Category: ministry

To Be Seen and Heard #15

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

It is utterly impossible for everyone to be a pastor. Everyone cannot teach Sunday School. It is totally unreasonable for everyone to lead singing (erroneously called “worship service”). Yet, there is regularly a contest to see who can be most visible in ministry, someone on whom the eyes of the group are firmly fixed. People who should not be in these roles wind up serving in them because individuals controlled by man’s wisdom have appointed them. They do not have the sound doctrine, the filling of the Holy Spirit, to carry out the jobs: they are doing “God’s work” with the Devil’s help!

Once, two Christian men attended local religious classes for some weeks. They knew it was a false system, but they were “scouting” or investigating what was happening. Many students had assembled for a priest to teach them denominational doctrine. These two men would raise their hands and ask Bible questions, posing a threat to the priest because it directed the group conversation toward “banned” topics (which he cared not to discuss or have his people see and hear). Finally, during one meeting, these two Christian men were stunned to hear the priest present a Gospel message to the class just like they would have. Greeting people upon dismissal, the priest addressed the departing men, “Are you happy now? Do not come back!” (One of these men shared this with me.)

Usually, we are inclined to comment, “Oh, what poor people, they are so deceived and do not know any better!” Actually, they are likely more aware of the truth than we think. (I have discovered this many times in my own ministry.) Though they let it be seen and heard briefly so as to “keep up appearances,” it is their preference if you saw and heard them, saw and heard their theological system. Again, remember, that was corrupted Judaism during Christ’s earthly ministry—and it led to His execution!

What is worse than striving to be seen and heard is wanting to see and hear those who wish to be seen and heard….

Not a Waste—and Not Too Late, Either

Saturday, February 22, 2025

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 KJV).

One Sunday night long ago, a pastor was delivering a sermon he had written about temptation. Departing from his notes, he became more personal and cried out to the people, “Maybe there is someone here who is thinking about throwing himself off that bridge out over there, so hopeless because he believes it is too late for him not to enter into temptation! Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ! He will forgive and save even you!”

Some weeks later, one of his church members informed him of a woman who had contemplated throwing herself off that very bridge. She almost did it too, but there was much sunlight outside. Fearing someone might notice and stop her from ending her life, she had moved into the crowd of a nearby church building to await nightfall. It had been that pastor’s church building… and it had been the night of his sermon on temptation. She had heard his Gospel invitation, assumed God was talking to her through him, decided not to jump after all, and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for her sins!

Brethren, the lesson is simple: we give God’s words, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. We might not see results for weeks, years, decades, or in this life at all. That makes no difference whatsoever! What matters is God gives the increase; we who plant and water are unimportant. Remember today’s Scripture, and never forget it! Perhaps, dear friend, you are not even a Christian. Maybe you are planning to jump off a bridge, too. Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ for you also, and He can save even you as well. You have come to the right place, to read this Gospel of Grace: “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).

Love, Not Eloquence

Thursday, February 13, 2025

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15 KJV).

A dear Christian brother, now enjoying Heaven, wrote long ago: “It is not the tongue that counts—it is the heart. There are many educated ministers today who can prepare and deliver eloquent sermons; but if the heart is not filled with the love of God, the message will be empty and vain.” We agree wholeheartedly!

Read Philippians 1:15-18. Some people serve in ministry out of goodwill and love—endeavoring to benefit others, seek their highest good, profit them, impart sound Bible doctrine unto them, offer them spiritual light and understanding. Others in ministry simply wish to attack, belittle, or pick fights. God’s love is not operating in them: their flesh underlies what they do and speak. They might even study the Bible, and sound like the Lord Jesus Christ’s servants, but they are spiteful and vindictive. Philosophy (man’s wisdom), not the love of the Holy Spirit, governs them. As today’s Scripture expresses, Paul was just the opposite.

Read the Apostle’s other words to Corinth: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:17-21).

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1,2). Above all, brethren, may we be gentle and loving (instead of “philosophical”) in ministry as we share the Message of Grace!

