Category: God: The Father, the Son Jesus Christ, & the Holy Ghost

The Handwriting on the Wall #8

Thursday, October 8, 2020

“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:5 KJV).

What great Bible truths can we learn from Daniel chapter 5?

Keep reading the chapter: “[16] [Belshazzar addressing Daniel] And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. [17] Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

“[18] O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: [19] And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. [20] But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: [21] And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.” Daniel referred to chapter 4, decades prior, when the LORD God cursed arrogant Nebuchadnezzar for seven years.

“[22] And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;…..” Wow! Daniel affirms Belshazzar has willfully repeated his grandfather’s sin, thus provoking God to write on the wall and pronounce Belshazzar’s doom and Babylon’s fall….

The Handwriting on the Wall #7

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:5 KJV).

What great Bible truths can we learn from Daniel chapter 5?

Terrified Belshazzar’s “scholars” of religion are wholly unable to decipher God’s message to him, reminiscent of the events surrounding his grandfather King Nebuchadnezzar’s mysterious dream several decades earlier (Daniel chapter 2). As God through the Prophet Daniel illuminated Nebuchadnezzar, so He will use Daniel to teach Belshazzar.

Chapter 5 again: “[10] Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: [11] There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; [12] Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.”

This “queen” (Belshazzar’s mother? Sister? Wife?) recalls Daniel’s amazing proficiency in discerning Nebuchadnezzar’s dream all those decades prior. She suggests Belshazzar summon aged Daniel for translation and explanation. “[13] Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? [14] I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. [15] And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:….”

The Handwriting on the Wall #6

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

“In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Daniel 5:5 KJV).

What great Bible truths can we learn from Daniel chapter 5?

As Belshazzar, the intoxicated King of Babylon, stared aghast at the mysterious message on his palace’s wall, he futilely sought solace from his “scholarly” religious leaders: “[7] The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. [8] Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. [9] Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.”

First Corinthians chapter 2 says: “[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] 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. [14] 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.”

The Holy Spirit had written on the wall, so not only could it not be read without Him, it could not be understood without Him….

Love or Hate?

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1 KJV).

The Book of Proverbs is Divine wisdom for Israel as she experiences the deception of the end-times. As we see in today’s Scripture, there are those who are willing to hear that instruction from the LORD God. Moreover, there are those who are not willing to be corrected. May we be like the former and not the latter!

Let us read these other related verses found in Proverbs. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7). “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (12:15). “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke” (13:1). “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured” (13:18). “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent” (15:5). “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding” (15:32). “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” (23:9).

Though “fools make a mock at sin” (Proverbs 14:9), their levity is but for a moment. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). In chapter 5 of Proverbs, the rebellious reader, reaping the awful consequences of his foolish decisions, will confess in verses 12 and 13: “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!”

In the Word of God rightly divided, we see “reproof” and “instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). By listening to it, we can “increase in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). Yet, there is a common proclivity among many to “hate [such] reproof” (today’s Scripture). They are “brutish,” which is descriptive of the stupidity of cattle (the sense of the Hebrew word). So as to avoid being labeled with this pitiful trait, let us read and believe Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “‘As the LORD liveth?’”

Know, Reckon, Yield, Obey! #3

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1,2 KJV).

Behold, the four keys to victorious Christian living as found in Romans chapter 6!

As it has been rightly stated, “Our Christian life will not operate on the basis of ignorance.” We must be educated in the Holy Bible rightly divided before we can live in accordance with it. Colossians chapter 2: “[6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” The key here is “as ye have been taught.” How sad it is that many church members are not taught—and, if they are “taught,” it is nothing but the opinions and traditions of men. Consequently, even the slightest push or pull from one “fad” doctrine or another is powerful enough to move them to an even less stable foundation.

There are many who accuse us of teaching “grace is a license to sin.” That is most definitely true in some groups, including certain alleged “grace circles,” but they are just as clueless of victorious Christian living as the denominationalists. Never, ever, ever, ever could we read Romans chapter 6 with any common sense and then conclude, “Grace does not care how I live. I will keep the same lifestyle before I came to Christ. No one will even know the difference between the ‘saved’ me and the ‘lost’ me!” Again, this is absolute ignorance, utter carelessness, and, unfortunately, it happens far too often than we care to think. Today’s Scripture again: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. [The strongest possible “No” in English.] How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Saints, the Bible is clear. We are dead to sin, and we are alive unto God… and that is that! You “know” it. Now, “reckon” it to be true. After that, “yield” your body parts. Finally, as you “yield,” “obey” what you “know” and “reckon!” 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How does Jesus ‘live’ in our hearts?”

Throwing Them Out! #11

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

“And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying” (Mark 5:40 KJV).

Why did Jesus throw these people out?

Jairus besought the Lord Jesus: “My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live” (verse 23). Alas, as Christ approaches the house, a (living) woman suffering chronic blood loss puts her hand on His clothes. She knows there is healing in His garment hem: “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole [well, cured]” (verse 28). Instantly, her issue stops and she feels something extraordinary in her body!

“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press [crowd], and said, Who touched my clothes?” (verse 30). Much more than “power” (as in modern English versions), it is “virtue” that has proceeded from Jesus. Such moral excellence or uprightness from God imparts physical—and more importantly, spiritual—restoration. The Lord turns around, confronts her, and then comforts her: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (verse 34). This symbolizes the Little Flock, Israel’s believing remnant, having God’s righteousness imputed to their account.

