Category: ministry

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #16

Thursday, September 21, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The context is a greedy minister “serving God” (HA!) with the primary goal of, not teaching the truth, but providing himself with earthly gain. Such departure from sound Bible doctrine results in a metaphorical impalement (“pierced themselves through”), with “many sorrows” (numerous long-term distresses/griefs) being the weapon and the materialistic souls being the stabbing victims!

Most regrettably, the professing church has often allowed moneymaking to take precedence over sound Bible doctrine. Consider so-called “Christian” publishing houses marketing all kinds of “Christian” literature. These companie$ offer products covering a wide range of theological persuasions. Only a fraction of this material is actually Christian. The remainder is denominationalism and/or paganism in disguise. Why? Had they restricted their materials to the truth, doctrinal debates would have been settled, and those preferring to maintain their favorite theological errors would not buy from such a “limited, narrowminded” product line!

During the last 130 years, over 200 modern English Bible translations have been produced. This diversity is a bu$ine$$ model. Selling just King James Bibles would be meager proceeds. Now, if a company retails a dozen different translations, the consumer has many “final authorities” from which to choose. Do not forget: “the love of money” (profit$!) prompts the company to offer this assortment of translations in the first place! To attract crowds, megachurches cannot offend anyone, so their teaching is shallow and able to accommodate various positions. Church attendance and funding are thus maximized. Neither can denominations afford to support sound Bible doctrine, for their revenue would also vanish. Preachers and professors often decline to take a stand for the King James Bible and dispensational Bible study because it would mean losing pensions and retirement funds, and becoming outcasts at their colleges and churches. If you doubt, ask them!

Friends, we are left with one final caution from Paul to Timothy about earthly wealth, so let us hear it well and believe it….

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #15

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

Re-read 1 Timothy 6:6-9. Now, verse 10: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Unfortunately, this is commonly misunderstood and misquoted. Moreover, not only have modern English Bible translators failed to adequately capture the thrust of Paul’s Greek words, they have contributed to the confusion surrounding the verse. They soften “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (King James Bible) to “For the love of money is a root of all kinds/sorts of evil.” Their usage of “kinds” or “sorts” is totally unwarranted, and a blatant perversion of God’s Book!

First Timothy—like Paul’s other three Pastoral Epistles (Second Timothy, Titus, and Philemon)—is a handbook for ministry workers. These words are the Holy Spirit’s instructions for maintaining a local assembly. The context of 1 Timothy 6:10, “the love of money is the root of all evil,” is ministry. Not “having money” but rather “loving money” is the root of all evil in ministry. Misconduct in ministry (compromise, false teaching, and so on) originates because someone seeks profit. They love the little “g” god, not the big “G” God (remember Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13!). Ministers must take extreme caution here, lest Satan conquer them.

Listing qualifications for bishops (pastors) and deacons (helpers), God the Holy Spirit required men “not greedy of filthy lucre” (1 Timothy 3:3,8). Titus 1:7 says “not given to filthy lucre.” Think of a “lucrative” bu$ine$$ operating according to corrupt or unethical principles. God’s ministry, including the local church, will become such a cesspool for greed if the wrong leaders are appointed. This iniquity is what Paul warned Timothy about in 1 Timothy chapter 6! Remember well the thieves robbing people in the Temple in the name of “God” in Matthew 21:12-14, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17! The “religious leaders” also cheated widows in Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40, and Luke 20:47! Such false teachers want the fortunes of those they lead astray (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 16).

Yet, there is more….

An Ambassador Turns 35!

Monday, August 7, 2023 🎂

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV).

An ambassador for the risen Christ turns 35 years old today!

Not long ago, an elderly Christian friend and ministry partner (in his mid-eighties) told me, “Shawn, do not get old!” He shared with me how aches and pains, failing memory, and other disadvantages accompany aging. Of course, dear friends, as hard as we try, we can neither slow nor stop the passage of time. It seems like just yesterday when I was writing a devotional for my 25th birthday—but that was 10 years ago now! A few weeks back, I commemorated 28 years since trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Time marches on, but even several lifetimes on Earth do not compare to endless life in the Heavenly Places!

Regardless of how long our earthly life is, whether 80 years or 120 years, we should never grow attached to this temporary world. Whereas non-Christians wish to stay here longer and longer and longer—because this is their only “heaven”—Christians should long for the true Heaven the longer they spend here are on Earth. As I reflect on 35 years of earthly life, I can say that these years have flown by and can never be repeated. What is important is that I continue to grow in the future, that I better understand my place in the purpose and program of Father God. While the Lord in His grace has brought me far, I still have a very long way to go—we all do. Perhaps I will be writing here when I am 45. If so, that is fine. If not, that is fine too. Whatever the case, may I keep renewing my mind and inner man, looking at the things which are not seen… the eternal things! 🙂

A Grace Study Bible

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV).

