Category: Grace Living (Christian Life)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #2

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23 KJV).

The second verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!”

The first time in history that the Bible records angels singing joyfully, it was when they watched the God of the Bible create the heaven and the earth. The book of Job, chapter 38, verse 7, says in retrospect, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Now, some 4,000 years later, in the books of Matthew through John, the angels are singing because God the Son has become a Man, the God-Man.

Without the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14), the God of the Bible would be distant and cold. He would have no intimate relation to us. There would be no manifestation of the invisible Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost would just be immaterial Beings. But, the incarnation made Jesus Christ the most unique Person in all of the universe. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

There is no other Being who is both fully God and fully man, total man and yet total God, untainted humanity and undiminished deity. The angels had never seen such a Person. They saw what God was doing and they took great value in it. They certainly did not understand what we know today, but they knew enough to sing and rejoice.

Saints, please remember us in your monthly giving—these websites do cost money to run! 🙂 You can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux, or email me at arcministries@gmail.com. Do not forget about Bible Q&A booklets for sale at https://arcgraceministries.org/in-print/booklets-bible-q-a/. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! By the way, ministry emails have really been backed up this year. I am handling them as much as humanly possible. Thanks for your patience. 🙂

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #1

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

“And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6 KJV).

The first verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!”

Angels are very strange, and thus, often misunderstood, creatures. They are like humans in some respects but also drastically different from us. According to today’s Scripture, angels have a capacity to find worth in, and hence worship, their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father, according to the book of Hebrews (today’s Scripture), does not consider His Son an angelic being but rather Someone apart from the angelic host, Someone worthy of their worship.

Psalm 103:20,21 says: “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” And Psalm 148:2, “Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.” In the spirit of these verses, the writer of the book of Hebrews penned what he did in today’s Scripture.

The angels knew that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, had finally become flesh, and He could now fulfill the Old Testament prophecies going all the way back to Adam—chiefly, God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom. On the night of Christ’s birth, Luke 2:13,14 says: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.” In perfect accordance with the book of Psalms, the angels filled the night sky of Palestine and joyfully sang to praise the Lord of glory! (What that massive angelic choir sounded like to human ears, we can only wonder!!)

Let us, by faith, join that angelic host in praising the Lord of glory!

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Thursday, November 28, 2019

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).

Dear saints, take a moment this Thanksgiving to learn a valuable lesson from the Holy Scriptures!

God wants “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4). To be “saved” here means you have been rescued from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire), and that you have a home in heaven, because you have trusted the death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for your sins. To “come unto the knowledge of the truth” is when a person who has trusted Christ, begins to understand why God saved him or her, and how God will use him or her for His glory. Although soul salvation is instantaneous, spiritual maturity is a life-long process (that is especially true regarding handling difficulties, the grace way!).

It is human nature to avoid difficulties and stress, to flee them, rather than confront them. This self-preservation is advantageous, particularly in “life or death” situations. However, running from troubling circumstances is not the way God has designed our life in Christ to function. Today’s Scripture says, “In every thing give thanks,” not “For every thing give thanks.” We do not thank God for our troubles; we thank God while we are enduring those troubles. This is tough, I know, but it takes time for us to learn it. Even the Apostle Paul had to learn this.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Be thankful in every thing. God’s grace is sufficient for you, dear saint, in all of life’s circumstances. When you learn this, you are “[coming] unto the knowledge of the truth.”

*Excerpted from our Thanksgiving 2012 Bible study with the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

You may also see, “What are our spiritual blessings in Christ?”

Many, Many, Many!

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:11,12 KJV).

What a statement—“many…many… many!”

Dear friends, while today’s Scripture is still future, we would do well to look at this list of three “many’s” and how they parallel Paul’s epistles and God’s current dealings with man:

