Month: January 2025

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #7

Saturday, January 11, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Back in Genesis 1:26-28, the LORD God delegated governmental power (“dominion”) to Adam and Eve, but Adam (mankind’s federal head) relinquished this earthly authority to Satan in Genesis 3:1-6. See Luke chapter 4, part of the Lord Jesus’ temptations: “[5] And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. [7] If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. [8] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Observe how Satan boasted that he owned the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them. They were his to give to the Lord Jesus—but only if Jesus worshipped him! Satan is a usurper, and he reigns on earth even today through sinful governmental leaders (humans) and reigns in heaven using sinful governmental leaders (fallen angels). We thus read of “spiritual wickedness in high [heavenly] places” (Ephesians 6:12). “The heavens are not clean in [God’s] sight” (Job 15:15). “The stars are not pure in [God’s] sight” (Job 25:5). See Revelation 12:7-11, when Satan will finally be cast out of the second heaven (outer space) in the ages to come and then removed from earth in Revelation 20:1-3. As touching earth, we know this is a “present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) because Satan is “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

When Adam handed his God-given authority over to Satan, God placed a curse on creation so as to signify an enemy or adversary had taken over (Genesis 3:16-19). Satan could not use creation to its full potential, for God wisely “sabotaged” that hijacked work of His! This is the curse of sin, “the bondage of corruption” of Romans 8:17-25, which affects us until now….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #6

Friday, January 10, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

As Lucifer or Satan himself moved away from God’s purpose and plan for him, so Satan influenced Adam and Eve to think and act independently of God’s purpose and plan for them. Genesis chapter 3 continues: “[1] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

“[6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. [7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. [8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. [9] And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? [10] And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Here is the fall of man before God….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #5

Thursday, January 9, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

In the above Scripture, we read of the beginning of the human species—the creation of the first man and the first woman. He is not named until chapter 2 (Adam), and she is not given a name until chapter 3 (Eve). The LORD God instructed the man, who originally existed alone: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).

With Lucifer (now known as “Satan,” Hebrew for “adversary”) working independently of his Creator, he moved to Earth to further his campaign that could be aptly styled “the policy of evil.” Read Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Such shrewdness or trickery, questioning the simple Word of God, was enough to ensure the human species would not fulfill the Creator’s will….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #4

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

At its heart, sin is independence from God—thinking or doing something that is not part of His purpose and plan. He, the Creator, is thus not glorified; instead, the creature is worshipped and served (see Romans 1:25). This attitude and action originated with a spirit creature named Lucifer, whose narcissism is not dissimilar from man’s own love of self and preoccupation with autonomy. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

“Thou art the anointed cherub [a spirit in the angelic world] that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up [proud, arrogant] because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezekiel 28:14-17).

When Adam, the first man, was created, he was foolish enough to join this angelic rebellion, initiating a human revolt against God on Earth….

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #3

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Trying to be clever, desperately grabbing at superficial excuses so as not to believe the Bible or accept any “higher power,” critics of Christianity or religion in general produce various accusations. If God is omnipotent (all-powerful), can He not prevent tragedies? If He cannot stop them, then He is not great! If He can stop them but does not, then He is not good! These “intelligent” arguments are predicated upon the false assumption we mortal, puny, fallible creatures could sit in judgment of a Supreme Being (like “wise-in-their-own-eyes” children critiquing an adult!).

If He is God, could we ever hope to know all that He knows? If ever we knew as much as He does, then we ourselves would be God, right? Since we are not God, since we do not know everything there is to know, is it not plausible that His vindication is found amongst our unknown knowledge? Moreover, could our liability (we having wrongly charged Him with misconduct) be part of that unknown knowledge? To wit, in spite of tragedies, He could be both good and great (though we in our limitations have already foolishly passed unjust sentence on Him). After all, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9).

