God: The Father, the Son Jesus Christ, & the Holy Ghost – Page 52

For Students This is Safe

Friday, August 18, 2023

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128 KJV).

As a new school year dawns, let us awake unto spiritual truth!

Although the autumnal equinox is still over a month away here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is finally beginning to wind down for most of us. Students—with long faces and deep sighs—have returned or are beginning to return to school. As students return to the classroom, they need to be particularly mindful of the following.

Firstly, learning in and of itself is not a sin. Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Luke was a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14). Daniel and his companions were skilled in science (Daniel 1:4). Adam was the first taxonomist (Genesis 2:19,20). The God of the Bible is never against learning new things—remember, He gave us His Holy Bible so we can have plenty to learn for all of eternity!

Secondly, what the God of the Bible opposes is when we believe/trust ideas that do not seek our best interests, that contradict the way He designed our lives to function. Certainly, we Christians should never go around believing anything and everything heard and seen. Just because the professor, preacher, pope, or president says it is true, that does not make it so. Scientific consensus has been wrong before, religion has been wrong before, politicians have been wrong before. Much of the ideas that permeate our world today are wrong.

Lastly, there are many wonderful, exciting ideas and concepts out there—medical advancements, technological breakthroughs, and so on—but there are equally detrimental ideas that will mess up your life—religious traditions, secular humanism, and other philosophies. Daily intake of the King James Bible rightly divided will cleanse our souls of the filth and foolishness that we hear and see day in and day out in this evil world system. We highly exalt God’s Word, we know it is right “concerning all things,” and we hate and ignore the error.

Have a wonderful school year in our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙂

God’s Profaned Name #10

Thursday, August 17, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Today’s Scripture is definitely part of the prophetic program. It involves God’s purpose and plan for Israel and the Earth. The Holy Spirit comments on how the nation Israel in time past abandoned the identity that their Creator gave them. They were not reflections of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Despite their infidelity, He, in the ages to come, will be faithful in bringing to pass His original promise to them. They are to be His vessels to reach the Gentiles when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to reign.

What about us, the Church the Body of Christ? Can we profane God’s name? Yes, we can. If we are not careful to walk in our identity in Christ, as described in Romans to Philemon, we can misrepresent Him as Israel did long ago. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

If what we say and do is incompatible with all that the Lord Jesus would say and do (His “name”), then non-Christians will see and hear conflicting information. Our misconduct will become the scoffer’s principle: “I am not a Christian and never want to be a Christian because ‘Christians’ lead a worse life than I do as a non-Christian.” It will be similar to ancient Israel’s detractors: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (Romans 2:24). “If that nonsense is what it means to be a worshipper of JEHOVAH God, we will keep our idols and die as heathen!”

As we (the Body of Christ) seek to avoid Israel’s disasters, we bear in mind passages such as Philippians 1:9-11 and Philippians 2:13-16. “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

God’s Profaned Name #9

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Defining His Kingdom Constitution—the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7)—Christ addressed His Jewish believing remnant (the Little Flock) with this exhortation: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

He was drawing from Isaiah 60:1-3, a prophecy about His Second Coming and subsequent Kingdom: “Arise, shine; for thy [Israel’s] light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Take notice also of Isaiah 59:20,21 (cf. Romans 11:26,27).

The LORD’S original purpose and plan for the nation Israel finally comes to pass, as the New Covenant erases their sin debt accumulated under the Old Covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19-21; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 9:11-17; Hebrews 10:1-22). Here is the goal of the prophetic program. Israel is now qualified to be blessed as per the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3, and able to be a channel of salvation and blessing to all the world. The “heathen” (nations, Gentiles) of today’s Scripture will look at redeemed Israel and see light (ages to come) instead of darkness (time past). Filled with God’s Spirit and life, Israel will impart His knowledge to the Gentiles, resulting in worldwide revival (see Zechariah 8:20-23)!

Now, as touching the mystery program and us the Church the Body of Christ, let us consider if we can “profane” God’s name….

