Author: Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Grace and peace! What a privilege to be an ambassador for the risen Christ here on WordPress! I am a Pauline dispensationalist Christian saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus plus nothing! My goal is to "have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3,4). I seek to preach Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and raised again for our justification as the only way to salvation. Also, I seek to edify and perfect the saints using dispensational Bible study and the Authorized Version King James Bible!

Honest Samuel

Friday, August 9, 2013

“And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand” (1 Samuel 12:4 KJV).

How many politicians and church leaders could we say this to today?

About 1,000 years before Christ, Samuel (“heard of God”) served as a prophet, a priest, and a judge over the nation Israel for many years (although the Bible does not provide a numerical figure, it does tell us he served from “childhood” to him being “old and grayheaded” [1 Samuel 12:2]). His sons are wicked rulers in Israel, guilty of administering crooked judgment and accepting bribes—they “walked not in [Samuel’s] ways” (1 Samuel 8:1-5). Thus, Israel desires Samuel to choose his successor, which is Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Samuel chapters 8-10).

Later, after Saul is anointed as Israel’s king, Samuel addresses the nation (today’s Scripture). Let us see how this man of God ruled God’s people (1 Samuel 12:1-5):

“And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed [Saul]: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.”

Even the LORD Himself testified to Samuel’s honest reign! It was such a shame that his sons did not follow his example, for their corrupt administrations led Israel to reject Samuel, and more importantly, God’s wisdom by which he ruled.

333’s 800th – Alive with the Living Word of Christ

Thursday, August 8, 2013

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16 KJV).

Dearly beloved, only by God’s grace, we mark yet another ministry milestone!

The many competing voices and opposing views further complicate an already problem-laden world. Exactly whom are we to believe? Jesus Christ, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, told Satan: “That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4; cf. Matthew 4:4). Our King James Bible says, “but by every word of God”—this is the most important part of the verse, so why is it absent from the modern “bible” versions?!

Just as our physical bodies need nourishment to become physically mature, our spiritual bodies must also have food if we are to become spiritually mature adults. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect [mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

All of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us. It is not simply enough to be scriptural; we must also be dispensational. Our daily studies over the last 800 days were designed to teach you how to approach God’s Word, God’s way, so you can be “godly edified,” strengthened for God’s glory, rather than confused by false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3,4). Saints grounded in God’s Word rightly divided will not be “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” (Ephesians 4:14,15).

Our King James Bible has served English-speaking people well for over 400 years—it demonstrates itself to be trustworthy, authoritative, and the perfect words of God. We can entrust our earthly lives—and more importantly, our eternal souls!—to it. Yea, its doctrine gives us life, both now and forever.

Thank you for praying for this ministry endeavor. Lord willing, onward to #900! 🙂

Note: Our latest home Bible study video, “Bible Authority & The Four Revelations of Jesus Christ” (80 minutes), has been uploaded to YouTube. You can watch it here.

Eikosipente

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV).

εἴκοσιπέντε—twenty-five!

Like young Timothy, I was blessed to grow up in the Holy Scriptures. The sound Bible doctrine that I learned at a very young age not only saved me from my sins, hell, and the lake of fire, but it also saved me from false teaching: it delivered me from doctrinal error, enabling me to save others from that false teaching (1 Timothy 4:16; cf. today’s Scripture). I certainly have much, much more to learn in life and from God’s Holy Word, but that solid foundation in the Holy Bible was absolutely critical to forming the worldview I have now.

Today, my outward man marks a quarter-century of age. Statistically, I am approximately one-third of the way through this earthly journey. Whether or not medical science in those five upcoming decades will be able to greatly extend that life is still unknown. Perhaps my life will be shorter—premature death or the rapture. Regardless, as I anticipate and prepare for the next 50 years of life, I must constantly remind myself that there is an infinitesimally longer life to one day experience in the heavenly places. I must remember not to waste time in this life, for this is merely the “dress rehearsal”—the BIG SHOW is yet to come! I need to remind myself, it should be Jesus Christ living in and through me now, for it will be that way in eternity. I must not get attached to this world: this evil world and its pleasures are passing away, and a brand new creation is coming to replace it.

If you are a Christian young person, I would STRONGLY encourage you to be like young Timothy. Please take advantage of being exposed to the Holy Scriptures rightly divided while your mind is still impressionable. In doing so, rest assured that, unlike pursuing the world’s temporary pleasures, you will not regret investing in God’s eternal work! I know I sure do not regret it. 🙂

Judge Not? #4

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, often used against the Bible believer who exposes sin for what it is, is not teaching what it is often assumed to assert.

Clearly, Jesus, in today’s Scripture, was not teaching we should be silent about exposing sin (He merely forbade hypocritical judging; verses 2-5).