  • “MANY FALSE PROPHETS SHALL ARISE.” A “prophet” is a man who claims to speak on God’s behalf (whether genuine or fake). When we look at today’s religious world, it is rather easy to see how these words of Christ will be fulfilled after our Dispensation of Grace has run its course. The operative word here is “many.” Christ did not say “a few.” There will be “many” people pretending to represent the God of the Bible. Doubtless, they will speak of “Jesus,” the “Holy Ghost,” and the “Gospel.” Unless they employ such biblical terms, they would never be able to successfully pass themselves off as authentic. “Many… corrupt the word of God” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
  • “THEY SHALL DECEIVE MANY.” The “many” false prophets will have a far greater impact than we would care to admit. As opposed to small pockets of misled and confused souls, there will be massive spiritual damage inflicted when they will conduct their ministries. “(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:…” (Philippians 3:18). Here are genuine Christians deceived by false doctrine—not just “a few,” but “many!” We can see this today as well.
  • “THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD.” With bad doctrine circulating, “iniquity” (injustice, evil) is proliferating. God’s Word absent, man’s sinful flesh naturally takes over. Unbelievers will mercilessly attack believers in Christ. Furthermore, believers would turn on fellow believers! Even in our dispensation, this is evident. One of the last verses Paul penned was, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15). Here is a massive apostasy or turning from sound Bible doctrine. Their love faded for God’s spokesman to them; tragically, they have abandoned the Apostle as he awaits execution in a Roman prison!

Be on guard, brethren!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Are our mystery program and its promises better than Israel’s prophetic program and its promises?”

333’s 3100th – My Words

Monday, November 25, 2019

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31 KJV).

Dearly beloved, we have reached devotional #3100!

Today’s Scripture is actually one of three times wherein the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of His Word—yea, rather His “words,” notice—in conjunction with the end times. We will now read the parallel verses. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33).

All three verses are part of “the Olivet Discourse,” “Jesus’ Second Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew chapters 24–25; Mark chapter 13; Luke chapter 21). The Lord is sitting on the Mount of Olives, responding to His disciples’ questions about His Second Coming and subsequent activities. He not only summarizes the Old Testament prophecies, He adds further insight by revealing things previously unknown. Some intense trials are coming on Israel and the rest of the world. Here we are, 20 centuries later, these passages still awaiting fulfillment. Therefore, what was spoken long ago loops forward to the future from us—Israel that will exist after our Dispensation of Grace.

If the believing Jews are to survive those forthcoming violent and destructive times, with Heaven and Earth being considerably reformed, they will have to fall back on Christ’s words. Since His words will never pass away, Israel’s believing remnant has something solid on which to rely: they need to trust those words, waiting for the Lord to bring to pass everything He said regarding them (curses and blessings). While they have a glorious future, there must first be a time of suffering.

Brethren, we have come quite far in our studies these last 3,100 days, have we not? We have paid attention to “the words”—not merely the thoughts—of the Holy King James Bible. Special emphasis was given to words because words are the most basic components of thoughts. If the preserved words of God will preserve the believers in Israel in their prophetic program, then, surely, those preserved words will preserve us in our mystery program. No matter how grim our conditions are, the inspired and preserved words of God will see us through to our eternal destiny as well!

Onward we go to devotional #3200! 🙂

Share with Care!

Sunday, November 24, 2019

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:10,11 KJV).

Friend, be careful what you share on social media!

Not long ago, a dear brother in Christ was telling me how he had shared something “Christian” on social media. Then, he actually read what he had posted and passed on to others. He realized it was not Christian at all—just “Christian” in name only (religious tradition and man’s opinions being passed off as Christianity). He quickly deleted the post, but, by then, people had already been exposed to it and had associated him with it.

We would do well to take note of the above scenario. It happens more often than we care to think. We can never be too cautious online. If we are not careful, we will inadvertently aid the Devil in his cause! It is a sad reality, brought to pass most easily. There are Bible believers who accidentally share false teaching, but can we find a false teacher who unintentionally shares Bible truth?

Over the last few years, we have heard much about the propagation of “fake news.” People are peddling unverified or outright fabricated information as though it were true—especially in the field of so-called “journalism.” Extensive damage is inflicted. It might have been a simple, unintentional error. Unfortunately, if recurrent, malice is likely involved, and apologetic “fake-news organizations and individuals” are merely “sorry they got caught!”

Saints, before you share anything on social media—and pay extremely close attention here—read the whole article or watch the entire video. If you are not judicious, you may wind up endorsing something you actually disagree with. In the event that you are unsure of something, it is better not to “share” it with others until you can verify it. Compare it with the Bible rightly divided, “searching the scriptures daily, whether those things [are] so” (today’s Scripture). If you are still unsure, the safest action to take is not share it all because more harm than good may result. Share with care!

