Category: God’s wisdom

The Carpenter from Nazareth (and Heaven) #2

Sunday, September 20, 2015

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:1-4 KJV).

Have you ever stopped to consider why Jesus’ earthly trade was carpentry?

Very little is known about Jesus’ childhood. While various purely speculative and quite silly ideas have been offered, these do not concern us. The only authoritative sources on the subject are found in the Bible—Matthew chapter 2 and Luke chapter 2.

Recall the famous account when Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus, age 12, in Jerusalem, before returning for Him. Luke 2:51,52 continue: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” These two verses cover about 18 years, for we do not read about Jesus again until He enters His public ministry around age 30 (Luke 3:23).

What did Jesus do during those years prior to His ministry? It is quite simple to understand when we look at the verses. He followed His legal father, Joseph, in the family trade. Joseph taught young Jesus all about carpentry and architecture. Picture this, will you? The God of creation in mortal flesh submitting Himself to be instructed by a human stepfather! One way that Jesus “increased in wisdom” concerned carpentry. Another way was that He studied His “Old Testament” scrolls.

The Lord Jesus was being trained twice simultaneously. Joseph was teaching Him manual and human labor while Father God was teaching Him spiritual and divine labor! Young Jesus helped His stepfather Joseph accomplish many projects, a glimpse of what He would do one day with His Heavenly Father upon entering His public ministry!

The Carpenter from Nazareth (and Heaven) #1

Saturday, September 19, 2015

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:1-4 KJV).

Have you ever stopped to consider why Jesus’ earthly trade was carpentry?

When Israel heard Jesus teaching mighty doctrines in the synagogue where He grew up, they were amazed. The Bible says in Mark 6:1-3: “[1] And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. [2] And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? [3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Matthew’s (13:55) account says, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”

Two quick facts—Jesus was “the carpenter” and was “the carpenter’s son.” It is no coincidence that Father God chose a carpenter, Joseph, as His Son’s foster-father. God could have had His Son raised in the home of a physician, religious leader, politician, businessman, or fisherman. Yet, Father God made sure that His Son was born into a family where carpentry was the trade. Why?

In the Bible, much older Joseph and young Jesus were carpenters. They were not just known for building pieces of furniture or other wooden crafts (a common misconception). No, carpenters were known for constructing whole houses. They were physically strong men, and knowledgeable in architecture. Why was Jesus Christ a carpenter? Think about today’s Scripture and it will become wonderfully clear! 🙂

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Closed Minds, Closed Hearts, Closed Book

Sunday, September 13, 2015

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV).

“Why do more people not see dispensational Bible study?” Today’s Scripture explains.

A few years ago, a Christian friend invited me to her house to give a Bible study for her friend stuck in a “Christian” cult. Others attended as well. It turned out to be almost three hours of teaching! (Search YouTube for three videos titled, “Intro to Pauline Dispensationalism.”) The woman was without excuse after hearing that clear Gospel of Grace and clear outline of the Bible dispensationally considered.

Sometime later, she told my friend, “I felt so sorry for you all. You are all so deceived.” (Strangely, she never told me that, never corrected anything I said, and never “blessed” the group with any of her “spiritual insight.” In fact, strangest of all, throughout the study, she smiled, cheerfully listening to the verses, and even declared, “I know JEHOVAH God is working here!” Despite her “compliments,” we have not seen her since!)

More recently, I had an online discussion with a Bible critic, atheist, and evolutionist. Several others soon joined in. Once I contrasted their “idle speculation and ever-changing hypotheses” with “the Bible’s clear testimony,” one individual grew ballistic: “The Bible’s plain and clear testimony?!” Even with a saint of the Most High God expounding the Bible for him, he still could not understand it. Why? The Spirit of God was there (with me), but the man did not “receive” the things of the Spirit of God. He was not willing to see. He was no different from the cult member mentioned earlier.

Lost people lack God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. They have no capacity to understand God’s Word. It is foolishness to them. What about genuine Holy-Spirit-indwelt Christians trapped in denominations? They too are guided by the flesh (church tradition perpetuated by lost people), hindering the Holy Spirit from working in them (1 Thessalonians 5:19). However, as Jesus Himself said, whenever they are willing to hear and see, “[they] shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).

Moses the Learned

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

“In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months: And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:20-22 KJV).

Was Moses some “backwards hick?” Oh, certainly not!

Bible critics have a great hatred for anything and everything in the Scriptures. That includes doubters within the ranks of Christendom’s “scholarship!” One of their many attacks on the Old Testament is to deny Moses as writer of Genesis through Deuteronomy. They claim Moses was nothing more than an unlearned, illiterate buffoon who herded sheep, so he could not have penned one sentence, let alone five books! On the contrary, the New Testament (today’s Scripture) reminds us of what the Old Testament already said about Moses.