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul preached against sin in order to show lost people they needed to be saved from those sins through the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ (Acts 13:26-41; Acts 14:11-18; Acts 17:16-31; Acts 24:25; et cetera). Notice the Holy Spirit’s references to specific sins which gender His righteous wrath—murder, envy, pride, homosexuality, drunkenness, fornication, idolatry, witchcraft, disobedience to parents, theft, hatred, gossiping, cruelty, lying, and so on (Romans 1:21-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 1:9,10; 1 Peter 4:1-5). Notice Paul’s divinely-inspired instructions about having no relations with Christians who are fornicators, covetous, extortionists, idolaters, railers, and drunkards (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

Christ declared, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). God in His Word has already declared what is and what is not sin. Technically, we are not judging the world; God’s Word does that when we believe it and preach it! Remember, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15,16).

Dearly beloved in Christ, let us be bold to speak out against sin by sharing God’s Word with others, but let us do it in meekness and love (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Our goal is not to be unkind to lost people, but to tell them the answer to their sin problem is only found through the shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! By preaching this Gospel of Grace, we remind ourselves we were once where they are.

Judge Not? #3

Monday, August 5, 2013

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, often used against the Bible believer who exposes sin for what it is, is not teaching what it is often assumed to assert.

To understand what Jesus Christ meant we must read the context: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

Our Lord is referring to hypocritical judging. Romans 2:21,22 provide an example: “Thou [Jew, verse 17] therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” The Jews should have taught the Gentiles the Word of JEHOVAH God. Alas, the Jews were equally guilty of breaking God’s laws as the Gentiles—the Jews acted like the Gentiles who did not even know JEHOVAH!

What Jesus Christ meant in today’s Scripture is that in His kingdom on earth, no hypocritical judging will be tolerated. Whatever standard by which a Jew condemns others’ actions, his own activities will be evaluated by that same standard. For instance, he will come under God’s condemnation if he ridicules a thief, when he himself has been dishonest (a fact he ignores). He emphasizes the sin of one person (the “mote,” or speck), but he has many sins (the “beam,” or log)—in fact, he is guilty of the same sins!

This, however, does not mean we Christians are to remain apathetic—silent—about sin….

Judge Not? #2

Sunday, August 4, 2013

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, often used against the Bible believer who exposes sin for what it is, is not teaching what it is often assumed to assert.

We will not understand what Jesus Christ meant in today’s Scripture unless we read the context: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. [Because/Explanation/Reason] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast oute the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

By simply reading the verse with its context, the clarity is astonishing! When any dear soul attempts to argue, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” politely remind them that there are four succeeding verses to quote too. If you happen to have your King James Bible in hand, let him or her read those verses. To what type of “judging” is Jesus referring? According to Jesus, He is talking about a “hypocrite” (verse 5). Certainly, Jesus knew what He meant, did He not?

Before we proceed any further, let us define “judge.” To “judge” means “to form an opinion or conclusion about.” God’s Word, the Holy Bible, enables us Christians to form sound conclusions about various life issues, doctrines, beliefs, practices, and so on. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Surely, God intended us to “judge,” for His Holy Spirit inspired the words “prove [test, discern, examine] all things” and “hold fast [seize, take, grip] that which is good.” Unless we “judge,” how will we determine what is “good?”

What Jesus Christ was discussing in today’s Scripture is that we should not judge hypocritically….

Judge Not? #1

Saturday, August 3, 2013

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, often used against the Bible believer who exposes sin for what it is, is not teaching what it is often assumed to assert.

The world’s most prominent religious leader recently commented about homosexual clergy within his church. Pope Francis stated, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn’t marginalize [prevent from having attention or power] people for this. They must be integrated into society.” Such apathetic, pathetic words from someone who claims to be “the vicar of Jesus Christ” (which Jesus Christ?; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4).

Our Lord Jesus declared in today’s Scripture, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” What did He mean? Was He defending the pope’s view, as many other lukewarm (professing) “Christians?” Many often assume Jesus taught that we should be totally silent about the world’s sins. It is usually haughtily said to the Bible-believing Christian, “This is the way God made me, so stop judging me. Jesus said not to judge.” Such a response is nothing more than a misunderstanding of today’s Scripture.

Naturally, when God’s Holy Word pricks the conscience, the desperate sinner will then “take cover” behind any available “fig leaf” (his or her parents did it back in Genesis 3:7-11). Perhaps nothing is more absurd than when the unholy sinner uses God’s Holy Word to justify his or her sin—completely disregarding the Bible’s purpose (which is to expose sin so man can see his need for the Saviour Jesus Christ!).

Rather than being held accountable to God Almighty for wresting (twisting) His Word to make it say something so as to bolster our sin, why not leave it alone and believe it, setting aside our pride and admitting our fault, our unrighteousness, our sin, like the Bible so clearly proves? Rather than idly speculating what type of “judging” to which Jesus referred in today’s Scripture, it would spare us much heartache and shame if we would—who would have guessed it?—simply read the context!

Let us do just that….