Today, we reflect on 11 full years of the arC Ministries’ Grace Study Bible Project!

Some 100 years ago, the Scofield Study Bible was published. It was a work that popularized—not invented—dispensational Bible study. For a century, the Church the Body of Christ has used this monumental aid to edify itself. It was (and still is) useful in recovering precious Bible truths that had been lost for centuries, doctrines still pushed aside by denominational hierarchies that prefer to be the “authority” with their “tradition of men.”

Eleven years ago today, after much prayer and consideration, I began the formation of a new grace study Bible. Using the King James Bible, my goal in this project is to build on Dr. Scofield’s foundation laid long ago. We are (and will always be) indebted to that brother for his faithful service, his submission to the Holy Spirit to produce a profitable study Bible. (Incidentally, Dr. Scofield led a missionary to Christ, that missionary led a preacher to Christ, that preacher led a woman to Christ, that woman led Mom to Christ, and Mom led me to Christ.) What took Dr. Scofield decades to learn, we can acquire in a fraction of that time. Brother Scofield did not live long enough to progress any further in Bible understanding, but in the century since he has gone to heaven, a faithful remnant within the Body of Christ has expanded upon Dr. Scofield’s insightful notes. We recognize where he was wrong in certain areas, and we can improve those areas in our understanding and study.

In brief, some stats about our grace study Bible. We seem to be over 80 percent completed with it. How many more years it will take remains to be seen, but rest assured, what cannot be condensed into marginal notes or footnotes, will be, Lord willing, expanded into a full-Bible commentary book series! Stay tuned in the coming years and thank you for your prayer in this regard! 🙂

* You can read more about our Grace Study Bible Project here.

arC Ministries Is 16!

Monday, July 31, 2023

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV).

To our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, arC Ministries celebrates its 16th anniversary today!!!

Sixteen years ago, as a 19-year-old college student, I endeavored to use Facebook to create a Bible study group for teens and college students. Thus, “ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries” was born. As I grew more in God’s Word rightly divided, I grew increasingly aware of the need for additional ministry projects. The more I had been learning drove me to share those precious truths with others. That eventually led me to look for supplementary avenues of ministry.

During these past 16 years, God’s grace has enabled us to continue the original group on Facebook. In addition, we have branched out quite a bit in other areas. This devotionals blog has been operating for over 12 years now. For the last 11 years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (now in its twelfth year). Other ministry projects include a 22-week newspaper ministry column (this devotionals blog’s predecessor), a YouTube channel with home Bible study videos, a Twitter feed, a full-length Bible studies blog, a college campus ministry, a nursing-home ministry, and our Bible-question-and-answer blog. Seven years ago, we launched our new main ministry website and now have a line of printed Bible study booklets available for sale there. Four years ago, we recorded and distributed our Old Testament Survey video series. Later that year, we launched our New Testament Survey video series (which will last a few years). We hear from people all over the world!

Our name says it all: we serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ, not some “dead Jew” and not ourselves. The original motto of our ministry was, “To equip ambassadors, and to encourage others to become ambassadors.” Our primary goal is to teach Christians, and our secondary goal is to evangelize the lost world. Sixteen years later, we still endeavor to uphold God’s Word (King James Bible) rightly divided, whether it be in edifying the Christian brethren or preaching the clear Gospel of the Grace of God to this lost and dying world. For those of you who have been with us from day 1, thank you for your prayer and encouragement. We pray for you upon every remembrance! There is still plenty more for the Lord Jesus Christ to do in and through us, so let us give Him all the praise and glory as we enter Year 17! 🙂

 

A Lost Love #10

Saturday, July 29, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Undoubtedly, dear friends, we should share with everyone the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). It is needful that we attempt to tell as many people as we can. However, we must be blunt here. As it was in Bible days, so it is now: a great many people will never come to Christ. This is true of at least some of our lost loved ones. Though we wish we could believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in their behalf, this is not how God has designed the plan of salvation to work. It is personal faith, not “by proxy” faith. If people do not want to hear and believe the Gospel of Grace, we need to move on to those who do. The more time and energy we waste on those who refuse to believe, the fewer people we are able to reach.