God’s Profaned Name #8

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

The Law of Moses cannot grant a sinner the power to keep it any more than a mirror can beautify the hideous person looking into it (check Romans 3:19,20 and 1 John 3:4). Via the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3, the LORD purposed to create a people for Himself, but that nation decided to make themselves presentable to Him and accepted the Mosaic Covenant of Exodus 19:3-8.

Indeed, grace was tossed aside and works-religion was taken up in its place. Sinners actually declared they could be as perfect as God, that they were able to produce a nation that could be just as useful to Him as a nation He Himself would make. While senseless as it sounds, it did happen at Mount Sinai. Moreover, billions today are repeating the transgression—ignoring God’s righteousness (Calvary) and going about to establish their own righteousness. “I want to work for my trip to Heaven! If I am not going there after all the ‘good’ things I have done, no one is going there!”

As touching Israel’s kingdom restoration under the New Covenant, yet future from us, see The (oft-misunderstood) “Our Father” Prayer: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13). This connects to today’s Scripture, when the LORD fills sinful Israel with His very Spirit, life, and glory, and all the nations (who saw nothing but wickedness and darkness in Israel in time past) finally witness the LORD glorified through His earthly people….

God’s Profaned Name #7

Monday, August 14, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

The Bible states “the law [of Moses]… was added because of transgressions” (Galatians 3:19). It was in force for over 1,500 years (Moses to Paul) to prove to the Jewish people that, if they were to be God’s favored nation in the Earth, it would be only (!) because of His goodness and His performance (grace)—not their goodness and their performance (law). They were not “good” and thus could not perform! Galatians 3:15-23 explains how the Law was to point them (and us) to the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our failure to meet the perfect standard of the Law indicates we are sinners: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin…. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;…” (Romans 3:19,20,23). See also 1 Timothy 1:8-10.

Learning the lesson of the Law, a believing remnant in Israel—the Messianic Church—trusted Jesus as Christ/Saviour during the time of Matthew to John. They recognized that, ultimately, the nation Israel who would serve God would result from the original covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant (grace) of Genesis 12:1-3, as opposed to the Mosaic Covenant (law) that was added later because of unbelief in the Abrahamic Covenant.

“Hallowed [Sanctified, made holy] be thy name” (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2)—one of the petitions of the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” but better titled “The ‘Our Father’ Prayer”—is the Messianic Church praying in response to their Jewish ancestors’ profanation of the LORD’S name (see today’s Scripture). These saints are they who want God to make them His kingdom of priests in the Earth, which again loops to the LORD sanctifying His name as foretold in Ezekiel’s prophecy….

God’s Profaned Name #6

Sunday, August 13, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Re-read today’s Scripture. The word “profane” means “make common or ordinary.” It is the opposite of “sanctify, set apart, hallow, make holy or special.” Whereas JEHOVAH God’s name was unique, distinct from the gods and goddesses of heathenism, the nation Israel misrepresented Him amongst the Gentiles to whom belonged those idols. You can consult the Prophet Daniel’s prayer of confession in Daniel 9:3-20, which was said in obedience to Leviticus 26:40-46. Like Daniel, the Prophet Ezekiel looked forward to the day when Israel would be restored to the LORD’S service.

The context of today’s Scripture—Ezekiel chapter 36—prophesies how the LORD will take Israel from under the Old Covenant (Law of Moses) and put them under the New Covenant. Curses give way to blessings, as sin is replaced with righteousness; wrath fades and grace overflows. Read the verses that follow today’s Scripture: “[24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. [25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. [28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

Here is how God will “sanctify” His great name that the Jewish people soiled while under the Dispensation of the Law of Moses….

God’s Profaned Name #5

Saturday, August 12, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

The word “name” denotes all that the person, place, or thing is. For example, read Exodus 34:5-7: “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

When the LORD proclaimed the name of the LORD, it was not God repeating over and over, “The LORD! The LORD! The LORD!” No, rather, it was an enumeration or listing of everything the LORD was and is—He is full of mercy, grace, longsuffering, goodness, truth, and so on. These are His attributes, characteristics, or traits. All that He stands for, all that He does, all that He believes is wrapped up in His great name.

