Category: ministry

Wisdom for Life #6

Friday, June 27, 2025

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is true wisdom for life….

Using diabolical ingenuity, Satan seeks to overthrow the four Divine institutions in creation. Whereas the LORD God established volition (free will), Satan’s lie program draws people away from God’s choice. Satan has no specific path for us to take, just as long as we choose to disagree with God’s way of life.

Marriage, God’s lifetime union of a biological man and a biological woman, is also under attack from Satan’s policy of evil. Pedophilia, homosexuality, transgenderism, divorce, bestiality, polyandry and polygamy (multiple husbands and multiple wives, respectively), spousal abuse, premarital sex, and extramarital sex, are all outside of God’s design in sexual relationships. Marriage forms the core of the family unit, so, if the marriage is in disarray, the family is automatically devastated.

The family is the most basic unit of nations, but fratricide (murdering one’s brother, such as Cain killing Abel), sororicide (murdering one’s sister), mariticide (murdering one’s husband), and uxoricide (murdering one’s wife), all complicate and destroy the family relationship. Here, we can also include disobedience to parents, child abuse, child neglect, child endangerment, abortion, and absentee mothers and absentee fathers.

Nations are the largest God-ordained entities of people—and while they have their distinct cultures, languages, and borders—internationalism blends them. Various religions and ideologies are thus mixed, and man in his own wisdom seeks to create the perfect life by leaving out the life of Jesus Christ. World peace, prosperity for everyone, eradication of all diseases, and so on, can supposedly be addressed by multicultural cooperation. In anarchy, borders do not matter, laws do not matter, government does not matter. Other complications are corrupt regimes, genocide, weak to no criminal punishments, unrestrained immigration, and so on.

All of these are departures from God’s standards. Romans 1:18-32 (note well verses 21,22,28) offers the details as to how sinful man—thinking his own thing and doing his own thing—contributed to his own spiritual, physical, moral, ethical, social, psychological, and emotional decline….

Wisdom for Life #5

Thursday, June 26, 2025

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is true wisdom for life….

According to the Book of Genesis (which is literal and historical), the LORD God wisely ordained four institutions in creation for the perpetuation of human life. The first is volition or free will, the second is marriage, the third is family, and the fourth is nationalism. Man’s problem is that he errs in all four spheres, choosing to lean unto his own understanding—thereby complicating and destroying life for himself and those around him.

The first two Divine institutions in creation were desecrated in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. In Genesis chapter 3, they chose to exercise their free will in a negative or sinful manner (following Satan, not God), and they turned on each other instead of living for the wellbeing of each other. The third Divine institution in creation is family, but that was overthrown when their unbelieving son Cain followed Satan and thus killed his believing brother Abel (Genesis chapter 4). The fourth Divine institution in creation was neglected after the Great Flood of Noah’s life. Whereas God commanded the people to scatter to represent their various nationalities in their respective territories (Genesis chapters 9–10), those nations assembled via internationalism—fellowshipping in satanic religion at the Tower of Babel (Genesis chapter 11).

Satan’s evil world system entices man to see something evil, want it, and assume he deserves it. Yet, the Bible instructs, “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” (1 John 2:15,16). As Moses told Israel, “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8).

Yet, those four Divine institutions of creation are attacked even now because man has still not departed from evil….

Wisdom for Life #4

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is true wisdom for life….

“I can be good without any god!,” boasts the atheist (one who “does not believe in a higher power”). This is just one form of secular humanism, the idea that humans are their final authority. What man thinks and does is the highest form of living, and he answers to no one but himself. If man can be “good without God,” who exactly is determining this “good?” Has man appointed himself to be his own judge? Such is most convenient! If he serves as his own critic, man can do no wrong and never does wrong.

The Corinthians lived in a culture that esteemed the wisdom of men (philosophy, human viewpoint). In fact, they are the secular humanists of the Bible—skeptics or doubters, rationalists or intellectuals, entertainment- or pleasure-seekers. Man, if left to himself, will end up being a part of the spiritual circus or pandemonium described in the Corinthian epistles (see 1 and 2 Corinthians). “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. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 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” (1 Corinthians 2:9-11).

It was here in Corinth that fortifications of bad information had to be demolished, as Paul wrote: “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). Only then could the Corinthians have true wisdom for life….

Wisdom for Life #3

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is true wisdom for life….