333’s 5000th – Awake or Asleep?

Thursday, February 6, 2025

“And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together” (Acts 20:8 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” marks a special ministry milestone!

Read today’s Scripture in context: “[7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. [8] And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. [9] 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. [10] And Paul went down, and fell on him, 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.”

Dear Christian friends, for 5,000 consecutive days (!) we have gathered here around the Word of God rightly divided. In a sense that is “long preaching.” Being situated in a place of “many lights,” we are reminded of Psalm 119:105,130: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” It is our hope and prayer that we have not been like Eutychus (or the Corinthians [1 Corinthians 15:33,34], or the Ephesians [Ephesians 5:14-18], or the Romans [Romans 13:11-14]), paying more attention to the darkness of the evil world system “outside” instead of the sound Bible doctrine “inside,” reaching the point of a “deep sleep” (Christian inattentiveness) and subsequent death (the Christian mind and life separated from their function). After all, we have known many who have already departed from the faith—and they cannot rightly say they did not have a chance to know it with us.

Perhaps God in His grace will equip us for another 5,000 studies?! Onward we go in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Remember, all 5,000 devotionals are archived here.

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #5

Thursday, January 9, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28).

In the above Scripture, we read of the beginning of the human species—the creation of the first man and the first woman. He is not named until chapter 2 (Adam), and she is not given a name until chapter 3 (Eve). The LORD God instructed the man, who originally existed alone: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).

With Lucifer (now known as “Satan,” Hebrew for “adversary”) working independently of his Creator, he moved to Earth to further his campaign that could be aptly styled “the policy of evil.” Read Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Such shrewdness or trickery, questioning the simple Word of God, was enough to ensure the human species would not fulfill the Creator’s will….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #4

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

At its heart, sin is independence from God—thinking or doing something that is not part of His purpose and plan. He, the Creator, is thus not glorified; instead, the creature is worshipped and served (see Romans 1:25). This attitude and action originated with a spirit creature named Lucifer, whose narcissism is not dissimilar from man’s own love of self and preoccupation with autonomy. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

“Thou art the anointed cherub [a spirit in the angelic world] that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up [proud, arrogant] because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (Ezekiel 28:14-17).

When Adam, the first man, was created, he was foolish enough to join this angelic rebellion, initiating a human revolt against God on Earth….

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. 🙂

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #3

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Trying to be clever, desperately grabbing at superficial excuses so as not to believe the Bible or accept any “higher power,” critics of Christianity or religion in general produce various accusations. If God is omnipotent (all-powerful), can He not prevent tragedies? If He cannot stop them, then He is not great! If He can stop them but does not, then He is not good! These “intelligent” arguments are predicated upon the false assumption we mortal, puny, fallible creatures could sit in judgment of a Supreme Being (like “wise-in-their-own-eyes” children critiquing an adult!).

If He is God, could we ever hope to know all that He knows? If ever we knew as much as He does, then we ourselves would be God, right? Since we are not God, since we do not know everything there is to know, is it not plausible that His vindication is found amongst our unknown knowledge? Moreover, could our liability (we having wrongly charged Him with misconduct) be part of that unknown knowledge? To wit, in spite of tragedies, He could be both good and great (though we in our limitations have already foolishly passed unjust sentence on Him). After all, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9).

One conceited Bible mocker complained he did not believe in God because the universe tries to kill us 1,000 different ways—such as food and water shortages, diseases, ultraviolet radiation, and vicious and hungry wild animals. Amazingly, that whiner was still alive to grumble! Some intelligent mind had figured out a way to ensure his survival (an immune system, medication, weapons, Earth’s protective atmosphere, and so on)! In short, we have been equipped to live in the midst of threats, despite perils and tragedies… and that is quite a strong case for a benevolent, loving, personal, Creator God who seeks our welfare….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #2

Monday, January 6, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Let us start by considering one of the most worn-out questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? (Conversely, it could be asked: Why do good things happen to bad people? Yet, that is not the scope of this study.) Suffering stems from three sources.