Once Israel officially became the LORD’S nation coming out of Egypt and the Red Sea, whatever they did would either exalt the LORD’S name (righteous living) or tarnish it (sinful living). Unfortunately, like all sinners, they were not perfect, so the (Mosaic) Covenant of Law was doomed right from the start. God knew it, but they refused to accept it. When their evil deeds finally resulted in eviction from the Promised Land (a poor reflection of JEHOVAH God’s name), they continued their sinful acts in the Gentiles’ lands (another poor reflection of JEHOVAH God’s name). In the eyes of the non-Jews, the God of Israel (the one true God) was no different from their idols. Israel so miserably (!) failed (!) to be God’s light to the world, but God in His faithfulness will accomplish His will in the Earth through Israel regardless….

God’s Profaned Name #4

Friday, August 11, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

After Israel’s departure from Egypt, her people chose to enter a covenant relationship with the LORD God: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel…. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD” (Exodus 19:5,6,8). Obedience would bring blessings, but disobedience would merit curses, as elaborated on later in Leviticus chapter 26 and Deuteronomy chapter 28.

True to His promise to remove the Jewish people from the Promised Land because of their habitual violation of the Law of Moses, the LORD God meted out the fifth and final course of chastisement or judgment (see Leviticus 26:27-39; Deuteronomy 28:62-65; cf. Leviticus 18:24-28; Leviticus 20:22-24). Now, as this curse took effect, the land of Palestine would be vacant, with the Israelites exiled or scattered to Assyria (north) and Babylonia (east).

Nevertheless, the LORD God states in today’s Scripture how the Jewish people continued their evil ways outside of Palestine. As they lived amongst the heathen or Gentiles, the Israelites were not reflections of the Creator’s will. When the nations observed this nonsense, they could not help but snicker and mock. Instead of, “What a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:6), it was “What a foolish and clueless people!” Israel did not walk in her identity the LORD gave her coming out of Egypt (separation from sin, Satan, and the world). She wanted to be like everyone else—and she indeed thought and acted like everyone else.

Israel “profaned” the name of the LORD in this manner….

God’s Profaned Name #3

Thursday, August 10, 2023

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

When He brought them out of Egyptian bondage, the LORD had indeed taken the nation Israel unto Himself, making them His special people in the Earth: He had “sanctified” them, “hallowed” them, or set them apart positionally. Consequently, they were to be “holy” practically—in their daily living. As He was isolated from the gods and goddesses of the Gentiles (idols), so the Jews were to be separated from the Gentiles (nations). “…I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people” (Leviticus 20:24). “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Leviticus 20:26). This is why He gave Israel “unusual” laws to obey and “strange” rules to observe.

By watching the Israelites conduct themselves according to the Creator’s will, the Gentiles (without that one true God) were to be impressed and interested. See Moses’ advice to Israel in Deuteronomy 4:5-8: “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”

Nevertheless, because of sin, there was an adverse reaction to what the LORD had spoken to Israel….

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #5

Sunday, August 6, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [the Lord Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39). As Paul preached in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia so long ago, God is currently offering forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ without religious works of any kind.

Through Paul’s Gospel, we can receive “forgiveness of sins” (see his grace commission of Acts 26:18). To “forgive” means “to clear the debt or send away the offense.” In fact, the Greek word translated “forgiveness” is related to that which is rendered “sent away” in Matthew 13:36 and Mark 4:36. What is Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24)? “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Dear friends, as long as we attempt to fill the God-shaped void in our heart and life with someone or something other than the God of the Bible, the blessedness of forgiveness will ever elude us. No water baptism, no tithing, no rites, no prayers, no theological studies, no ceremonies, no promises, no pilgrimages, no confessions, no rituals, no commandment-keeping, no turning over a new leaf, no traditions, no experiences, no distribution of denominational literature, no lucrative business deals, no drugs, no alcoholic beverages, no illicit sexual activities, no followers on social media, no education, no partying, no foreign trips, and no job promotions can ever replace the joy of total, permanent forgiveness of all our sins through Jesus Christ’s perfect shed blood. Please see Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13, and Colossians 3:13 for more information!

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. 🙂

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