One conceited Bible mocker complained he did not believe in God because the universe tries to kill us 1,000 different ways—such as food and water shortages, diseases, ultraviolet radiation, and vicious and hungry wild animals. Amazingly, that whiner was still alive to grumble! Some intelligent mind had figured out a way to ensure his survival (an immune system, medication, weapons, Earth’s protective atmosphere, and so on)! In short, we have been equipped to live in the midst of threats, despite perils and tragedies… and that is quite a strong case for a benevolent, loving, personal, Creator God who seeks our welfare….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #2

Monday, January 6, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Let us start by considering one of the most worn-out questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? (Conversely, it could be asked: Why do good things happen to bad people? Yet, that is not the scope of this study.) Suffering stems from three sources.

Firstly, because of sin, we live in a world (an entire universe) that is disintegrating, falling apart, decaying, becoming more chaotic with the passage of time. Genesis 3:16-19 is true. We grow sick, old, and die. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22,23). The curse of sin is random—each individual suffering a unique set of troubles, weaknesses, illnesses.

Secondly, we and others make stupid decisions: as we and they sow, so we and they reap. This principle clarifies that whatever we do (good and bad) affects others and whatever they do (good and bad) affects us. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7,8).

Thirdly, we Christians suffer persecution because we live in enemy territory, Satan and his servants looking to injure or eliminate us the “competition.” “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation [trouble] enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “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” (John 15:20).

Here is adult understanding….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #1

Sunday, January 5, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

The Christian faces two seemingly insurmountable challenges in ministry. Firstly, he or she will meet people suffering under the curse of sin, living in a fallen world, going through a variety of great difficulties, trials, and tribulations. Secondly, these tormented souls really have no understanding as to what is really going on. What compounds the distress is the fact that denominational thinking thoroughly confuses Christians and non-Christians alike.

It is so tragic that even people who possess and/or use the Bible have few to no answers for those seeking enlightenment about life’s problems. This unfortunate situation gives rise to yet another disaster—the Holy Bible mocked, ridiculed, disdained, thought of as nothing but a compilation of fairytales and superstitions. Annoyed and angered, people begin lashing out and utterly hating the Bible because its users themselves seldom offer anything meaningful or substantive. Shallow, sentimental clichés are definitely no substitute for sound Bible doctrine!

When professing Christians ask why bad things happen to good people, or inquire why a loving God would allow suffering, or claim how problems will just vanish if we quote enough verses, or assert that we can say the right words in prayer to get a desired outcome, it shows us that they are learning nothing from the Bible at church. In short, “church services” for them is a time of entertainment or amusement, hearing some philosophical or popular psychology quotes, watching a few rituals or ceremonies, and giving a donation in the collection plate to “make God happy with them.” Non-Christians may be lost, but they, to some extent, know something is not right in this world. What they also know is Christendom has no answers for them. Shame!

Dear friends, in the midst of any tragedy, one prayer we should become familiar with is, “LORD, deliver us from Bible ignorance!” There is no more dangerous a time than when wild, senseless emotions and overwhelming spiritual darkness reign as tyrants over us….

A Life That Will Please

Saturday, January 4, 2025

“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 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone can live a life pleasing in God’s sight!

Everyone does “good” deeds. Yet, doing “good” is not necessarily good. For instance, people often do “good” just to receive praise/reward, make up for their wrongs, feel good, et cetera. Furthermore, despite our “good” deeds, we have plenty more bad ones! Pride, lying, evil thoughts, being a false witness, and being contentious are some of the things the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Mankind cannot even keep 10 simple rules from God. However, religion continues to urge us to keep seven sacraments, utter various prayers, give assorted offerings and “tithes,” attend numerous feasts and festivals, and perform sundry other tasks to “hopefully” please God and avoid hellfire. Whether we attempt to keep a church’s laws, our laws, or God’s laws, our flesh is far too weak to ever measure up. Just look at what God’s religion did to Israel—how much worse some man-made religion does to us!

As Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, a religious leader of Israel. He was a nitpicker concerning Law-keeping, and yet, after his soul salvation, he admitted that all of his religion was “but dung” compared to Jesus Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-11). Even for the Christian, to live a perfect life is impossible (read of Paul’s miserable existence in Romans chapter 7). Paul had to forsake his vain religion and learn today’s Scripture: the Christian life is NOT the performance of the Christian, but the Lord Jesus Christ living and working in the Christian, as the Christian walks in an intelligent understanding of God’s Word to him or her!

If we trust a Saviour who will save—the Lord Jesus Christ—and trust a Book that will teach—the King James Bible—we can redeem the year for the great God and our Saviour, “who loved [us], and gave himself for [us]!” 🙂

A Book That Will Teach

Friday, January 3, 2025

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone we can trust to teach us God’s truth!

Once, I heard a minister give his self-proclaimed “prophetic” message about top headlines that would appear in the coming year. While he reassured his audience that he received this information directly from “the Lord” (?), he gave a disclaimer: “I do not know, but at the end of this year, we will see if what I say came to pass.” Unlike the inner impressions and hunches of this “Christian” preacher, the Holy Bible is infallible, and we can trust its information completely.

Long, long ago, God Almighty wrote a Book, and He preserved it through history through a multiplicity of manuscript copies, so that it could eventually be translated into English, so we could read it even today! (Of course, Satan, the master counterfeiter that he is, most certainly had his own manuscripts—they still circulate today as corrupt Bible translations.) God promised to preserve His words forever (Psalm 12:6,7; Isaiah 30:8; Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:25). Consequently, every person will stand before Him one day to give account as to what he or she did with that Bible. Did we reject it in favor of counterfeits? Did we re-translate it to fit our denominational beliefs? Did we apply it to life by faith? Did we even read it at all?

As English-speaking people, we understand—or, at least, we should understand—that we can trust the 400-year-old King James Bible. Sadly, even in many church circles, we are often cautioned not to trust God’s preserved Word. Unfortunately, footnotes, study notes, and seminarians usually attempt to claim that authority by offering “better” readings or “better” manuscripts. Beloved, we can do without unbelieving textual critics and their “scholarship.” God does not need lost people to explain His Word to His children; He never did and He never will (1 Corinthians 2:14). Never forget that!

The Holy Spirit will teach us the King James Bible if we “read” (Ephesians 3:4), “study” (2 Timothy 2:15), and “consider” it (2 Timothy 2:7)!

A Saviour Who Will Save

Thursday, January 2, 2025

“…Jesus Christ of Nazareth… Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone can save man from the everlasting hellfire he deserves!

A frequent objection made against Christianity is that every religion has “good” members, and to ignore them and limit heaven to a few Christians is unfair. This is a defected notion. How does one arrive at a definite conclusion when there is no one standard to gauge everyone’s “goodness?” They are “good” according to whom, according to what standard? Remember, relative morality actually does not help the sinner—he may be a “better” sinner than another, but he is also a “worse” sinner than yet another, and whether “better” or “worse,” he is still a sinner!

The God of the Bible has a simple method for determining righteousness. Today, He sees two types of people—saints and lost people. While both groups were born in sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), “shapen in iniquity [in the womb]” (Psalm 51:5), and “condemned already” (John 3:18), only the saints have come to realize their lost state. Job asked in Job 9:2, “How should a man be just [righteous, acceptable] with God?” Saints have come to the acknowledgement that they needed God’s righteousness, that they had a massive sin debt that they could never satisfy, that their “righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), that they could never possibly make themselves right before a holy God (He is the standard; Romans 3:23). The lost people, however, do not realize they are lost, for they believe their religious works “score points” with God and make up for their sinful deeds (2 Corinthians 4:3,4). They ignore the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Saints have come by faith to Jesus Christ, whose name literally means, “Anointed Saviour” (cf. Psalm 2:2; Matthew 1:21). As the writer of the book of Hebrews said, “[Jesus] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (7:25). Literally, no world religion has such a “Saviour” as Jesus Christ!