Moses’ birth and childhood are briefly described in Exodus 2:1-10. Moses was born of Hebrew parents enslaved in Egypt. His mother hid him three months, before placing him in a basket in the river. When Pharaoh’s daughter came to the river to wash herself, she noticed the basket and sent a maid to fetch it. She opened the basket to see three-month-old Moses inside! Moses’ older sister Miriam watched nearby, and asked if she could return the child to his mother for nursing. Pharaoh’s daughter agreed.

When Moses was weaned, perhaps as old as four or five years old, he was returned to Pharaoh’s daughter. For the first few years of his life, his mother Jochebed had instructed him in Jewish culture and the Hebrew language. Pharaoh’s daughter later adopted him, and he grew up as an Egyptian prince. As a member of the royal family, Moses was trained in history, literature, grammar, music, geography, philosophy, and particularly Egyptian hieroglyphics (word pictures). See today’s Scripture.

JEHOVAH God used Moses’ education to enable him to write down His words, Genesis through Deuteronomy, on papyrus, a rough paper used in Egypt. Using God’s wisdom, Moses was able to lead his people Israel into fulfilling God’s plan for them. And as they say, “the rest is history!” 🙂

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Paul and Dispensationalism #19

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

“[God] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Timothy 1:9-11 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Long before there was a Heaven and an Earth, there was the triune Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And there was Their purpose and plan for Heaven and Earth. They determined that some of the people who would be saved unto eternal life, they would form a special body of believers, the Church the Body of Christ. But, the Triune Godhead never said so much as one word about that plan for over 4,000 years. Imagine keeping a secret that long!

Then, the time came for God’s marvelous secret to be revealed. That “mystery”—that “hidden wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)—was finally manifested for all to see. Not only would people see it but also the angels and Satan! Today’s Scripture says that Paul was thus appointed “a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” The risen, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and chose him for a special purpose (Acts 26:16-18). Paul would declare to all the world how Jesus Christ, at Calvary’s cross, had utterly destroyed Satan’s plans (Colossians 2:15). Through Paul, Jesus Christ, via His heavenly ministry, would tell all the world that there was eternal life and immortality available to them through His finished crosswork. Beloved, this is the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God!

To revert back to Christ’s earthly ministry, or the other Old Testament Scriptures, is to ignore Jesus Christ’s heavenly ministry and the wonderful Gospel of Grace. Our message today is found in the writings of Paul, Romans through Philemon. To abandon God’s Word through Paul has dangerous, everlasting effects, so let us exalt his Gentile ministry as the Holy Spirit did (Romans 11:13)! 🙂

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Paul and Dispensationalism #4

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:25-27 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

From Genesis chapter 1 until Acts chapter 9, about 4,000 years, God was revealing the prophetic program… that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). When Saul of Tarsus was saved, the ascended Lord Jesus Christ began to reveal to that man a body of information that was previously kept secret in God… that “which was kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25). The Bible is a progressive revelation—God does not immediately reveal everything.

God had many special tasks for Paul. Chiefly, he was His “apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). Today’s Scripture tells us that Paul had another role—“to fulfil the word of God.” Little by little, God had revealed the prophetic program, but He had withheld a gigantic chunk of information: that hidden wisdom is called the “mystery,” or doctrine which God had hidden in Himself until He decided to reveal it to man. By direct revelation, Jesus Christ communicated that doctrine to Paul (Galatians 1:11,12; Acts 26:16-18). For the 35 years Paul was an apostle, God’s Holy Spirit moved him to write 13 epistles, Romans through Philemon. Now, the Holy Spirit uses those written words to teach us exactly what Jesus Christ taught Paul (Ephesians 3:1-5)—“even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.”

The “mystery of [God’s] will” is now disclosed (Ephesians 1:9). There is no “secret will of God” for us. He revealed it all in a Book—that book is preserved, our completed King James Bible. We do not need circumstances, hunches, opinions, and “angelic appearances” to learn from God. We have a completed Word of God!

Jesus and Dispensationalism

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

“…And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:17-21 KJV).

What can the Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry teach us about dispensational Bible study?

For His first recorded sermon, Jesus visited his hometown (Nazareth) synagogue on the Sabbath and read from the great Isaiah scroll, chapter 61: “[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

The Berean Bible student will note today’s Scripture lacks Isaiah’s complete prophecy. Jesus said only part of these Scriptures was “fulfilled in [their] ears.” He read about His ministry of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and His healing miracles, but He intentionally skipped the prophecies about “vengeance” (Tribulation and wrath at His Second Coming) and “comfort” (Millennial Kingdom). Why? It was not time to fulfill them! His audience stared at Him, recognizing that He had abruptly stopped reading. They wondered, for He alone foreknew the dispensational nature of Isaiah 61:1-3! 🙂

Isaiah and Dispensationalism

Sunday, July 26, 2015

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion…” (Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV).

