as our Lord called us to 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 calls it ‘denying self…taking up our cross…and following Jesus’ (And ‘taking up’ your cross  doesn’t mean enduring your daily trails, but it means that I die to self, every day, living unto Jesus—by His power, provision and the presence of HIS Holy Spirit within us!).  Just as Jesus died to give us life, we must die to self, allowing HIS life to be seen through us!!!

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected

of the elders

and chief priests

and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:23

I pray that you will join me in “coming after” Jesus!  And the only way that we can live for HIM, is to die to my flesh.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…

….25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

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

Will you draw near to Him today? I pray that you know Him and will yield to His work in and through you.  If you don’t know Him, I invite you to call upon this same Jesus who gave Himself for YOU—in His own words:

“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.

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.

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 3:14-21

Won’t you seek to know Him more today?  I pray that you will join me as we:

“press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus”!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

Putting Asunder??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 10

21 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Cross, Putting Asunder, Trusting Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No.10 Putting Asunder???

 

How sad for me on this precious and glorious Resurrection Sunday, to think of how far afield we have come from God’s plan and design for mankind.  The God who created us, made us “male” and “female”—created marriage, and provided for the restoration of our relationship with HIM, which we lost due to sin. Let us consider how far afield we have come.  What have you and I “put asunder”?

“And he answered and said unto them,

Have ye not read,

that he which made them

at the beginning

made them

male

and female,

5 And said, For this cause

shall a man leave father

and mother,

and shall cleave to his wife:

and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain,

but one flesh.

What therefore

God hath joined together,

let not man put asunder.

7 They say unto him,

Why did Moses then command

to give a writing of divorcement,

and to put her away?

8 He saith unto them,

Moses

because of the hardness

of your hearts

suffered you to put away

your wives:

but from the beginning

it was not so.” Matthew 19:4-8

Jesus responded to those who questioned Him and who wanted to trap Him with God’s truth; He reminded them of God’s original plan for man—for marriage.  Jesus made it clear that not only did God create marriage, He created it for a lifetime!  He also tells us that what “God hath joined together, let not man put asunder”!  Yet we live in a world, especially our American culture, that has not only disregarded God’s plan, but we are totally putting it “asunder”!

Asunder:  into separate parts; in or into pieces; 2: apart or widely separated…

We have allowed ourselves to be led astray—not because we didn’t know truth, but because we are rejecting God’s truth on almost every hand.  We have denied, watered down and diluted the very Word of God at every turn.  God’s plan began in Eden, and it hasn’t changed!

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep

to fall upon Adam,

and he slept:

and he took one of his ribs,

and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib,

which the LORD God had taken from man,

made he a woman,

and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said,

This is now bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh:

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore

shall a man leave his father

and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife:

and they shall be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked,

the man

and his wife,

and were not ashamed.”  Genesis 2:21-25

God would make the two—male and female—one.  There is to be a “leaving” and a “cleaving”—leaving the ties of our parents’ home, and being totally devoted to our spouse; to be not only ‘one’ in a physical sense, but a oneness of body, mind and spirit.  Soul mates in the sense that when we both keep our eyes on Jesus—there will be a drawing closer and closer to God and drawing closer and more intimate with each other.  It is a picture that God painted in the beginning to show us the beauty and wonder of His love for us—a picture of the ONE who had already created the plan to perfectly restore our relationship to Him, after it would be marred by sin! And that plan was JESUS!  The very One whose resurrection we celebrate today.

Paul gave a most interesting picture of this in his letter to the Ephesians, a passage whose beauty we often miss because we place our focus on the instructions to husbands and wives—and miss the wondrous picture of our Risen Lord and HIS church!

“Husbands, love your wives,

even as Christ also loved the church,

and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify

and cleanse it

with the washing of water

by the word,

27 That he might present it

to himself a glorious church,

not having spot,

or wrinkle,

or any such thing;

but that it should be holy

and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives

as their own bodies.

He that loveth his wife

loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated

his own flesh;

but nourisheth

and cherisheth it,

even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body,

of his flesh,

and of his bones.

31 For this cause

shall a man leave his father and mother,

and shall be joined unto his wife,

and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery:

but I speak concerning Christ

and the church.

33 Nevertheless

let every one of you in particular

so love his wife

even as himself;

and the wife

see that she reverence

her husband.”   Ephesians 5:25-33

How sad that we have cast aside the plan of God for our own lusts, desires and happiness (so-called).  I, like many others, was misled and fell for the lies of the enemy and abandoned God’s plan for my own!  That is one of the reasons for my sadness, another is that it I am so inadequate to warn others of the pitfalls of sin, and the lies of the enemy (and he is a liar, on every hand).  God is much more concerned with our love for Him, and our willingness to surrender to His work of holiness within us by the power of the CROSS!  And there is no comparison with the joy that God can give to the heart that will pursue Him rather than the “lusts of the flesh”!  How grateful I am that God reached down, called my ‘sin’ ‘sin’, and heard the prayer of my heart when I confessed my ‘sin’ and asked Jesus to forgive me and save me—and HE did!  Not that I was perfect after that, but things were different, for I now had the Spirit of the ‘Risen Lord” dwelling within me!  Praise HIS name!

