Tag Archives: Philippians 2:8-11

Walking By HIS Power??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 03

18 Sunday Apr 2021

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Power of The Cross, Salvation, Stand Fast!

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 03  Walking By HIS Power???

 

“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.”  Psalm 23:4

I have a short message to share with you today—with you and me—for it is by HIS provision that we have overcoming power!  And we can overcome, even in desperate times, and difficult circumstances.  “Our God Reigns!”  God promised victory even to those in the coming days of “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”!  Will you walk by HIS power or your own!

“And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.”   Revelation 12:11

How do I walk in overcoming power?  By the power of my Lord Jesus Christ; who can give to you that same power as well, but it is only found in HIM, and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary; as we recognize and lay down our own sin and rebellion believing in The One who gave HIS own life for ours—to give us HIS Spirit to dwell within us, giving us hope and power to live “abundant” lives.

“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

Abundant life in this world and in eternal glory with our Lord in heaven.

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

Will you be one of HIS sheep, or will you choose your own way?  It’s your choice, but what Jesus gives is more than abundant—it is life-giving hope, and joy and peace!  I have seen what HE can and will do for those who will choose to follow HIM!  Won’t you reach out for this strength and power to walk in victory and not defeat.  I may be weary, tired and confused from time to time, but my eyes are set on Jesus and HE ever holds my hand.  I can “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…” because of the price HE paid for my salvation!  HE is worth my love, adoration and devotion—won’t you join me.

“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.”  Ephesians 6:10-11

WE WIN, because HE won the victory at Calvary!

“Now this I say, brethren,

that flesh and blood cannot inherit

the kingdom of God;

neither doth corruption inherit

incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible

must put on incorruption,

and this mortal

must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible

shall have put on incorruption,

and this mortal

shall have put on immortality,

then shall be brought to pass the saying

that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.”                      1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Praise be to God! As my precious friend Bro. Scott would say:  GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!  And I say Amen!

“To God only wise,

be glory

through Jesus Christ

for ever. Amen.”  Romans 16:27a

“Whether therefore

ye eat,

or drink,

or whatsoever ye do,

do all to the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31\

In one of the most humbling of all passages, Paul’s message to the Philippian church; we are to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” humble obedience!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Will you “bow” so that you can stand in abundant victory?  Will you choose to walk in the power and victory of Jesus?  Will you follow God’s Word or your own will?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“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

Amen and Amen!!!

No King??? But Why??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 02

27 Sunday Sep 2020

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Distractions, Don't Wait, King Jesus, King of KIngs

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 02   No King???  But Why???

 

“In those days there was no king in Israel,

but every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”   Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 21:25

These are two of the passages that are key in the book of Judges,  “there was no king in Israel”, and yet I want to take a different slant on these familiar verses, for as I was reading and pondering on these verses this morning, I was drawn to a fact that I had never considered before (or if I had, I don’t remember it).  Like us, there are many around us who know about the king but don’t want to personally “know” the king or be “known” by HIM.  In Matthew 7, Jesus makes it clear that just talking about Him, and claiming to know Him aren’t enough; we must have a personal relationship with Him and be born again into HIS kingdom by HIS blood!  And to be a part of HIS “kingdom”, means that we recognize HIS ‘kingship’ over HIS kingdom and ‘me/you’!

Israel had God as their king, and were called to serve, obey and worship HIM only, yet, like us, they were distracted, deluded, and disobedient to their King, and were going their own way, not recognizing that while they had no “earthly” king, they had always had a KING!  What about me?  What about you?  Do we have “no king” in our heart, our living, our choices, and our testimony?  Or are we willing to recognize our failures, repent and be restored to the useful place of God’s child in the place where HE has planted us!  HE is King, and HE is in charge.

“The king’s heart

is in the hand of the LORD,

as the rivers of water:

he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 Every way of a man

is right in his own eyes:

but the LORD

pondereth the hearts.”  Proverbs 21:2

Even as Jesus reminded us:

“Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart

proceed evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things

which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”   Matthew 15:17-20

I spend a lot of time grieving over the language that I hear and read around me—out in public, in the neighborhood, on social media, especially when the ugly language comes from those who claim the name of Jesus.  But Jesus reminds us here that what comes out of our mouths, originates out of the heart.  We must have a transformed heart before we will have a transformed mouth.  And even when we have a new heart transformed by Jesus saving blood, we have to do due diligence to guard our hearts and not allow the vile culture around us to influence our choices, words and character!  We are called to “be” holy and “be” a reflection of God’s character to a lost and dying world around us; rather than reflecting the world before our KING!

