Tag Archives: Matthew 16:24-25

It’s Different Now? Isn’t It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #324

23 Sunday Feb 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Search me O God?, Seeing Truth, Self-sufficient or Dependent on Jesus?, Serving God or Using God?

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It’s Different Now? Isn’t It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #324

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”   2 Corinthians 5:17

I love the old southern gospel song, “It’s Different Now!” (Written by David Beatty in 1958.) because it calls us to recognize that when Jesus comes and saves us, it will be different!  It was for me!  Scripture teaches this even when we recognize that people can stumble and fail, but Jesus never does!  Yet, it seems to me that we have gone way to far from scripture becoming willing to accept sin, compromise, and tolerance of that which scripture doesn’t!  When Paul says we are a new creature, it is because when Jesus comes, He makes all things new!  I am so grateful that Jesus took this broken life and soul of mine and began to do a work that only He can do; and while I wasn’t perfect then and am by no means perfect now—I have experienced the work of Jesus in me much like Paul described to the Roman believers; but first of all let’s see that Paul and James inherently agree that real saving grace by faith makes a difference.  If all you have is words with no substance, then you may want to check and see what your faith is really in.  Is it in your words, or the life changing, saving blood of Jesus—who makes all things new?  As I heard a pastor say this morning, the difference between what I believe and what you may believe is that what I believe (in whom I believe!) has made a change in me.  How about you?

“What doth it profit, my brethren,

though a man

say he hath faith,

and have not works?

can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked,

 and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them,

Depart in peace,

be ye warmed and filled;

notwithstanding ye give them not

those things which are needful

to the body;

what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works,

is dead,

being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith,

and I have works:

shew me

thy faith without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith

by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God;

thou doest well:

the devils also believe,

and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man,

that faith without works

is dead?”  James 2:14-20

James gives a bit of insight into his meaning from a simple command.

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.”  James 1:22

In Blanche’s paraphrase, if your actions don’t match your words, you may be deceiving yourself!  God gives us a great answer to this dilemma from the Psalmist.

“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

Oh, how I remember the day that Jesus came speaking to my hypocritical heart, and said clearly, “You’re not mine!”  And after several hours of arguing with Jesus, I fell on my face and called on Jesus to save me, for I could NOT do it myself (and surely I had spent many years trying to do it myself—and believe me, my friends, Salvation is not a  DIY project but can only be accomplished through the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin—and SIN is the issue!)  Consider what Jesus says!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus makes it clear that only HE can save!

“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 answered and said unto him,

If a man love me,

he will keep my words:

and my Father will love him,

and we will come unto him,

and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not

keepeth not my sayings:

and the word which ye hear is not mine,

but the Father’s which sent me.”  John 14:23-24

So, let’s go back to Paul’s call to each and every believer!

“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

So, my question for today is a very simple one; have you been changed by the blood of Jesus that cleanseth from all sin?  Are you God’s child but you’ve reserved some sin for yourself?  Are you claiming the name of Jesus, and expecting to go to heaven on His coattail, while holding on to the reins of your life?  Or have you come to the cross and obeyed the call of Jesus:

“If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me…”

And in closing, a thought from Isaiah’s prophecy from God!

“Wherefore the Lord said,

Forasmuch as this people draw near me

with their mouth,

and with their lips

do honour me,

but have removed their heart

far from me,

and their fear toward me

is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13

Is it different now?  To take up the cross of Jesus means dying to self; Paul said it better than me.

“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.” Gal. 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Like Jesus Not Each Other??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #142

11 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Following Jesus, Help from The Lord, Here am I send me!, JESUS, Jesus call, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Not a competition

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Like Jesus Not Each Other???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #142

I’d like to share a word that The Lord brought to my mind and heart recently and maybe it will resonate with you as well.  We live in a hostile and divided world, a country where we are at odds with one another; it shouldn’t be so in the Body of Christ.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you that ye walk worthy

of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all

lowliness

and meekness,

with longsuffering,

forbearing one another

in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body,

and one Spirit,

even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord,

one faith,

one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all,

who is above all,

and through all,

and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us

is given grace

according to the measure of the gift

of Christ…

….11 And he gave some,

apostles;

and some,

prophets;

and some,

evangelists;

and some,

pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints,

for the work of the ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Portions of Ephesians 4:1-15