Bible Q&A #670: “Will living in Heaven forever be boring?”

Delight and Forget Not!

Saturday, November 23, 2019

“I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Psalm 119:16 KJV).

Dear friends, let us follow the example of the Psalmist!

Read the verse previous to today’s Scripture: “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways” (verse 15). For many people—yea, most—Bible study is “boring” because amusement is preferred. No thinking is required with entertainment. However, “meditate” implies someone is engaging in deep thought. There are simply too many individuals who possess the Bible but are not thinking critically about it. If they do read it, they really make no mental effort therein. For most, Bible reading is just a “necessary task” because it is “Christian” to do it. Do they not burn inside to understand the words of the eternal God, genuinely seeking His wisdom? Or, have they set out in the Scriptures merely to prove some pet theological belief or denominational tenet?

The Psalmist determined to “delight” in the LORD’S statutes (words, instructions). To him, learning Scripture was not done grudgingly or of necessity. In fact, he purposed to remember the Divine revelation to which he had been exposed. Moreover, the Psalmist decided to “have respect unto [God’s] ways.” It was not mindless memorization or dry repetition, but reverential appreciation. We too would do well, saints, to open the Bible every day and better acquaint ourselves with it. Considering the bombardment of lies we experience daily—from internet sites, television programs, printed material, and so on—we should renew our minds with the Word of God rightly divided.

“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). “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine…. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 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” (1 Timothy 4:13,15,16).

Blinded!

Friday, November 22, 2019

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:1-4 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is just as true today as it was 20 centuries ago!

A Christian sister and I were once speaking with a dear, sweet lady about the Bible. We asked her if she knew where she was going when she died. She replied rather confidently, “I am going to Heaven.” This sounded good, obviously, and we were waiting for her to tell us the Gospel. However, when we proceeded to ask her how she knew she was going to Heaven, she responded: “People have told me so!”

Long ago, a man had been taking care of his ailing wife for several years at their home. Someone heard of that arrangement and commented, “Surely, he is going to Heaven. He is so good to her.” It was later determined—to that “someone’s” shock—that that man was physically and sexually abusing his wife!

Friends, it is most unfortunate that, of all topics, people are so ill-informed concerning the Gospel of Grace. Their eternal souls are in danger of going to a place of everlasting torment. Yet, they believe otherwise because they are depending on weak speculations and faulty assumptions. Satan’s evil world system has so blinded them with works-religion (cf. today’s Scripture). In fact, they are so lost they really cannot appreciate the fact they are lost!

The Apostle Paul, as unsaved Saul of Tarsus, was once deceived in works-religion. He had likewise deceived others. Once he trusted Christ, however, he gave up believing and telling religious lies. Brethren, let us speak the truth of the Gospel of Grace—1 Corinthians 15:3,4—with such clarity that we avoid any misunderstandings in the minds of people already thoroughly confused about God’s Good News!

Signs of Shallowness #10

Thursday, November 21, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

Dear friends and brethren, we grow spiritually by understanding and appreciating the completed Bible canon—particularly the Pauline epistles (Romans through Philemon) that closed it. Unless we notice God’s most recent revelation, we cannot know what He is doing today.

The Holy Spirit instructed and encouraged the baby saints at Corinth (who enjoyed being entertained with spiritual nonsense): “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).

In New Testament Greek culture (the Corinthians’ background), childhood ended for girls and boys at age 13. They would gather their toys and leave them at a pagan temple, signaling they were now adults. Dear friends, if we let the Bible rightly divided impact our minds and hearts, believing it (!), we too will “put away childish things.” Moving from shallow waters, we thus plumb the depths of God’s mystery wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)! 🙂

Signs of Shallowness #9

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

Ephesians chapter 4: “[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] 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: [14] 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; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] 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.”

Here is one enormous sentence in Greek! In short, the Lord Jesus Christ gave church leaders for the purpose of bringing the Church the Body of Christ to a place of “edifying” (building up) and “perfection” (spiritual maturity). At one time, there was no completed Bible—now there is. We thus have no reason to be “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Indeed, if we are shallow in the Scripture, we are vulnerable to such spiritual lies. Just look at church history and modern Christendom!

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….