“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

God was King in Israel, whether they acknowledged it or not, and HE IS King of Glory.  But are we willing to acknowledge Him “as” King?  Like Israel, who went their own way and found themselves in a quandary every time, we find ourselves in much the same situation.  So, what will we do about it?  The message is clear!

“For if ye shall diligently keep

all these commandments

which I command you,

to do them,

to love the LORD your God,

to walk in all his ways,

and to cleave unto him;

23 Then will the LORD drive out

all these nations from before you,

and ye shall possess greater nations

and mightier than yourselves.

24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet

shall tread shall be yours:

from the wilderness and Lebanon,

from the river, the river Euphrates,

even unto the uttermost sea

 shall your coast be.

25 There shall no man be able to stand

before you:

for the LORD your God

shall lay the fear of you

and the dread of you

upon all the land

that ye shall tread upon,

as he hath said unto you.”  Deuteronomy 11:22-25

Just as God is King, so is The Son, Jesus!  He was, is and ever shall be the promised king, messiah, redeemer, sacrifice, and deliverer that God promised in Genesis 3:15, and He is still in the life-changing business; but we must choose to come to Him in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “my” sin and “yours”!  He is our soon-coming Lord and King; are you ready to meet Him?

“These shall make war with the Lamb,

and the Lamb shall overcome them:

for he is

Lord of lords,

and King of kings:

and they that are with him

are called,

and chosen,

and faithful.”  Revelation 17:14

So, what I see is that Israel had a “king” but because they choose to go their own way, they forgot and abandoned the commands and call of their God, so they experienced this cycle of rebellion, judgment, repentance and restoration.  A cycle much like what we are seeing around us, but I can’t help but grieve that we are seeking every solution but the way of repentance, perhaps because we aren’t listening to  the voice of God’s Spirit convicting our hearts and calling us to an old-fashioned altar of prayer and repentance.  Are we behaving like the people who lauded Jesus on Sunday, yet cried “crucify HIM” four days later?

“On the next day much people

that were come to the feast,

when they heard that Jesus was coming

to Jerusalem,

13 Took branches of palm trees,

and went forth to meet him,

and cried,

Hosanna:

Blessed is the King of Israel

that cometh

in the name of the Lord.”   John 12:12-13

They missed their King Jesus.  Are you missing Him, or have you bowed before HIM in repentance and faith?  And if you have come to Jesus, are you yielding to HIS Spirit’s work in your heart, that the world may know HIM too?

“That thou keep this commandment without spot,

unrebukeable,

until the appearing

of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in his times he shall shew,

who is the blessed

and only Potentate,

the King of kings,

and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality,

dwelling in the light

which no man

can approach unto;

whom no man

hath seen,

nor can see:

to whom be honour

and power

everlasting.

Amen.”  1 Timothy 6:14-16

The choice is yours to make, but remember, the question is not “will you bow”, but when “will you bow”?  Will you bow before Him now as your Redeemer, Lord and Savior, by His blood; or you will bow before HIM as your judge?

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient

unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:8-11

There is a KING, even as God reveals in the Revelation:

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place

for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books

were opened:

and another book

was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell

delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Is your name in The King’s book of “life”?  It can be, won’t you bow before Him and call on HIS name to be saved.  And if you are already HIS, won’t you seek His face and walk in HIS presence and HIS ways!

“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

I pray that you will bow before your KING, not have to face HIM as your judge with no recourse!  HE truly IS KING—always!

Amen and Amen!

Deniable Truth??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 26

13 Sunday Sep 2020

Posted by in Deniable Truth? Really?, Jesus Is Truth, Who's Your Father?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 26      Deniable Truth???

 

I would like to spend our time today considering some things that Jesus said about truth, and then seeing if we can make some helpful conclusions; and I want to start with a startling statement from our Lord Jesus.

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not

in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.”  John 8:42-45

As Jesus encountered the leaders of His day, He often confronted them with difficult truths, usually truths that they did not want to hear; even His followers often had trouble with His startling revelations of truth.  In fact, just a few chapters earlier, Jesus shared some difficult truths with those around Him, and for many it was too much to believe and accept.

“Many therefore of his disciples,

when they had heard this, said,

This is an hard saying;

who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself

that his disciples murmured at it,

he said unto them,

Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man

ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you,

they are spirit,

and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not.

For Jesus knew from the beginning

who they were that believed not,

and who should betray him.

65 And he said,

Therefore said I unto you,

that no man can come unto me,

except it were given unto him

of my Father.