Paul warns us, as he warned the Romans of the dangerous downward spiral of sin.  God’s way is diametrically opposite to the cry of the world, which calls us to go our own way, rather than God’s; but it is a plague that all are afflicted with.

 

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled

with all unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,

unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

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

(And I encourage you to read all of Romans 1 for the whole picture of the degradation and contagion of sin!)

God, through Isaiah, painted the picture of the ONE who would come and deliver us from our sin—the only ONE who could and would—HE did!

“He is despised and rejectedof men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces

from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne

our griefs,

and carried

our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him

stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised

for our iniquities:

the chastisement

of our peace

was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:3-6

Jesus—The Lamb of God—came to be the sacrifice for our sin!  His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice paid the price for my redemption and yours!  I, who was so fallen and full of sin, found His redemption totally abundant and adequate to cleanse my soul of sin.  And HE will do the same for YOU if you will but hear His voice, repent, and open the door of your heart to receive His saving grace!  He came to save us from sin—and He is still saving souls and changing lives today—this very day that we celebrate His victory over sin, death and hell.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”   John 1:29

It is why HE came—to live a sinless life, and to pay a sin debt that HE didn’t owe, because we owed a sin debt that we could never pay apart from hell!

“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

HE has given HIS own life for us!  And when we receive HIS salvation, we are made new!

“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.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom

we have now received

the atonement.”   Romans 5:1-11

While we were “yet sinners, Christ died for us”; the sinless, Son of God, gave HIS life for my sin!  My sin and yours—I failed—I came short—I rebelled—I sought self, lust, and satisfaction, without regard for the cost to my own soul or the lives of others. Yet, God had already provided for my salvation, forgiveness and redemption.  He has made me whole by the blood of JESUS’ cross, and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.  Therefore, as HE gave me new life, HE will give you life too! If you know Jesus already, press on in the ‘newness’ of life “in him”, He is totally sufficient for all your need!  And if you don’t know Jesus, you can call upon Him today!

“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.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

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 5:17-21

We can be ‘new’!  And when He makes us ‘new’, we are truly new in our hearts, and free from the power of sin, by the blood of The Lamb, who “cleanseth us from all sin”!

“If the Son therefore shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”  John 8:36

Free to love Him, to serve Him, to follow Him by taking up our cross and pursuing Jesus in all our ways.  Paul puts it so beautifully, what better way to praise HIM and close our post for today—challenging each of us to give it all to Jesus—by His grace and 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.

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

May you be blessed on this Resurrection Sunday!

Amen and Amen!

 

Are You Tuned In??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #527

30 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Salvation, Tuned In, Tuned In To Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #527    Are You Tuned In???

 

There is an old gospel song, “Turn Your Radio On” (By Albert Lee Brumley) that talks about ‘tuning in’ your radio to God; a very timely song, written in the days when almost everyone was listening to the radio.  I believe the song’s message is timely for us as well, even though we have gone from the radio to ‘mass media’ on a mind-boggling scale. Yet we must ‘tune’ our hearts and minds to Jesus—hearing Him over the world—He is our only hope.

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

Jesus paid the price for our salvation—the only sinless, perfect sacrifice for sin!  It’s why He came—to pay for our sin and to save us “from” it, 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.” Matthew 1:21

We become “His” people by bowing before Him in repentance, and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for ‘our’ sin!  For Jesus loves us and willingly laid down His life as payment for sin, and to give us eternal life now, and in heaven with Him!  Again, it’s why He came.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth

in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.”  John 3:16-18

The choice is yours—have you tuned in? Jesus repeated a call at least seven times in the first three chapters of The Revelation.  Will you hear—tune in to—His call?

“Blessed is he that readeth,

and they that hear

the words of this prophecy,

and keepthose things

which are written therein:”  Revelation 1:3

To the ‘churches’ (yes even people ‘in’ the church need to be sure they have ‘tuned in’ to Jesus!) Jesus gave this repeated admonition: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith….” Revelation 2:7a (2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22).   I pray that you will ‘tune in’ and hear the message that Jesus is speaking to you; that you will hear and believe, because HE loves YOU!  Amen and Amen!

Justice Or ‘Just-Ice’??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 22

13 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Just Jesus!, Justice, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.22 Justice or ‘Just-Ice’???

 

Justice:   –the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness,

or moral rightness…

–rightfulness or lawfulness…justness or ground of reason….

–the moral principle determining just conduct.