Many years ago, a so-called “grace Bible teacher” was constantly promoting false doctrine in the grace community on social-media. He relentlessly attacked people’s souls, and I in futility tried to reason with him from the Scriptures. I finally replied to him how God would hold him accountable for deliberately corrupting His people with man’s wisdom. This “Bible teacher”—who had also asked me to “pray for God to bless his ministry” (HA!)—wrote to me, “You are just trying to scare me!” He was not the least bit bothered. Well, he continued in his willful ignorance and spiritual immaturity, leading more and more people astray. He had no fear of God, no fear of the LORD. Why? His religious affiliation had taught him to lean unto his own understanding and the understanding of other natural-man thinkers. A best-selling “Christian” book he read had meant more to him than the Bible ever did… or probably will! He is just one of the many in our churches and schools we would be better off dismissing and ignoring!

A wise preacher once told his congregation, “I have no desire to tell you how to run your life, because I have trouble managing my own.” Indeed, he did—and we all do. If we know anything about ourselves—or, if we do not know this, we had better come to know it quickly—we know that we cannot trust ourselves. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Moses warned Israel, “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” (Deuteronomy 4:5,6). Israel’s wisdom would be the wisdom God taught her, not what “wisdom” Israel learned on her own….

333 Turns 14!

Sunday, June 1, 2025

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” celebrates another birthday!

All this time, we have been searching the King James Bible here, slowly (but surely) linking verses considered and understood in their dispensational settings. It has been painful—even rather traumatic—coming to realize our denominational minds were blinded about numerous matters. Yet, it was for the better that we deserted worthlessness. Though it has been discouraging to meet opposition from the willingly ignorant, we cease not rejoicing in our Lord Jesus Christ that His mercy and grace have been enough to carry us forward on this spiritual battlefield now 14 long years on.

Recently, a dear brother in Christ expressed thanks for our written studies and videos. He and his wife are both learning and growing in grace. Like I told him, it is my pleasure to do for others what others have done for me. There was a time when I too was discombobulated—confused, mixed up—because of my denominational upbringing. It took some years of Bible research to cleanse myself of all the erroneous thinking, but I was a sincere seeker of the truth and some saints showed me the right path to take. Praise our Lord!

Doubtless, there are others who want to know God’s will, God’s words, God’s plan for the ages. They just need the final pieces installed to be on their way in sound Bible doctrine. This is where our ministry comes in, for we teach others as we ourselves have been taught: “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). As we did long ago, so we trust they will use the verses we shared here to recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil (today’s Scripture).

Brethren, thank you for all the prayer and support these many years. We look forward to serving you in Year 15!

Note: All 14 years’ worth of studies have been archived here for your convenience!

333’s 5100th – To Perfect Holiness

Saturday, May 17, 2025

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV).

Saints, by God’s grace, special-edition devotional #5100 is here!

Assembling around the King James Bible rightly divided every day all these years (two weeks shy of 14 years, actually!) has been quite the learning experience, has it not? It is only appropriate—yea, exceedingly critical—that we thank Father God for our growth. We ought to keep walking in this spiritual light we have, lest we return to the darkness of spiritual kindergarten where we have been.

We “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (today’s Scripture) by receiving our Apostle Paul (verse 2). All evil conduct (Corinth) and all evil doctrine (Galatia) should be put out of our lives—this is not sinlessness but purity according to grace thinking and living. Unfortunately, the Corinthians had been foolish enough to accept false apostles and false teachers, so those Christians had no room for Paul in their heart: “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13).

Multitudes of professing Christians find themselves in that very passage. They have little to no time for Paul, Jesus Christ’s messenger or spokesman to them, because false teachers have distracted them! This is definitely not God’s fault. If we are unthankful for the spiritual understanding we have, we will inevitably end up where they are. This is not fun and games—entertainment. It is a matter of having victory over sin versus being conquered by sin. This is important. It does matter. It absolutely should concern us. We should take this seriously.

We have yet to “perfect [complete, see to the end] holiness in the sight of God” (today’s Scripture). Our sanctified, or set-apart, position in Christ has not taken over our thoughts and lives completely. Wherefore, until we reach Heaven, there is always opportunity for more growth and development, that our thinking better match sound Bible doctrine and our walk better match our wealth. Therefore, we continue these daily dispensational Bible studies.

Onward by God’s grace to devotional #5200! Praise our Lord Jesus Christ!

Note: All our previous devotionals are archived here.

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #7

Friday, May 16, 2025

“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. 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” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Observe: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;…” (Ephesians 5:18,19).

The Word of Christ must dwell in us richly if we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God. If the Word of Christ does not dwell in us richly, we are automatically not under the control of the Spirit of God—meaning we are under the control of our flesh. The flesh is man’s efforts, man’s resources in Adam, and the flesh of man and the Spirit of God always oppose one another. Carefully read Galatians 5:16-26 and Romans 8:1-14.