66 From that time

many of his disciples went back,

and walked no more with him.”  John 6:60-66

The people of Jesus’ day had the same problem that we have today—they wanted following Jesus to be easy, simple and convenient.  They wanted to eat the “loaves and fishes” without any commitment to “pay” the price.  What about you and me?  Have we put restrictions on what we are willing to do for Jesus!  Is God your Father, or is Satan your father?  Not a very popular question, but one that every person will answer now or later; for every person ever born on this earth will bow before Jesus!  The question isn’t “will you bow”, but rather “when” will you bow.

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Will you bow before Jesus now, as your Lord and Savior while there is time and opportunity?  Or will you bow before Him at the Great White Throne as your judge, with no opportunity for salvation?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test—and there won’t be any ‘fudging’, ‘excuses’ or ‘justification’ for your sin, if you’ve refused Jesus as the payment for your sin!

“And the devil

that deceived them

was cast into the lake of fire

and brimstone,

where the beast

and the false prophet are,

and shall be tormented

day and night for ever

and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face

the earth

and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found

no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:10-15

Peter reminds us of the import of the One Way to God—Jesus–and Jesus’ example of holiness that God wants us to not only receive from Jesus, but to also exhibit before the world.  Yet like Jesus, when we take our stand on truth, it can often bring suffering and ridicule.

“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:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation

of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe

in God,

that raised him up

from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.”   1 Peter 1:14-21

Peter goes on to paint an amazing picture of what Jesus did for us!  We are to heed His redeeming work and His example of faithfulness before God, and before a lost and dying world, committing ourselves “to him that judgeth righteously”!

“For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

 but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who,

when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes

ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:20-25

Jesus Himself, warned us of the response of the world to truth; what are you expecting from the world around you?  If the world hated Jesus for speaking the truth, why would we be expecting to gain fame, fortune and popularity by following Jesus, and speaking His truth, in love? While there are some fine men of God who may be ‘well-known’, Jesus told us that we could expect the same results that He received.  Jesus’ way and the world’s way are diametrically opposed—why can we not remember and understand this principle?  I think it’s mostly because the majority keep telling us that we must do God’s work the world’s way to succeed—but Jesus told us that if we follow Him, we can expect opposition (to say the least)!  And remember that Satan is an expert at lying and deceit—even to believers!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me…

….25 These things have I spoken unto you,

being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter,

which is the Holy Ghost,

whom the Father will send

in my name,

he shall teach you

all things,

and bring all things

to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

27 Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid…”.  John 14:6, 25-27

And Jesus continued in this same discourse with the disciples just before His death.

“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.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them,

they had not had sin:

but now they have no cloke

for their sin.

23 He that hateth me

hateth my Father also.

24 If I had not done among them

the works which none other man did,

they had not had sin:

but now have they both seen

and hated both me

and my Father.

25 But this cometh to pass,

that the word might be fulfilled

that is written in their law,

They hated me

without a cause.

26 But when the Comforter is come,

whom I will send unto you

from the Father,

even the Spirit of truth,

which proceedeth from the Father,

he shall testify of me:”   John 15:18-26

What are your expectations from following Jesus?  Or are you following Jesus for your own reasons?  Jesus makes it clear that there is a cost to those who will put their trust in Him and be born again through repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, redeeming sacrifice.

“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

Taking up my cross means that I identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for salvation from my own sin; it also means that I live by the Holy Spirit and His power that God gives to His own to live a life of faith—waiting on HIM, and going His way—denying ‘self’ and obeying Jesus!  His way—His timing—His purposes—His glory; and my ultimate good!

“But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”   Isaiah 40:31

As Paul so aptly put it:

“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

And in this same letter to the Galatian believers, Paul describes what the work of God’s Holy Spirit looks like, and what it shouldn’t look like!  My life and yours will reflect who we have given our allegiance to—who’s your “Father”?

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh…

….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.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16 & 19-26

So, just as Jesus said in the first passage that we observed, “because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not”; do you believe Jesus?  Does your life reflect the truth or the “father of lies”?  To whom do you belong? Are you denying the truth or living it?  You may choose to deny truth, but it is God’s “undeniable” truth that never changes.  It’s your choice—but there is a test!

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Except The Lord Builds??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #665

08 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in Remember, Repentance, Seeing Truth, SIN, Sovereignty

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #665 Except The Lord Builds???

 

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain

that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh

but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage

of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak

with the enemies in the gate.”   Psalm 127:1-5

I would like us to consider the nature of our “building” activity; for it seems to me that we have become a nation of ‘independent’ builders—doing our own thing—rather than relying on the master builder—The Lord God Almighty!!!

