Tag Archives: Revelation 3:20

Don’t Wait??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #627

21 Friday Feb 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Delay, Don't Wait, Procrastination, Salt & Light, Salvation, SIN, Spiritual Procrastination

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #627     Don’t Wait???

 

I have a brief word for us all today, and I think by the title you can guess it might be about ‘time’.  And that is partly true, but mostly it’s about the danger of procrastination; especially spiritual procrastination.

“We then,

as workers together with him,

beseech you also

that ye receive not the grace of God

in vain.

2 (For he saith,

I have heard thee in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation

have I succoured thee:

 behold, now

is the accepted time;

behold, now

is the day of salvation.)”. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Paul was calling the Corinthians to be sure that they had a real relationship with God, and even goes on in this same letter to call them to be sure of their own relationship with God!

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?

6 But I trust that ye shall know that we

are not reprobates.”  2 Corinthians 13:5-6

Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans—if we belong to Jesus, we will have HIS indwelling Holy Spirit within us, confirming that we really belong to Jesus!  As I’m often heard to say, “Sayin’ so doesn’t make it so!”  Jesus said so concisely that “by their fruits” you shall know them.  What are our fruits revealing!  Is the Holy Spirit in you/me, or the spirit of the world?

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man

have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

Paul had an encounter with a public official who was interested in the truth of Jesus, but “not quite yet”!  What are you doing with Jesus?  Have you given your heart and life to Him, repenting of your sin and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “your” sin?  I pray that you won’t put Jesus off—for tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to any of us!

“For the king knoweth of these things,

before whom also I speak freely:

for I am persuaded that none of these things

are hidden from him;

for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?

I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God,

that not only thou,

but also all that hear me this day,

were both almost,

and altogether

such as I am,

except these bonds.”  Acts 26:16-29

And sometime before this encounter Paul received a similar response from another official.

“And after certain days,

when Felix came with his wife Drusilla,

which was a Jewess,

he sent for Paul,

and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned

of righteousness,

temperance,

and judgment to come,

Felix trembled,

and answered,

Go thy way for this time;

when I have a convenient season,

I will call for thee.”   Acts 24:24-25

With all this political juxta positioning, as far as we know, neither Felix nor Festus came to faith in Jesus—they passed up their opportunity to come to Jesus!  What will you do with Jesus?  While I’m no Paul, I do try to share Jesus and His truth at every opportunity, and I’m calling you to “consider your ways”!  Don’t be one who is “Almost Persuaded” and misses Jesus by putting off till tomorrow, that which you may not have another opportunity to do! I pray that you will hear His voice calling to you and open the door to HIM today!  Please don’t wait!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

My Hope Is In Thee??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 22

26 Sunday Jan 2020

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, HOPE, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 22  My Hope Is In Thee???

 

“Behold,

the eye of the LORD

is upon them

that fear him,

upon them

that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul

from death,

and to keep them

alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD:

he is our help

and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice

in him,

because we have trusted

in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O LORD,

be upon us,

according as we hope in thee.” Psalm 33:18-22

As we think about the trials and troubles of life, we can sometimes be overwhelmed and become discouraged, but I want to lift our hearts to consider The Word of God today.  We need to continually remind ourselves of the faithfulness of God, for Satan comes with a vengeance to tell us that God doesn’t care!  His same old lies to “steal…to kill…and to destroy”—but we can, we must, “stand fast in the evil day”!

“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 10:10-11

As Peter also reminds us, our enemy has already been overcome, we can walk in confidence and hope!  Yet we must remember to walk in God’s ways and trust HIS ways for life.  Don’t settle for the lies of the enemy—he will rob your joy and delight in The Lord!  But like the liar he is, Satan will lead you down a path of destruction, trading the real for cheap imitations of life.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

 8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom

he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory

and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-11

Oh, how glad I am that my hope and confidence rest in JESUS, not myself!  Yet we have a work to do, a life of obedience wherein we seek the face of God, not the admiration of the world!

“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

We live in a world continually trying to conform us to its ways, Satan will use any device or scheme to draw our eyes off of Jesus and the ways of God!  We must choose to stand fast and hold on to The One who gave Himself for us.  Paul called the Ephesians to “walk worthy” of The Lord who had given them “new life”!  I’d like to share a rather lengthy passage from this letter to the Ephesians for our perusal.

“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.

17 This I say therefore,

and testify in the Lord,

that ye henceforth walk

not as other Gentiles walk,

in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened,

being alienated

from the life of God

through the ignorance

that is in them,

because of the blindness

of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling

have given themselves

over unto lasciviousness,

to work all uncleanness

with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him,

and have been taught by him,

as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation

the old man,

which is corrupt

according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man,

which after God

is created in righteousness

and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying,

speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry,

and sin not:

let not the sun go down

upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 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.

29 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.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”   Ephesians 4:14-32

I would simply ask you to ponder these things as you go about your week; don’t consider what I think is right or what you think is right, but consider what God says is right—worthy of a child of The King!  Behaving as such—”child-like” in our faith but never  “child-ish” in our actions.  And that is often a difficult thing as we live in a world steeped in selfish, childishness—everyone clamoring to get their own way. Instead may we heed the call of verse 32 and pursue kindness and forgiveness—” even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”!

And if you’ve never experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, you can call on Him today.

“Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 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 1:11-14

Jesus is ever calling to YOU!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in

to him,

and will sup

with him,

and he

with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

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

20 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Believe IN Jesus, By Him We Live, By His Grace, Changed Lives, Confidence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Grief

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

 

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

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

“Martha saith unto him,

I know that he shall rise again

in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her,

I am

the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him,

Yea, Lord: I believe

that thou art the Christ,

the Son of God,

which should come into the world.”                        John 11:24-27

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

“Then said his servants unto him,

What thing is this that thou hast done?

thou didst fast and weep for the child,

while it was alive;

but when the child was dead,

thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he said,

While the child was yet alive,

I fasted

and wept:

for I said, Who can tell

whether GOD will

be gracious to me,

that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead,

wherefore should I fast?

can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him,

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

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

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

“For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government

shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

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

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

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

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory

of God.”  Romans 5:1-2

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

“Therefore we are always confident,

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

we are absent from the Lord:

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

8 We are confident, I say,

and willing rather

to be absent from the body,

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

And as Peter reminds us:]

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

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

And Jesus word for each of us:

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

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

Amen & Amen!!!

An Amazing Prayer??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #592

02 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Follow Jesus, Jesus Saves!, Joy, Resting Or Wrestling?, Sanctuary

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #592  An Amazing Prayer???

 

I would simply like to share one of Paul’s prayers with you all today; a prayer that I pray often for myself, for my family, for my friends, for the lost, and like Paul, for those I’ve only met by mail, blog or email!  May it touch and encourage your heart, and I pray that you will ponder on its message.  And just to set it in context Paul has just acknowledged that he had heard of the Colossians’ faithful love for Jesus—that’s the ‘cause’!

“For this cause we also,

since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful

in every good work,

 and increasing

in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience

and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 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 1:9-14

And a few comments from me, if you would, I pray that you have found this “redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” which Jesus has provided for all who will repent (change direction) and believe/trust in Him; and if you have, that you will truly grow in grace and truth as you seek His face continually.  That you also will learn to trust Him more and more as you are being: “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”!

And if you don’t know Him yet, that you will trust Him today, for He truly loves YOU!  He died for YOU!  He is calling YOU today!

“Behold, I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”   Revelation 3:20

“Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

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

Amen and Amen!!!

Faithful When We Are Faithless??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 06

22 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Confidence, Contentment, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness

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Bible Ballistics: Vol.14 No.06 Faithful When We Are Faithless???

 

I have a word for today that I want to talk about with you all– faith—an oft misused and misunderstood term, but the bedrock and the very core of the Gospel we believe in.  The author of Hebrews put it in a nutshell for us, if you will.

“Now faith is the substance

of things hoped for,

the evidence

of things not seen…

…6 But without faith

it is impossible

to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them

that diligently seek him.”    Hebrews 11:1, 6

We must seek HIM—but it is HIS grace, convicting power, and the drawing of the Holy Spirit that calls us and draws us to Him.  Isaiah told of it, and even Jesus pictures it!

“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.

10 For as the rain

cometh down,

and the snow

from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth

out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me

void,

but it shall accomplish

that which I please,

and it shall prosper

in the thing whereto I sent it.”   Isaiah 55:6-11

God is calling and has always called us to Himself—salvation is the work of God, not of our own hands!  If you don’t know Him, Jesus is calling you to Himself today; He has paid the price for your sin and mine!  And faith is being willing to see our sin, as sin, repenting of it, and receiving the sacrifice that HE has paid for all whosoever will!

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in

to him,

and will sup

 with him,

and he

with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Have you answered the door?  Maybe you have opened the door, yet lost hope due to your circumstances, well God knows your heart and your circumstances; and He also understands when we are too weak to hold on—that’s why HE holds us!

“Jesus said unto him,

If thou canst believe,

all things are possible

to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child

cried out,

and said with tears,

Lord, I believe;

help thou mine unbelief.”  Mark 9:23-24

Oh, how often I have cried out to my Lord Jesus in this way—times when faith seems so distant that I can’t bear it, and yet the God who called me to Himself always meets me there; and He will meet you where you are!  No matter the difficulty, God is able to lift us up!  Praise be to HIS name!  Our God knows your heart, and even when we stand in danger of the fires of persecution, discouragement, or just plain weariness, our God is able.  We can stand with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, their Jewish names—each reflecting the character of God); and just as these three had Jesus meet them in the fire, remember that He will never allow you to go through it alone either.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God

whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not,

be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”    Daniel 3:16-18

We can trust ourselves to HIM just as these three did, for HE is always there (where ever ‘there’ is for you today!)!

“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 13:5-6

Jesus Himself assured us of His presence—even when we fail, as we often do–HE is ever faithful to keep His own.

“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

Have you heard His voice?  Have you repented of your own sin and opened the door to His’ knock?  Are you questioning His work in your life—look up and trust HIM!  He who bore our sins is faithful even when we are faithless!

“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 5:6-11

So, may we each take courage and hope in our faithful God!  He knows where you and I are, and He will provide!  He will help our unbelief—and we all have it from time to time–so just rest in His grace and in His promise to supply.

“But my God shall supply

all your need

according to his riches

 in glory

by Christ Jesus.

20 Now unto God

and our Father

be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

And in closing, one of my favorite reminders of the practice of faith and obedient walking with our Lord.

“Trust in the LORD,

and do good;

so shalt thou dwell in the land,

and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also

in the LORD;

and he shall give thee

the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust also in him;

and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness

as the light,

and thy judgment

as the noonday.

7 Rest

in the LORD,

and wait patiently

for him:

fret not thyself

because of him who prospereth

in his way,

because of the man

who bringeth wicked devices

to pass.

8 Cease from anger,

and forsake wrath:

fret not thyself

in any wise

to do evil.”  Psalm 37:3-8

May God speak to your heart and lift you up where ever you are.

Amen and Amen!