As he himself confessed in Philippians 3:6, Saul of Tarsus was a “zealous” man in Acts chapters 7–9. He ruthlessly persecuted the Messianic Church, Israel’s believing remnant. Like his apostate nation, he had a “zeal toward God” (Acts 22:3; Romans 10:2), but it was all done in the energy of the flesh—ignorance. No amount of Adamic struggles and strivings can ever even begin to replace God’s mighty power working in the inner man (as Paul himself came to understand in Romans chapter 7 and Philippians chapter 3).

Our faith should be resting in an intelligent understanding of God’s “rightly divided” Word (2 Timothy 2:15), especially a mastering of Paul’s epistles of Romans to Philemon, God’s words to and about us in this the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:1,2). Such clarity will carry far more weight in eternity than verbosity and fervency!

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #6

Thursday, May 15, 2025

“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. 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” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Upon hearing Apollos’ incomplete and inaccurate spiritual information, Aquila and Priscilla did not overlook it: “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). They took Apollos aside and taught him privately, instead of embarrassing him in public.

That which was lacking in Apollos’ Bible understanding, they filled it with the Bible teaching they received from Paul himself earlier in the chapter (verses 1-3). Apollos learned about the events which had followed the baptism of John the Baptist—Christ’s earthly ministry (including His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension), the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, the fall of Israel in Acts chapter 7, and the salvation and commissioning of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9. Apollos subsequently became a Bible teacher who communicated with great clarity, becoming an asset to Paul’s ministry (Acts 18:27,28; Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5,6; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Titus 3:13).

Unfortunately, unlike Apollos, too many ministers are unwilling to be taught “the way of God more perfectly.” Over all these years, I have met them. They are smug in, and comfortable with, their religious tradition, ignorance, and lies. “Scholarship,” man’s wisdom, man’s praise, and entertainment mean more to them than truth, God’s wisdom, God’s praise, and sound doctrine ever will! Lacking any care to know, they have no interest in being confused by facts. If so, they are preaching and teaching in the energy of the flesh. It is not the Holy Spirit working in and through them, but another spirit, so they are better off saying nothing in “the Lord’s name.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #5

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

“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. 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” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

The vast majority of professing Christians—leaders and congregants alike—are affiliated with at least one denomination, cult, sect, or theological system. Either they are on the membership rolls, or they frequent the services, or they have read the books, or they have graduated the religious schools. These groups are the product of non-dispensational Bible study. They are all failed attempts to understand and enjoy the Bible—some have a little more light than others, but all languish in extensive ignorance and darkness.

A classic example of non-dispensational ignorance in ministry is Apollos, featured in Acts chapter 18: “[24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. [25] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. [26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

This Bible teacher or preacher, Apollos, was “eloquent”—precise, persuasive, and beautiful words poured from his lips. He was “mighty in the scriptures”—powerful in his Hebrew Bible education. “Instructed in the way of the Lord,” he “spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord….” Bold Apollos was “fervent in the spirit”—excited, passionate, enthusiastic. The bad news is, “…knowing only the baptism of John.” Apollos’ understanding of the Bible timeline was outdated, for the latest information he had was a 20-year-old message from John the Baptist!

Indeed, Apollos was fervent and long-speaking, but clarity was lacking….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #4

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

“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. 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” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Verbose (wordy) discourses and homilies are not necessarily spiritual or godly. Prolific writing does not automatically glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Preachers, priests, pastors, teachers, and professors can speak with such eloquence, magnificence, or intelligence, and their spirit can become so excited that their voices boom—but is that the Spirit of God… or the flesh of man?

“Ramble” means “talk or write at length in a confusing or inconsequential way.” Nothing of any real meaning is communicated. Additionally, people are even more ignorant (unknowing) having listened to or read it—and they would have been better off hearing complete silence or looking at a blank page. This precisely describes much of the supposed “Christian” teaching, preaching, and writing these last 20 centuries. We need only glance at the tens of thousands of pitifully-ignorant little groups—cults, sects, denominations, social-clubs, and theological systems all under the banner of “Christendom”—to realize how monumentally great the disconnect is between man’s spirit and God’s Spirit!

Verses 4 and 5, the context of today’s Scripture: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” When Paul arrived at Corinth in Acts chapter 18, he made sure he did not employ the wisdom of men when he preached to these Corinthians. Such philosophy was central to Greek culture, and orators (professional speech-makers) stated their position in such a clever way that their good words and fair speeches persuaded their audience to adopt their views. Paul was mindful that this wisdom of men was not the wisdom of God, and faith can rest only in the wisdom and power of God….