Christ proceeds to Jairus’ house. Unfortunately, dealing with the hemorrhaging woman has caused him to be late in treating the little girl. “While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe” (verses 35,36). Unlike the aforementioned woman, this child is “hopelessly” dead! Onlookers mock Jesus’ comment that her state is “temporary.” Throwing them out of His presence, He speaks to her and raises her up! She walks and eats! Here is Israel’s national resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming, unbelieving Jews removed and prohibited from witnessing their nation’s miraculous return from the grave. In the Millennium, Israel functions as God’s kingdom of priests.

Let us conclude this devotionals arc….

Throwing Them Out! #10

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

“And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying” (Mark 5:40 KJV).

Why did Jesus throw these people out?

Read from Mark chapter 5 again: “[25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, [26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, [27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. [28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” This woman literally reaches out in faith to touch Jesus’ garment. Matthew 9:20 adds: “[she] touched the hem of his garment.” Luke 8:44 has it like this: “[she] touched the border of his garment.”

The Mosaic Law, Numbers chapter 15, instructed this concerning the hem or border of a Jew’s clothes: “[37] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [38] Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: [39] And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: [40] That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.”

For 12 years, this woman has been hemorrhaging (bleeding profusely). Life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11,14): life is flowing from her. Yet, she recognizes her sickness. Here is Israel’s believing remnant, admitting their only hope for righteousness is in Jesus’ perfect obedience to God’s commandments (symbolized by His garment hem). These believing sinners reach out in faith and receive God’s righteousness. Before Jesus raises up the nation Israel via the New Covenant (Jairus’ dead little girl), He pauses to form the Little Flock (the hemorrhaging woman). Let us now summarize this devotionals arc….

333’s 3400th – Grace Living and Grace Planning

Sunday, September 20, 2020

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV).

Dear readers, only by God’s grace, we mark 3,400 devotionals!

Saints, with each passing day, we draw closer to our Lord Jesus Christ’s return. Yet, Scripture provides no exact date concerning when our Dispensation of Grace will end. As it has been aptly quantified, “We should live like Christ is coming within the next 10 minutes, but we should plan like He is not coming for the next 10 years.” On one hand, we Christians should be careful how we conduct ourselves, for if He returned in just a few moments, would He find us conformed to this world or transformed by the renewing of our mind? On the other hand, we should not be lethargic as if His arrival is soon, for if He did not come for a long while, we would then be wasting time we could have redeemed for His glory!

“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. 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). If you noticed, the will of God is described in a three-fold manner: “good, acceptable, and perfect.” These are degrees of spiritual growth, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding—the Christian moving from making merely “good” decisions, to “acceptable” choices, to “perfect” (mature) decisions.

“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, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). These last 3,400 days, we have studied and believed the King James Bible rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15), better acquainting ourselves with God’s present dealings with man. Yet, there is room for much more learning and growth! Whether or not our Lord comes for us soon, onward to devotional #3500! 🙂

Remember, links to all our previous devotionals are archived on the following passage: https://333wordsofgrace.org/master-list-of-devotionals-chronological/.

God’s Offer to the Nations

Friday, September 11, 2020

“…[T]hat God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is God’s offer to all the nations of the world today.

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed our nation forever. It was the worst terrorist attack in our two-century national history. Afterward, many Americans began to talk about “God Bless America” and “God Save the United States.” These phrases are not as commonplace as they used to be.

In the 19 years that have passed since that awful day, it is a sad commentary that “God” is now the least of our nation’s concerns. With the redefining of marriage, controversial political arena, moral decay, skyrocketing national debt, and the uncertainty as to what constitutes a human life and what does not, obviously, the God of the Bible has been largely pushed out… until we need His help, and then we cry out to Him. Unless we need Him, we rather not think about anything He has to say.

While many argue that God is judging America today for its sins, the Bible does not support such an idea. Certainly, God dealt with Israel in that manner—“Do good and I will bless, but disobey and I will curse” (Leviticus chapter 26; Deuteronomy chapter 28)—but we have no relation to that Old Covenant of Law.

For the last 20 centuries, God has offered His grace to all the world’s nations, to have a right standing before Him by trusting Jesus Christ. People still die and go to hell, but today’s Scripture says that God is not judging nations for their sins. Through Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, God offers reconciliation to sinners, whether here or around the world. However, that grace is exhaustible, and one day, it will be replaced with His wrath (Romans 2:1-16). Still, we believers are not appointed to God’s wrath; we are saved from all wrath through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9).

The only hope for America—yea, for any nation—is faith in Jesus Christ alone!

*You can also see our 2011 Bible study commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It can be watched here or read here.

God’s Face Shining Upon Us #5

Thursday, September 10, 2020

“God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah” (Psalm 67:1 KJV).

For the next several days, let us study Psalm 67 and see how it is but a small glimpse into the future.

The Mount of Transfiguration actually previews Christ’s Second Coming. Matthew records: “[16:27] For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. [28] Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. [17:1] And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, [2] And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” Did you see how Jesus’ “face” glowed? This foreshadows His glorious return, when He radiates before the nation Israel!

In Paul’s Gospel, we see the invisible Godhead manifested in the Person (“face”) of Jesus Christ. Second Corinthians chapter 4: “[3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

King David, representing Israel’s Little Flock expecting Christ’s return, prayed: “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake” (Psalm 31:16). As the Levitical high priests blessed Israel—“The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee” (Numbers 6:25)—so the Lord Jesus Christ will do it prophetically! 🙂