The Psalmist tells us that when we don’t rely upon God’s work, and ‘do our own thing’, so to speak—it is vanity, and even when we set ‘the watchman’ it is vain, if we aren’t relying on God.  It reminds me of the picture that Jesus painted in Matthew 7 about the “wise man” in contrast to the “foolish man”!  The story implies that the houses looked the same on the outside, but the foundation makes the difference between success and failure (heaven and hell)!  If we build on “the rock of my salvation”, Jesus, we can stand fast, because our foundation, Jesus, is sure.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings

of mine, and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings

of mine, and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

We are in a culture war today, and people are choosing to build on the sand—our world has bought the lies of the enemy, and unlike the Psalmist, we (as a nation) don’t want God’s hand in our “stuff”—our world/nation wants to build its own way (on the sand), to reject the ‘master builder’ and set the foxes to guard the hen house, so to speak.  And I find it most interesting how the Psalmist ties the blessing of children into the blessing and gifts of the “master builder”; and that is one of the core issues of the battle we are in today—the value of life; life for the unborn, the old, the infirmed.

I find it interesting that the “land of promise” here in America (and in other prosperous nations) has become the “land of greed’!  We have forgotten that our very own “Declaration of Independence”, didn’t promise wealth, ease, and the promotion of greed, but rather

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.

The opportunity to work and earn one’s success!  But when we leave God behind—or out completely—we will reap the consequences of our choices!  And I can’t help but believe that we are seeing the vanity of wrong choices all around us!  But my friends, we must stop ignoring the problem and seek our God’s face—His convicting move amongst us—the repentance of God’s people—and the restoration of the ‘light’ and ‘salt’ of HIS people!  After all, remember, that ‘revival’ is for God’s people; and when we will get right with our God, great and mighty things can happen as a result.

In closing, I would simply like to share some words from the scripture for us to ponder!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts

are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways

my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher

than your ways,

and my thoughts

than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

“For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion,

and as a young lion to the house of Judah:

I, even I,

will tear

and go away;

I will take away,

and none shall rescue him.

15 I will go and return to my place,

till they acknowledge their offence,

and seek my face:

in their affliction

they will seek me early.”   Hosea 5:14-15

Even Jesus told the people of His day to repent!

“There were present at that season some

that told him of the Galilaeans,

whose blood Pilate had mingled

with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them,

Suppose ye that these Galilaeans

were sinners above all the Galilaeans,

because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen,

upon whom the tower in Siloam fell,

and slew them,

think ye that they were sinners

above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?”  Luke 13:1-5

And as we have seen quoted regularly, may we truly hear what God is saying.

“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 7:14

God has spoken, He is speaking—if we will but receive His call—and He will accomplish His purpose through HIS SON Jesus Christ our Lord!  HE is coming again!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue

should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:8-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Who’s building your ‘world’?

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 3 Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, Grace, He's Alive, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Joy To The World?, Just Jesus!, Overcoming By His Blood, Rejoice IN The Lord, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Trusting Jesus, Welcome Home, When Will You Bow?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17 Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.3

 

We talked last time about the first family and how our sin was the reason that Jesus came!  We also talked about the truth that Jesus as The Redeemer was God’s plan for our redemption “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”! (See 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus was, is and ever will be “the way….the truth….and the life..” that leads us “unto the Father”!  One plan, provided in the mind of God “before the foundation of the world”!  It is so important that we sink our anchor into this truth, as we continue in the last part of this series; focusing on this One who came that we might celebrate not only Christmas, but every day of the year! For He came that mankind “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”!  I pray that you are as aware and grateful for that wonder as I am!

Yet Jesus is so much more than a “baby in a manger”!  He is ever God, and in the incarnation, He became the God-Man/Savior by His sacrifice for our sin; so, let’s spend this time together rehearsing the beauty, nature and character of our Lord and King—the Messiah of the world—Jesus Christ The Lord!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8   Amen

We talked last time about the first family, their sin, and the first promise of the coming Messiah who would redeem mankind—all who would come to Him in repentance and faith.  The promise John spoke of:

“Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29b

This same Jesus—who IS “the same”– identified Himself to the Apostle John in the book of the Revelation amazingly.