Simply put, justice is the recognition of, and the ability to choose to do right! For many today that is a fluid thing, it changes from day to day, and from situation to situation; in other words what’s ‘just’ today may not be ‘just’ tomorrow; or what’s ‘just’ for ‘me’ may not be ‘just’ for ‘you’! Praise God “from whom all blessings flow”, that HE is just, and true and right in all things, yet His justice is tempered with mercy, grace and the offer of salvation through “His only begotten Son” so that “whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life”! Grace and mercy offered to all who will believe in and receive Jesus, rather than the just judgment of God Almighty in “that day”!

For that I am most grateful—for, as the song says, “I once was lost, but now am found”—to be found “in Him” saved, and delivered, not left on my own with a defense that could never save me from the penalty or power of sin.

“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;”    Romans 3:23-25

We have all sinned—but we can become sinners saved by His grace if we will but repent and believe in HIS saving work in us—it’s why HE came.

“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

He came that we might have life instead of death.

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit

unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.”

All because Jesus paid our debt:

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

Oh, what glory to be born again by HIS Spirit and be made the children—sons and daughters—of God, by HIS work not our own.

“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

Oh, how glorious to know that I am HIS child, all because “God so loved”! But what we often forget is that when God saves us and imparts His Spirit to dwell within us we are to exercise real “justice” by the power of Jesus; and not just give “just” ‘ice” (from a cold heart, to give a cold shoulder) to others whom God brings into our lives. How often do we miss (or just ignore and overlook) opportunities to “be” Jesus to someone in need? God gave Isaiah a heavy word in this regard to Israel many years ago—but it’s a message that I believe we would do good to heed. How many of us have accepted the standard of the world rather than the standard of our Lord and Savior, Jesus and our Father God?

Have we read The Word, but failed to put it into practice? Have we studied and let God put that very Word in our hearts, or have we “played church” when we ought to “be the church” to a lost and dying world. I truly believe that when we approach The Word with a heart to ‘see what it says, understand what it means in its context, and apply what it means to “MY” life’, that we will experience the true “joy of the Lord” being “our strength”!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-16

Saved to do His service and be HIS hands and feet to a lost and dying world. Yes saved by grace “through faith”—yet saved to serve God and others.

“For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

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

As I said—as God said—we are saved to serve, and our service, when done in the power of His Spirit and not our flesh will draw others to our Lord. But when we just ‘go through the motions’ to please ourselves or others, that is not service unto God, but is self-righteous idolatry—unto the idol of ‘self’, popularity, power, position, or whatever you want to put in the blank. Let’s consider what God said through Isaiah. It’s a lengthy passage, but one worthy of our time and consideration. (If you want a really in-depth look at this idea of ‘self-focused’ leaders and what God thinks of them read and study Ezekiel 34.)

“Cry aloud,

spare not,

lift up thy voice like a trumpet,

and shew my people

their transgression,

and the house of Jacob

their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily,

and delight to know my ways,

as a nation that did righteousness,

and forsook not the ordinance of their God:

they ask of me the ordinances of justice;

they take delight in approaching to God.

3 Wherefore have we fasted,

say they,

and thou seest not?

wherefore have we afflicted our soul,

and thou takest no knowledge?

Behold,

in the day of your fast

ye find pleasure,

and exact all your labours.

4 Behold,

ye fast for strife

and debate,

and to smite with the fist

of wickedness:

ye shall not fast as ye do this day,

to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen?

a day for a man to afflict his soul?

is it to bow down his head

as a bulrush,

and to spread sackcloth and ashes

under him?

wilt thou call this a fast,

and an acceptable day to the LORD?

6 Is not this the fast

that I have chosen?

to loose the bands of wickedness,

to undo the heavy burdens,

and to let the oppressed go free,

and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not

to deal thy bread to the hungry,

and that thou bring the poor

that are cast out

to thy house?

when thou seest the naked,

that thou cover him;

and that thou hide not thyself

from thine own flesh?

8 Then shall thy light break forth

as the morning,

and thine health shall spring forth

speedily:

and thy righteousness shall

go before thee;

the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

9 Then shalt thou call,

and the LORD shall answer;

thou shalt cry,

and he shall say, Here I am.

If thou take away from the midst of thee

the yoke,

the putting forth of the finger,

and speaking vanity;

10 And if thou draw out thy soul

to the hungry,

and satisfy the afflicted soul;

then shall thy light rise

in obscurity,

and thy darkness

be as the noonday:

11 And the LORD shall guide thee

continually,

and satisfy thy soul

in drought,

and make fat

thy bones:

and thou shalt be

like a watered garden,

and like

a spring of water,

whose waters fail not.”   Isaiah 58:1-11

God describes for us here a life of service, empowered by HIS grace, His love and His Son’s blood-bought salvation, which we receive by grace through faith! Jesus not only showed us what it looks like, but His blood cleanses us and equips us for HIS service and HIS glory.

