Category: Christian good works

To Help a Brother

Saturday, November 10, 2018

“Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother” (Deuteronomy 22:1 KJV).

Behold, the standard of selflessness!

While we are certainly under Grace and not the Mosaic Law (Romans 6:14,15), we do not throw away the non-Pauline Scriptures. We study all 66 Bible Books, Genesis through Revelation, for “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). On whatever topics God the Spirit is silent in Paul’s writings, Romans through Philemon, we can and should seek advice elsewhere in the Bible. As an illustration, take today’s Scripture. It does not contradict Pauline doctrine but rather complements it (cf. Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:9,10).

Read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. [2] And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. [3] In like manner shalt thou do with his ass [donkey]; and so shalt thou do with his raiment [clothing]; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. [4] Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.”

Interestingly, the Lord Jesus took verse 4 and made an application in Matthew 12:11 to expose “Sabbath-worshippers” (not Jehovah God-worshippers) as the heartless, rigid, self-centered religionists that they were. Whether God through Moses, or God through Paul, we learn, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24). If we follow the God of the Bible, self-regard will not be true of us! 🙂

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #7

Thursday, November 8, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

Saints, Ephesians chapter 6 describes our spiritual war: “[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Verses 14-18 describe our armor.) We must (!) be grounded in Pauline doctrine, lest Satan distract and wound us.

Today’s Scripture is followed by, “[10] And Paul went down, and fell on him [Eutychus], and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. [11] When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. [12] And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.” God’s Word dispensationally delivered—Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon—can revive and maintain the powerless Church the Body of Christ. Once the Body is resuscitated, and endures a steady diet of Pauline doctrine, it, now edified, can speak a “long while,” until it is caught up into the heavenly places (when Paul leaves).

“That he [Father God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). Also, 1 Thessalonians 2:13: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Who are the ‘lawyers’ in Scripture?”

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #6

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

The verse following today’s Scripture articulates, “And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.” Eutychus is deceased, but he is not perpetually hopeless and helpless (his name actually means “fortunate!”). God’s man—His spokesman in the Dispensation of Grace—is nearby. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Not only is God’s Word living, it is also life-giving. There is functional life in God’s Word rightly divided—namely, Pauline doctrine.

In light of those who “shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1), we are instructed: “[6] If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. [13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine…. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Eutychus demonstrates verse 1: he was “seduced” (drawn away with the promise of delight). Satan’s evil world system tantalized him from stable (or Pauline) doctrine into fleshly (carnal), worldly doctrine. Yet, like with him, Pauline doctrine can save or restore us from functional destruction and death. It can deliver us from deception, false teaching, and restore health to our Christian thought and behavior. Verse 11 (after today’s Scripture) continues, “When he [Eutychus] therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he [Paul] departed.”

Now, we summarize and conclude….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #5

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

It is no coincidence that Eutychus sat in “the third loft” (today’s Scripture). We the Church the Body of Christ have an inheritance in the heavenly places rather than the earth (Ephesians 2:6,7). Therefore, Paul was caught up into the “third heaven” to receive Divine revelations concerning us (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

Diverted from Pauline doctrine, Eutychus sleeps, becomes unstable, falls, and dies. The Church the Body of Christ, if focused on the evil world system (darkness outside), will die functionally. Looking at today’s professing “church,” we see pervasive confusion, all-encompassing impotency, and functional death! Bible ignorance is disturbing. There is no power of God, there is no life of God, as there is no Word of God: church traditions and human opinions abound. “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9).

The Church the Body of Christ must be heavenly in thought if it is to be heavenly in conduct. Colossians 3:1-3: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection [concentration] on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Philippians 3:18-21: “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

We Christians must study and believe the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon, to save and guard ourselves from Satan’s mesmerizing doctrines….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #4

Monday, November 5, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

First John 2:15-17 is transdispensational, applicable across the Bible timeline: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Regardless of the dispensation, Satan’s evil world system continuously entices God’s people to compromise with it. Saints are tempted to change God’s message to fit the times (culture), or they are intimidated into silence if they refuse to alter the doctrine.

Physical darkness induced sleep in Eutychus (an individual), an illustration of how the Devil’s world system sways us the Church the Body of Christ (corporately) to slumber spiritually. Turn to Ephesians chapter 5: “[14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,….” First Corinthians chapter 15: “[33] Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. [34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

Pauline doctrine—the Gospel of Grace for justification (eternal life in Heaven) and for practical sanctification (daily Christian living)—is meant to “open [Gentile] eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18). Yet, Eutychus, diverted from Paul’s preaching, fell asleep physically, much as the Corinthians and Ephesians fell asleep practically (in Christian thinking and conduct). Dear brethren, if we the Body of Christ are to stay awake spiritually, or revive if we do fall asleep and die functionally, Pauline doctrine is the answer….

Sanctified Through God’s Truth

Thursday, November 1, 2018

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17 KJV).

Jesus Christ prayed to His Heavenly Father for His followers in Israel’s program (especially His Apostles—verse 12). He would do likewise for us today in the Dispensation of Grace.

Sanctification is not to be confused with justification. The former is to be “set apart for the purpose for which God intended;” the latter means “declared righteous before God.” One must be justified (righteousness imputed to his account) before he can be sanctified (useful to God’s work—“holy,” a “saint”).