May I be direct once again? Nine years ago this month, I delivered the eulogy of one of my relatives. Some 30 unsaved family members were present at that funeral home—and it was for this express reason I made certain to preach a clear Gospel message. It was undoubtedly the plainest presentation of the Gospel they had ever heard in their lives. (In fact, I was told later, it was so explicit that the works-religion cult leader standing beside me began blushing!) Those hearts were quite convicted and shocked so that the room become deathly silent. After I finished speaking, a single family member came up and voiced approval of the message. The rest of these my relatives have never heard the Gospel or any Bible verse from me in more than nine years now because I respect their free will. If they do go to Hell, I can rightfully say with Paul, “I am clean [of their blood]” (Acts 18:6). May we be able to declare this concerning all our lost loves.

A Lost Love #9

Friday, July 28, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Though Paul attempted to preach the Lord Jesus Christ to every lost Jew in the synagogues of the Mediterranean world, he knew he could not force any of them to believe. In fact, when apostate Israel opposed him and his message, instead of lingering to quarrel with them, he respected their free will and departed to minister to others.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles…. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium” (Acts 13:46,51). “They were ware of it [Jewish plot against them], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:…” (Acts 14:6).

“…Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue” (Acts 18:5-7).

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:8,9). As far as the record of Acts is concerned, because of this exceptionally adverse reaction, Paul never again preached in a synagogue! He valued free will, and so should we.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

A Lost Love #8

Thursday, July 27, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

As Saul of Tarsus back in Acts chapter 9, the Apostle Paul met the Saviour Jesus Christ face-to-face. This was when he came to understand just how misinformed—just how lost—he really was. His righteousness meant nothing before God, so he was actually headed for Hell quite smug in his “goodness.” He was not good enough to merit Heaven, and he finally swallowed his religious pride. What mattered in eternity was God’s perfect righteousness available only by faith in Jesus Christ. If necessary, re-read Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3:1-11.

In today’s Scripture, Paul has been saved for roughly 25 years (internal evidence suggests he wrote Romans during the opening verses of Acts chapter 20). Ever since chapter 9 of Acts, he has been meeting and preaching to lost Jews in synagogues scattered throughout the Mediterranean world. These are the very people of today’s Scripture, who, like he as Saul of Tarsus had been, are satisfied in their works-religion (Judaism). “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).

Re-read Romans 9:1-3. Paul felt sorry for self-righteous Israel, and he so was troubled for lost Israel, but it was neither sadness nor anger (emotions) that made him preach the Gospel of Grace to them. It was his renewed mind, his admittance that the Bible was right, that caused him to share his Saviour with them. No matter how “good” they were in religion, regardless of how hard they tried to be godly, they could never save themselves from their sins because they were not perfect. Still, their hearts had deceived them, and, as they heard the Gospel of Grace from Paul’s very lips, they shut their eyes and ears to the truth so as to keep (emotionally) clinging to their vain religious system all the more….

A Lost Love #7

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Instead of spite (negative emotions) or “warm fuzzy feelings” (positive emotions), what stimulated Paul to conduct his ministry was sound Bible doctrine he believed in his heart or soul. Here are some facts that constituted his renewed mind. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his [God’s] sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). No matter how “good” someone’s religious performance appeared, the Law of Moses pronounced that person to be a sinner who fell short of God’s glory (verse 23). Sinners cannot reach that perfect standard of all that God is (everything He believes and does).

Consequently, every sinner has innately and automatically merited the following penalty: “…unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [God will render to them; verse 6] indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;…” (Romans 2:8,9). This is man’s nature and destiny. His feeble efforts in religion (good works) indeed “clean up” the outward to some extent, creating an existence that imitates God’s life. Alas, his nature or inward makeup is unchanged. He is still dead in his trespasses and sins, separated from God’s life. As Saul of Tarsus in Judaism, the Apostle Paul knew all about this firsthand. Read Philippians 3:1-11.

Verses 7-9: “But what things [religious works] were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….”

In today’s Scripture, Paul wanted lost Israel to learn this….

A Lost Love #6

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Emotions are untrustworthy because they can be easily manipulated. They change according to the situation. Yet, most unfortunately, because of sin, they tend to govern our lives by forming the basis for our decisions. Those choices might turn out to be our worst mistakes ever, but they “felt” right or acceptable when we made them. As opposed to relying on subjective data (personal opinions or feelings), we need an objective standard (facts). It is impossible to eliminate our emotions, but the renewed mind can overpower them.

We take sound Bible doctrine and think and live according to it, regardless of emotions (!). Our life and ministry should be founded on faith in Bible truth we hear or read (clear, faithful words of God applicable to our circumstances). This is the only safe path: “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).

“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). A mature Christian thinks a specific way and conducts his or her life according to the facts of Bible truth. Here is the proper course, for God originally designed mankind (prior to sin and Adam’s fall) to use the mind rather than the heart (emotions) to make choices. The alternative is to be a babe in Christ or a lost person, depending on feelings or hunches to evaluate life….