We are called by God unto The Lord Jesus, who by the power and indwelling Holy Spirit, gifts, equips, and uses us when, where, how and as HE sees fit.  Yet so often we think that everyone else has to minister “like I do”!  Everyone has to understand what I do!  Everyone who is right with Jesus has to agree with “me”! Duh!  Not necessarily so!  In fact Paul was telling the believers in Ephesus (and us) that we are to work together by the power, gifting, and love of Jesus, which should produce “unity” NOT “uniformity”!  Sometimes we who live in America, forget that God calls us to ‘godly DEPENDENCE’ AND ‘godly interdependence’ NOT that “good ol’ American INDEPENDENCE”!  As the modern proverb is so often slung about, “It’s MY way or the highway!”  Jesus said something that I often have to be reminded of, because I forget it so often in my own zeal and ardor for The Word of God.  Just as Jesus sent out the ‘apostles’ to different places, to encounter unique and different people, with the truth of The Gospel—that Jesus, Himself, would be “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-5)!  Upon that we stand, not all the little nuances and uniquenesses of our individuality.  As long as it matches The Word of God, we are to work within our own giftings and callings from JESUS Himself!

We aren’t to be clannish, or judge others who carry out God’s work differently than “I” do, according to the truths in The Word!  Jesus had to adjust the thinking of His own disciples—those who walked the closest with HIM.  How about you and me; don’t we often miss it also (Just remember that the ‘wisdom of this world isn’t God’s wisdom)?

“Then there arose a reasoning among them,

which of them should be greatest.

47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart,

took a child,

and set him by him,

48 And said unto them,

Whosoever shall receive this child

in my name

receiveth me:

and whosoever shall receive me

receiveth him that sent me:

for he that is least among you all,

the same shall be great.

49 And John answered and said,

Master,

we saw one casting out devils

in thy name;

 and we forbad him,

because he followeth not with us.

50 And Jesus said unto him,

Forbid him not:

for he that is not against us

is for us.”  Luke 9:46-50

Sounds like a lot of believers today, doesn’t it?  Oh, that Jesus could mold my heart to see what HE sees, to go where, when, and how HE is leading “me” and allow others to do the same, as long as it isn’t in conflict with The WORD of GOD!  GRACE is a big word, that we often use selectively, and often remove the “amazing” from it!

Paul addressed this same issue in Romans 14, and I’ll share it with you that you may ponder what he says, and you and I can, as they say, mull it over—take it before our LORD—and walk worthy of our calling!  While this is a lengthy passage, I think it worth our attention, and I encourage you (as well as myself—for I can be as harsh as anyone, when my flesh jumps ahead of The Holy Spirit who is working ‘in me’ and ‘in you’) to consider that there are others besides ‘us’ who belong to Jesus!

“Him that is weak in the faith

receive ye,

but not to doubtful disputations.

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things:

another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

3 Let not him that eateth

despise him that eateth not;

and let not him which eateth not

judge him that eateth:

for God hath received him.

4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?

to his own master he standeth or falleth.

Yea, he shall be holden up:

for God is able to make him stand.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another:

another esteemeth every day alike.

Let every man be fully persuaded

in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day,

regardeth it unto the Lord;

and he that regardeth not the day,

to the Lord he doth not regard it.

He that eateth,

eateth to the Lord,

for he giveth God thanks;

and he that eateth not,

to the Lord he eateth not,

and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself,

and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live,

we live unto the Lord;

and whether we die,

we die unto the Lord:

whether we live therefore,

or die,

we are the Lord’s.

9 For to this end

Christ both died,

and rose,

and revived,

that he might be Lord

both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother?

or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?

for we shall all stand

before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”   Romans 14:1-11

May we each continually be “sharpeners” for God’s purposes and glory, and the good of all the brethren! (And remember that “the judgment seat of Christ” is for believers only!)

“Iron

sharpeneth iron;

so a man sharpeneth

the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17

So, let’s get to sharpening!!!  Keeping our eyes on the PRIZE!!!

“Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life

for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends,

if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants;

for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:

but I have called you friends;

for all things that I have heard of my Father

I have made known unto you.”  John 15:13-15

“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.”  Matthew 16:24-25

May we join with Paul, in his proclamation of faithful service to our KING in Galatians 2:20

“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.”

Amen and Amen!!!

What May Be Hampering Revival??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 07

19 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Amazing Grace, REvival, SIN, Speaking The Truth In Love

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Bible Ballistics:Vol. 15 No. 07 What May Be Hampering Revival???

 

I for one, have prayed for ‘revival’ to come to America (and me personally) as many of you have; yet I see many things that may be hampering true revival, and what saddens me is that many of these things are not only present, but sorely prevalent among those that claim the name of Jesus!  What is real revival?  Firstly, revival is not for the ‘lost’ but for those who are God’s own, and have, if you would, have allowed themselves to be drawn away from the fire of God and have cooled in their ardor for their Lord! And almost always we will find sin at the heart of our lack of ardor in our love for God; sometimes blatant, public sin, but just as often the hidden sins of our heart.  Paul gives a good standard to use in comparing the fruit (and there is no ‘s’ in that word that Paul uses) of the Spirit that should be evident in our lives (And I ask that we—you and me– might take some time going over this list of the works “of the flesh”, and ask God to “search my heart o God”—that we might truly hear God’s voice to our hearts—and repent and humbly bow before our God and our King!)!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh.