“And he said unto them,

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship

over them;

and they that exercise authority

upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so:

but he that is greatest among you,

let him be as the younger;

and he that is chief,

as he that doth serve.

27 For whether is greater,

he that sitteth at meat,

or he that serveth?

is not he that sitteth at meat?

but I am among you as he that serveth.”   Luke 22:25-27

Jesus made it clear that we are to serve, one another as believers, and the world as we have opportunity. Paul also gives us a clear picture of our place as servants of the King who came and ‘served’ us—giving Himself “a ransom for many”!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal

with God:

7 But made himself

of no reputation,

and took upon him

the form of a servant,

and was made

in the likeness of men:

8 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 2:5-11

We can do God’s work of service—and walk in justice and truth from a heart of God’s love; instead of being “just” “ice” and giving the world a cold shoulder as they go “to hell in a hand-basket”! We can do because we have Jesus!

“To the praise

of the glory

of his grace,

wherein he hath made us

accepted in the beloved.”    Ephesians 1:6

Accepted in HIM, to be a living sacrifice to God!

“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

Being full of God’s Spirit unto HIS glory—becoming more and more like Jesus as we let HIS Word shine through us—“approved unto God”.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”   2 Timothy 2:15

So may we each pursue “justice” in all our ways—God’s justice, mercy and truth found IN Jesus, for HE is God’s 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

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

Brides And Heaven??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #520

04 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Brides And Heaven, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Marriage

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #520   Brides And Heaven???

 

When we think of winter, we don’t think much about weddings; we think of weddings in the spring and summer, but the thing I’d like us to consider this morning is the fact that in our culture we have come to consider “Brides” and “weddings” without any consideration for the “marriage”! It came to my mind this morning as I pondered on this article that we think much the same way about heaven, as an old song goes, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!” (As best as I can determine, written by Loretta Lynn [not the modern version]). We have reduced the Gospel to a ticket to heaven with no relationship to God through His Son Jesus, no dealing with sin, and no bowing before the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved and “transformed” by His sacrifice and His Spirit!

“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, we must understand that just as a wedding ought to have a good marriage as its end, a salvation that takes one to heaven must encompass the changing of a heart and life by the power of the blood of Jesus, because SIN IS the issue, and only Jesus can change a sinner into a saint.

“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

Jesus saves, reconciles and delivers men, women, boys and girls from sin! It’s what HE came to do!

“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

Jesus imparts to us HIS righteousness in exchange for our sin, then we are to share the Good News in power and truth!

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

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 5:20-21

Jesus paid a debt HE didn’t owe, so that we could have life in Him, and also be empowered to walk in the righteousness “of God”, but only “in him”–JESUS! All this because God “made him to be sin for us”! HE paid my debt, and gives me HIS life! HE is the only way to heaven for you or me!

“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

No matter how much “everybody” wants to “go” to heaven, JESUS is still the only way—no matter how much the world waters down the truth of the Gospel. Be sure and read Matthew 7, and see what Jesus Himself has to say about those who simply “say” “Lord, Lord”, and don’t truly know Him in repentance and faith, receiving HIS “transforming” salvation! But what does that have to do with “Brides”? A lot really, for the same God, who sent Jesus, gave us marriage, and HE gave it to us as a true and holy picture of His desire to make us “one” with Him. Yet, we have become a culture that has made “weddings” the prime focus—with lots of money spent, extravaganzas put on, yet little or no attention given to the relationship of “one man” and “one woman” until death do us part! That is God’s plan and no matter what the world says, or how much we have drifted from the truth, God will hold us (especially the church who has compromised this issue beyond measure!) accountable for what we have done with The truth.

Now I’m not throwing rocks, for I also bought the lies for many years, messing up my own life and the lives of my children, as well as others around me who warned of the danger that I was taking on in rejecting God’s plan for my own “happiness” my own “way”! What about you? Have you compromised God’s truth because it is so rampant around us? Have you traded God’s truth for cultural “sensitivity”? God’s plan, His Word and His purpose for us has never changed—He loves us and has called us to walk His way, not our own. And we can only do that through the power of Jesus’ blood and His Holy Spirit, who is given to every one who comes to Him in repentance and faith!

“Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord,

nor of me his prisoner:

but be thou partaker of the afflictions

of the gospel

according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us,

and called us

with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own

purpose and grace,

which was given us

in Christ Jesus

before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest

by the appearing of our

Saviour Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life and immortality

to light through the gospel:”   2 Timothy 1:8-10

The rules haven’t changed for ‘brides’ or ‘heaven’.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord

is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”   Hebrews 13:4-6

I pray that we will get back to The Truth, and spread the Good News by our lives, our words and our actions!!! It’s what God has called us to do! May we walk in HIS Spirit not our flesh!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh……..

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25

Amen and Amen!!!