What can the Prophet Isaiah teach us about dispensational Bible study?

A half-dozen Old Testament passages combine Jesus Christ’s two comings: these prophets saw one coming. In hindsight, however, we see two prophesied comings. Why were two comings not originally apparent? (There were two secret comings hidden between!)

Today’s Scripture describes Messiah coming twice: first, He came to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, but He will return to establish the Kingdom of the Gospel of the Kingdom. These two comings are according to prophecy, “that which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). The Old Testament prophets did not know that there would be two additional comings of Jesus Christ to divide the two prophesied comings—one coming to start our Dispensation of Grace (save Saul of Tarsus and start the Body of Christ) and one to end it (save the Body of Christ from enduring the seven-year Tribulation). These are the two comings according to mystery, that “which was kept secret since the world began” but was manifested through Paul’s epistles (Romans 16:25,26).

Today’s Scripture (cf. Luke 4:16-21) predicts Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (First Coming). Then, it discusses His earthly kingdom (Second Coming). Notice how Jesus handled that passage—He knew the wrath and kingdom would be delayed, so He did not read them in the synagogue. Isaiah, however, knew nothing of our Dispensation of Grace and the Body of Christ. The mystery was “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9) and completely hidden from Israel’s prophets. God kept a secret from Satan—He would use Calvary’s crosswork to form the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). The Dispensation of Grace (and its two comings) was also withheld from the Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah. Wow!

Daniel and Dispensationalism #2

Saturday, July 25, 2015

“Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (Daniel 8:22-25 KJV).

What else can the Prophet Daniel teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Today’s Scripture demonstrates how our 2,000-year-long Dispensation of Grace was completely hidden from Old Testament prophets such as Daniel because the mystery was “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9). We see world history—Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire divided into “four kingdoms.” This occurred when Alexander died in 323 B.C., 200 years after Daniel’s prediction. That Graeco-Roman Empire was operating during Christ’s earthly ministry.

We also see world prophecy—the Antichrist, “a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences,” with “mighty power,” will “destroy wonderfully, prosper, practise,” “destroy the mighty and the holy people [believing Israel],” a prideful man who will use false peace to “destroy many,” exalting himself against Jesus Christ, the “Prince of princes.” Then, Jesus Christ returns to battle and vanquish the Antichrist! (“Without hand” means God, not man, is the cause.)

Daniel foresaw Alexander the Great (history from us), the Antichrist (future from us), and Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to defeat Antichrist (future from us). As a writer of prophecy, Daniel knew nothing about mystery, our Dispensation of Grace, a program that delayed—and still postpones—Antichrist’s arrival. Paul’s epistles, the revelation God gave him, help us understand that interruption of prophecy. As long as our dispensation continues, the Body of Christ will be present on Earth, and that prophetic program will be postponed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-14). Yea, the Bible is the world’s most marvelous Book when handled dispensationally!

Daniel and Dispensationalism #1

Friday, July 24, 2015

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:26,27 KJV).

What can the Prophet Daniel teach us about dispensational Bible study?

A half-dozen Old Testament passages combine Jesus Christ’s two comings: these prophets saw one coming. In hindsight, however, we see two prophesied comings. Why were two comings not originally apparent? (There were two secret comings hidden between!)

Today’s Scripture explains Messiah coming twice: first to die for Israel’s sins, and then to kill Israel’s oppressor, Antichrist. These two comings are according to prophecy, “that which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21). The Old Testament prophets were unaware of two additional comings of Jesus Christ to divide the two prophesied comings—one coming to start our Dispensation of Grace (save Saul of Tarsus and start the Body of Christ) and one to end it (save the Body of Christ from enduring the seven-year Tribulation). These are the two comings according to mystery, that “which was kept secret since the world began” but was manifested through Paul’s epistles (Romans 16:25,26).

Today’s Scripture says Messiah would be “cut off” (die physically) 483 years after Nehemiah’s rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall (First Coming). What has been delayed for 2,000 years is His return to conclude and abolish the evil Antichrist’s seven-year reign (Second Coming). Our Dispensation of Grace and the Body of Christ (and Christ’s two associated comings) were withheld from the Old Testament prophets. The mystery was “hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9) and completely hidden from Israel’s prophets, including Daniel. God kept a secret from Satan—He would use Calvary’s crosswork to form the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Fantastic truths!

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