Just moments before His arrest, Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane communes with Father God by praying throughout John chapter 17. Verse 8 is crucial to grasping today’s Scripture: “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me: and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” Now, verse 14: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

The Lord was not praying for His followers to be saved unto eternal life (they were already justified). What He desired was spiritual fruit, their identity in Him being manifested in the form of works. Father God’s Word—which He (Jesus) had just taught them for over three years—would be how the Holy Father would use those men for His purposes. He would send His Holy Spirit (Acts chapter 2) to empower them according to the words He had already given them in Christ’s earthly ministry. That message would be further expanded once the Holy Spirit came (see John 14:26; John 15:25-27; John 16:7-14).

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Saints, God’s Word to us—Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon—will effectually work in us on a daily basis if we believe it. Then, we too will be “sanctified through [God’s] truth!”

Translated Judgment #4

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

“In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe” (1 Corinthians 14:21,22 KJV).

While it is commonly overlooked, today’s Scripture describes God’s righteous judgment on a certain group of unbelievers. Who are they? What is God’s message to them? Who is delivering that message?

Acts 18:11 says Paul preached God’s Word in Corinth for 18 months (verse 18 indicates even longer). When he had first arrived, he preached to and converted Jews and Greeks in the synagogue (verses 1-5). Once unbelieving Israel opposed him, he pronounced God’s judgment on them (verse 6) and went next door to the house of Justus, a Gentile, to start a local assembly (verse 7). “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (verse 8). Eventually, there is a second leader of the synagogue, Sosthenes, but he too becomes a convert of Paul (verse 17 cf. 1 Corinthians 1:1).

When we approach the Books of 1 and 2 Corinthians, we should keep the above background in mind. The Christians at Corinth met in a building that “joined hard” (Acts 18:7)—shared a common wall—with the Jewish synagogue. In other words, believers in Jesus Christ frequently met in close proximity to unsaved Israel! It was because of these lost Jews that the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote today’s Scripture. God had a special message for them: it was important that the Corinthian saints maintain a clear, influential testimony to enlighten and evangelize lost Israel.

In today’s Scripture, Paul quotes Isaiah’s prophecy to describe a similar situation occurring in the Book of Acts. (Remember, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians circa Acts chapters 19-20.) God is operating the spiritual gift of tongues among Paul’s Gentile converts, which is to signify something to Israel. Israel, knowing the Old Testament, is expected to make the connection and be converted to Christ….

To Esteem the Greater Words #5

Monday, September 10, 2018

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12 KJV).

Friend, do you pay more attention to the words of men than the words of God?

Moved by the Holy Ghost, King David remarked in Psalm 19: “[7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. [8] The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. [9] The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. [10] More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

How many in this materialistic, greedy world can say with David that they desire God’s words more than gold, even much fine gold?! Who claims those Divine words are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb?! How many in our deceived, gluttonous society agree with Job that they esteem God’s inspired words more than their necessary food?!

Such a Man is quoted in Isaiah 50:4,5: “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” Here is the Lord Jesus Christ speaking of God the Father, 700 years before the former’s earthly ministry (check verse 6). Christ treasured every word that His Heavenly Father spoke to Him, so much so that He obeyed it without fail. Satan’s evil world system would not—and did not—distract Him from what information carried eternal value.

Brethren, may we be especially careful to listen to and believe Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, God’s Word to us today. “But [Jesus Christ] answered and said [to Satan], It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Most importantly, may we remember those words! 🙂

To Esteem the Greater Words #4

Sunday, September 9, 2018

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12 KJV).

Friend, do you pay more attention to the words of men than the words of God?

While precious few—even Christians—know it, an invisible and spiritual battle is being waged. It involves the souls of all mankind!

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; ) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Satan’s policy of evil prevents man from understanding what God wants him to know. Competing information distracts from the truths of God’s Word rightly divided. If we Christians are not vigilant, Satan will deceive even us. Therefore, we must grow to maturity in sound Bible doctrine! That is our only hope in guarding ourselves.

Ephesians 4:13-16: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Job, in today’s Scripture, did not have a competed Bible like we do. Yet, what divine revelation he had was highly important to him. In fact, he preferred God’s Word to eating physical food….

An Ambassador Turns 30!

🎂 Tuesday, August 7, 2018 🎂 

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

Age 30 is highly significant in Scripture—and also quite striking today!!

Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh King of Egypt (Genesis 41:46). JEHOVAH God selected David to become King of Israel at age 30 (2 Samuel 5:4). A Levitical priest, a son of Aaron (Moses’s brother), was to be ordained into the ministry at 30 years old and serve until 50 years old (Numbers 4:3,23,30,35,39,43,47). Evidently, the LORD God commissioned the Prophet Ezekiel at age 30 (Ezekiel 1:1). Lastly, the Lord Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry at approximately 30 years old (Luke 3:23).

What have I learned in my 30 “short” years alive? I have learned to focus more on the eternal and less on the temporal—there is more (much, MUCH more!) to life than what we see with physical eyes! I have learned not to trust sinners such as myself—I trust Christ in people, not people! I have learned more about my Saviour Jesus Christ and His Word than I ever dreamed, and all because I have learned to approach the Holy Bible dispensationally. There is so much I still do not know, so I am constantly studying to continue learning.

I have now entered my fourth decade of earthly living—the most important. Hopefully, our Grace Study Bible Project will be completed within this decade. My 30s will bring many new life changes and experiences, but God’s grace teaches me how to keep walking. A “young man”—“man” is generic for male or female—purifies his “way,” his course of thinking and living, by listening carefully to God’s Word (today’s Scripture). Whatever life situations he faces, any decisions he must make therein, the Holy Bible affords him light and understanding. Whether we are young, or old(er), “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130). Then, we, as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), share that information with all who want to hear and believe as well! 🙂

P.S.: The age of 50 years is also an important Bible concept—and if I am around here in 20 years, we will have an appropriate study!! 🙂