Firstly, because of sin, we live in a world (an entire universe) that is disintegrating, falling apart, decaying, becoming more chaotic with the passage of time. Genesis 3:16-19 is true. We grow sick, old, and die. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22,23). The curse of sin is random—each individual suffering a unique set of troubles, weaknesses, illnesses.

Secondly, we and others make stupid decisions: as we and they sow, so we and they reap. This principle clarifies that whatever we do (good and bad) affects others and whatever they do (good and bad) affects us. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7,8).

Thirdly, we Christians suffer persecution because we live in enemy territory, Satan and his servants looking to injure or eliminate us the “competition.” “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation [trouble] enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20).

Here is adult understanding….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #1

Sunday, January 5, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

The Christian faces two seemingly insurmountable challenges in ministry. Firstly, he or she will meet people suffering under the curse of sin, living in a fallen world, going through a variety of great difficulties, trials, and tribulations. Secondly, these tormented souls really have no understanding as to what is really going on. What compounds the distress is the fact that denominational thinking thoroughly confuses Christians and non-Christians alike.

It is so tragic that even people who possess and/or use the Bible have few to no answers for those seeking enlightenment about life’s problems. This unfortunate situation gives rise to yet another disaster—the Holy Bible mocked, ridiculed, disdained, thought of as nothing but a compilation of fairytales and superstitions. Annoyed and angered, people begin lashing out and utterly hating the Bible because its users themselves seldom offer anything meaningful or substantive. Shallow, sentimental clichés are definitely no substitute for sound Bible doctrine!

When professing Christians ask why bad things happen to good people, or inquire why a loving God would allow suffering, or claim how problems will just vanish if we quote enough verses, or assert that we can say the right words in prayer to get a desired outcome, it shows us that they are learning nothing from the Bible at church. In short, “church services” for them is a time of entertainment or amusement, hearing some philosophical or popular psychology quotes, watching a few rituals or ceremonies, and giving a donation in the collection plate to “make God happy with them.” Non-Christians may be lost, but they, to some extent, know something is not right in this world. What they also know is Christendom has no answers for them. Shame!

Dear friends, in the midst of any tragedy, one prayer we should become familiar with is, “LORD, deliver us from Bible ignorance!” There is no more dangerous a time than when wild, senseless emotions and overwhelming spiritual darkness reign as tyrants over us….

Redeem the Year!

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV).

What great advice for 2025!

Despite 2,000 years of Bible schools and seminaries, 2,000 years of a completed Bible canon, 2,000 years of Bible reading in churches, several decades of “Christian” television and radio, and a decade-plus of widespread use of “Christian” websites, how sad that Bible ignorance is still quite extensive (it is as if God never gave His Word to start with!).

Frankly, the Church the Body of Christ needs to wake up! The verse previous to today’s Scripture says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (verse 14). Paul, loosely quoting Isaiah 60:1, reminded us that the spiritual ignorance that gripped Israel in Isaiah’s day seized Christians in his day—and it still grips Christians 20 centuries later. Feel-good sermons, enjoyable “worship” services, and rites, rituals, and ceremonies will NOT solve this problem—they exacerbate it!

“[God] will have all men to be saved…” (1 Timothy 2:4a). Do you want this New Year to count for God’s glory? First, you need to get saved from sins and hell! You need to become a Christian by trusting in and relying on Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). That is only part of God’s will for you, for 1 Timothy 2:4b continues, “[God] will have all men… to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Now, God’s will for your Christian life is daily, personal Bible study to renew your mind, so your faith in those verses can cause God to work in your life—it will be His life, thus making you “perfect [spiritually mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Today’s Scripture urges us to buy back the time Satan has robbed from God (time created for God’s glory). By faith, we need to make that time glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by applying His Word, particularly Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, to our lives. Have a good year in Christ! 🙂

You can download our free “One-Year Bible Reading Schedule.”

See our archived Bible Q&A: “What Scriptural advice can you give me for the New Year?”