17 For the flesh

lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit

against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one

to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit

is love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16-24

We are called to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit which God has given to us when we are saved, and when we walk in “The Spirit” we will “not fulfil the lust of the flesh”!  And Peter also reminds believers that we are to not walk in the way that the world does, but we are called to reflect the character of our Father God and The Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver

and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition

from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb

without blemish

and without spot:”   1 Peter 1:13-19

We can and ought to walk in the light of what our Lord Jesus did at Calvary; we can live victoriously because of His blood that cleanses us “from sin”!  Jesus saves us “from sin” so we don’t have to stay “in” our sin.

“Seeing ye have purified your souls

in obeying the truth

through the Spirit

unto unfeigned love

of the brethren,

see that ye love one another

with a pure heart

fervently:

23 Being born again,

not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible,

by the word of God,

which liveth

and abideth for ever.”  1 Peter 1:22-23

Even as Joseph was told before Jesus’ birth!

“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

When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith we are born again by the Spirit of God; and God will never leave us where He finds us—He transforms us into “the image of His Son”!  Our part is to yield to Him in obedient love and devotion—not obeying, or living holy lives to be saved, but obeying and living holy because we are “born again” by God’s Spirit.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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 1:11-13

And as Paul makes clear to us in his second letter to the Corinthians (the second one of the recorded letters) God is ever at work in His own.

“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

One thing I want you to know is that when I speak of revival, I am not drawing anyone to “be like me”—for like every other Christian, I am a “sinner” saved by grace; but that doesn’t mean I say ‘my’ sin is ok, and yours is not!  What I want us to recognize, is that God hates sin—any sin—all sin—every sin.  HIS Son paid for those sins with His precious blood; why would those who know Him by saving faith and grace want to cling to those things which put my Lord to death?  We ought to be clinging to our precious Lord and walking in the power of His Holy Spirit and not our flesh…for He came to “save his people from their sins”!  As Paul said, in more than one place in the scripture, we are to die to ourselves and live unto Jesus who saved us from our sin!

“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

“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

Even Jesus addressed this issue of dying to self!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”   Matthew 16:24-25

So as we think of living holy lives I’d simply like to share some food for thought—not throwing stones but rather sharing things for each of us to consider what is happening, not only in the world around us, but considering how many of these issues have we allowed to creep into our worldview, or even into our homes and lives.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers

and adulterers

God will judge.”  Hebrews 13:4

“Mortify therefore your members

which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake

the wrath of God

cometh on the children

of disobedience:”  Colossians 3:5-6

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.”  Ephesians 4:28

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.”   Ephesians 4:29-30

“But godliness

with contentment

is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

let us be therewith content.”   1 Timothy 6:6-8

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait

to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body

fitly joined together

and compacted

by that which every joint

supplieth,

according to the effectual working

in the measure of every part,

maketh increase

of the body

unto the edifying

of itself in love.”                  Ephesians 4:14-16

And in closing a passage from Paul and one from Isaiah, may they prick our hearts and bring us to our knees, that revival may start ‘in me’; for if I don’t seek revival, I am not likely to experience revival.

“See that none render evil

for evil unto any man;

but ever follow that which is good,

both among yourselves,

and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things;

hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly;

and I pray God

your whole spirit

and soul

and body

be preserved blameless

unto the coming

of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

24 Faithful is he that calleth you,

who also will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:15-24

“Behold, the LORD’S hand

 is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities

have separated between you

and your God,

and your sins have hid his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled

with blood,

and your fingers

with iniquity;

your lips

have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered

perverseness.

4 None calleth

for justice,

nor any pleadeth

for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.”   Isaiah 59:1-4

And as I have mentioned often of late, may we pray that our nation will bow before God, and as the old hymn says may we truly pray:

“….Lord send a revival….and let it begin with me”!                             (Written by B. B. McKinney)

May we be willing to “humble ourselves…pray….seek God’s face…and turn from our wicked ways…” that our God will “hear…heal…and forgive” our land—our churches—ME!  May we find anything that is “separating” us from God!

“And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

I have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place

to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

13 If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts

to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence

among my people;

14 If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear

from heaven,

and will forgive

their sin,

and will heal

their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:12-14

Lord, please send your revival fires upon your own, and may we hear the “still…small…voice” of your Holy Spirit breaking our hearts for revival, and repent of our sins—and receive your touch!  May the world see YOU in us!