A Worthless Witness, a Useless Report, and a Profitless Audience

Friday, August 2, 2013

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:16 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a valuable lesson from Israel’s history. We need to learn it… and quickly!

One can never discern who is more misinformed about what is really going on in the world—the mainstream news media, or the gullible public who listens to them and parrots their “information.” Many news outlets report about topics that have little to no relevance to their readers: profit, not quality news reporting, is usually the goal. Even once well-respected news agencies and “conservative” reporters seem to repeatedly discuss the same worthless stories. Consequently, they distract the public from learning about the most important issues. As a dear Christian brother in the ministry confessed, “If you want to run me out of the room, turn on the news!” (A hearty “Amen!”)

Dear Christians, we should be aware of what is occurring in the world, and we need to analyze it from the Bible-believing viewpoint, but remember that prolonged exposure to the media’s programming and literature will only lead to depression. Those journalists and anchors discuss news from an unscriptural, worldly standpoint—usually their comments are just worthless speculations void of true wisdom.

Satan polluted Israel using false prophets (see today’s Scripture). The nation was so misinformed by these self-proclaimed “servants of God” that their resultant national idolatry brought God’s wrath upon them. Israel believed that so-called “wisdom,” but God said it made them “vain” (worthless, empty, useless). Even today, sadly, many Christians are so saturated with the world’s “wisdom”—even in many alleged “Christian” churches—they have almost no understanding of what Jesus Christ said in His Holy Bible. Their Christian lives are distracted, which does exactly to them what it did to Israel’s spirituality—it makes their lives “vain,” worthless, unacceptable to God.

Hearken not to the world’s “wisdom”—that goes for the mainstream media’s reports… and the denominational churches!

Instant

Thursday, August 1, 2013

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV).

Be ready to preach the Word, anyone, anywhere, anytime….

Today’s Scripture is an excerpt from the Apostle Paul’s final epistle to a young bishop, Timothy. In this farewell letter, the elderly apostle encourages young Timothy to endure the hardness that is coming, yea, to survive the intense hardships that he is already facing in his ministry. Soon after this epistle is written, Paul will pass off this earthly scene (verses 6-8), having been executed for, in the eyes of the Roman law, preaching an “illegal message.”

In today’s Scripture, Paul is not suggesting Timothy do something. He wrote in the previous verse, “I charge [command, order] thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;” What is the Holy Ghost’s commandment to Timothy? What is His commandment to us? “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Why must we do this?

The next two verses explain: “For [Because] the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

As Christians, it is our responsibility—yea, our privilege—to study God’s Word rightly divided on our own so we can then preach it (thus allowing that truth to combat the apostasy, the doctrinal error). We must be “instant [ready] in season, out of season:” we will get into Bible conversations we would never expect, with some of the people we would never expect to hear from, at a time when we would never expect them. Today’s Scripture says to “reprove [expose sin; blame], rebuke [correct], exhort [advise, encourage, urge] with all longsuffering [patience when provoked] and doctrine [sound Bible teaching].” The only way we can do this is to study God’s Word rightly divided on our own.

Again, be instant to preach the Word, anyone, anywhere, anytime!

Grace Ambassadors

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:20a KJV).

We rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ because arC Ministries celebrates its sixth anniversary today!

In July 2007, I saw the need on Facebook for a sound Bible study group. Back then, any Bible groups—let alone sound ones—were rare on Facebook. Thus, “ambassadors for the risen Christ” was born. I wrote one or more Bible studies a week and emailed them to our members. Over the next two years, the Bible study group grew to become “ambassadors for the risen Christ Ministries” (and expanded to Myspace). (The logo “arC” is stylized because the emphasis is not on the ambassadors, but on Christ!) In fact, our original Bible study group is still on Facebook, still reaching countless souls six years later. 🙂

The ministry began to reach my college classmates and professors on campus (still ongoing). By late 2010, we expanded to write a weekly newspaper Bible study column (for 22 weeks before cancellation) and a nursing home ministry (currently on hiatus). In 2011, we again expanded to become this daily devotional blog.

Last year, we initiated a grace study Bible project (currently underway) and another Bible study blog, this blog’s sister site (still ongoing). This year, we started home Bible studies and launched a YouTube channel (1611kjvambassador). Today, we launched our Twitter feed (@kjvambassador). I hope and pray regarding additional expansions into more avenues and mediums, so we can be grace ambassadors there to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Saints, Jesus Christ is still tarrying, so let us continue to labor in Him in the ministry. It will be worth it (1 Corinthians 15:58)!! Despite the challenges and discouraging moments, we can look back on all of them and shout, “My, if faced with the choice to do it all again, our answer would be, ‘What a privilege and joy to suffer for our Saviour’s name!’” We thank God for all of you who have been with us right from “day 1,” and we look forward to serving you in the future, as God’s grace enables…. ONWARD! 🙂

You can now follow us on Twitter.