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from him which is,

and which was,

and which is to come;

and from the seven Spirits

which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests

unto God and his Father;

to him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen…

…10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,

and heard behind me a great voice,

as of a trumpet, 11 Saying,

I am Alpha and Omega,

the first and the last:

 and, What thou seest,

write in a book,

and send it unto the

seven churches

which are in Asia;

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna,

and unto Pergamos,

and unto Thyatira,

and unto Sardis,

and unto Philadelphia,

and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 

And being turned,

I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks

one like unto the Son of man,

clothed with a garment

down to the foot,

and girt about the paps

with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs

were white like wool,

as white as snow;

and his eyes

were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet

like unto fine brass,

as if they burned

in a furnace;

and his voice

as the sound of many waters.”               Portions of Revelation 1:4-15

In verse 6 we see that Jesus ascribed to Himself glory and dominion—that is significant!  Jesus reiterated His deity, just as He did in the Gospel of John.

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

This declaration along with what Jesus says to John here in chapter 1 of The Revelation, requires that Jesus IS God—not God The Father, but God The Son—that “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”; who along with The Holy Spirit comprise the three persons of the trinity.  But God revealed long before what would confirm the deity of Jesus:

“I am the LORD:

that is my name:

and my glory will I not give

to another,

neither my praise

to graven images.”  Isaiah 42:8

And God didn’t give “His” glory to ‘another’, He gave it to “His only begotten son”—that Lamb who came as “God with us” to save us “from our sin”!  We could spend the rest of the year rehearsing the names of Jesus, but we’ll just take our time today and consider what He has told us about Himself!

HE IS:

 Jesus Christ—

 The faithful witness—

 –from GOD–

 –to us—

 The First Begotten from the dead—

  –He Arose—

  –He’s not dead—HE IS ALIVE-

   (No longer a babe but The Risen Redeemer!)

 The Price of the kings of the earth—

  The One who loved us and washed us from our sin—

  –IN HIS own blood—

  –To make us kings and priests unto our God—

  The ONE WAY who is worthy of glory and dominion– FOREVER!

And just as important as these titles is how He revealed Himself to John—the power of His very person:

HE HAS:

Hair like wool, like pure white snow—

He is the sinless Son of God—

 Eyes like fire—

He is the One who sees all of our being—

Feet like brass–

 The day of HIS judgment is coming—

Because God has made Him Lord and Judge—

“For the Father judgeth no man, but

hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”  John 5:22

His voice as the sound of many waters—

 You can avoid listening to Him—

 But you will bow before Him!

The question isn’t will you bow?  But when will you bow?  You can bow before Him now as Lord and Savior, or you will bow before Him as Judge—a judge where there is only one standard, JESUS!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth

and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Jesus can be your salvation, hope and life, or He will be your judge.  It’s your choice as to when you will bow, but you will bow!  Choose wisely, there will be a test, and the consequences will be true and righteous according to God’s Word and YOUR choices!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Praise God we can bow before the Lord Jesus Christ and become children of God, and all the work has been done for those who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and your sin!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 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 12:1-2

Jesus is creator of all and yet He loves us so much that He came to be my sacrifice and yours—for all who will come unto Him.  He is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end—the “author and finisher of our faith”!  Are you counting on knowing about Him, knowing about His Word, or are you counting on knowing the Author of all things, including our salvation?  Will you come to Him and know the real “joy” of Christmas—JESUS?

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

This Son would pay the price for my/your sin, crying from the cross that HE was paying the price required for sin.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

he said, It is finished:

and he bowed his head,

and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

And there is another time coming when He will call something else “done”, finished—the time when He will complete His work, and He will return as King of Kings not as a babe in the manger; when He will come and take His throne and finally complete the defeat of sin, death and hell!

“For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end,

when he shall have delivered up the kingdom

to God, even the Father;

when he shall have put down all rule

and all authority

and power.

25 For he must reign,

till he hath put all enemies

under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed

is death.”  1 Corinthians 15:22-26

And after ‘these things’ there will be a new world where we will be with our God and He will dwell with us!

“And I saw a new heaven

and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away;

and there was no more sea…

…. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.”                              Portions of Revelation 21:1-5

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming and just as surely, HE will fulfill those about His second coming!  Are you ready? Are you in the family of God?  Do you know the Christ of Christmas?  I pray that you do, and if so, that you will remember that He came to save us and give us entrance into HIS kingdom!  Rejoice and be glad!!!  It is all about the “family” of God.  If you don’t know Him, He wants to give you life!  Won’t you listen for His voice and respond in repentance and faith to His sacrifice for You.  The angels will rejoice, and you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

“I say unto you,

that likewise joy shall be in heaven

over one sinner that repenteth,

more than over ninety and nine just persons,

which need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

“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.”    See Rev. 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!