Category: Grace Living (Christian Life)

Spellbound! #7

Friday, August 25, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Addressing Israel in the ages to come, the Holy Spirit guided the Apostle Peter to write: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 1:20–2:3).

In the above excerpt, we observe good spiritual teachers (God’s prophets or spokesmen) contrasted with evil spiritual teachers (Satan’s prophets or spokesmen). There is sound doctrine (from the Lord) and there is false doctrine (the Devil’s cheap counterfeit or imitation). Concentrate on 2 Peter 2:3: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you….” False teachers, motivated by “covetousness” (greed), target the spiritually naïve, those who have not mastered sound Bible teaching. They methodically use “feigned words” (make-believe or fiction; something artificial, pretend, or invented) to “make merchandise of you” (exploit you, take advantage of you, obtain something from you).

These are warnings for Israel in the future, when the Antichrist and his false religion arise and deceive innumerable souls. Still, the same evil world system is here with us now (albeit in a milder form). False teachers plague today’s world by means of the strategies Peter described 20 centuries ago. We would do well to also heed today’s Scripture, which our Apostle Paul penned for our spiritual health now….

Spellbound! #6

Thursday, August 24, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

The Greeks, especially in Athens, delivered powerful discourses to advertise their mental prowess, disseminate their favorite philosophy, and tempt gullible souls to join their ranks. Although highly educated in Jewish and Graeco-Roman thought, the Apostle Paul did not use his intellect to devise sly techniques to bring idolaters to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Describing his ministry in Corinth in Acts chapter 18, Paul penned: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God…. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:…” (1 Corinthians 2:1,4). Paul’s ministry relied on God’s power and God’s wisdom—and this is what influenced the Corinthians to trust Christ as their personal Saviour. They were reminded of this, lest they continue worshipping sinful man’s “brilliance” (see 1 Corinthians 1:17-31).

Consider Apollos now. “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus” (Acts 18:24). Initially, he seems like an outstanding Bible authority, right? He is articulate, possessing an extensive vocabulary, and skilled in the Scriptures. Yet, read verse 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.” Enthusiastic Apollos laboriously preaches and teaches about the Lord, but his latest information is John the Baptist’s ministry—a 20-year-old revelation!

In verse 26, Aquila and Priscilla, recognizing his problem, take bold Apollos aside and explain to him the way of God “more perfectly” (more exactly/precisely). Apollos was likely a sincere teacher, not deliberately leading anyone astray. Yet, despite his eloquence (nice-sounding sermons), his theology was not dispensational. Like denominationalism nowadays, Apollos’ “helpful insight” promised nothing but spiritual devastation….

Spellbound! #5

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Read Acts 24:1-27. Tertullus’ feel-good, inspirational, positive-thinking speech had its intended effect. Governor Felix was mesmerized to the point he cast aside all reason—forsaking whatever Roman ethics and jurisprudence he had learned. He was willing to—and did—continue to hold Paul as a prisoner, though lack of evidence of wrongdoing. Felix sought to please lost Israel, so he mistreated Paul (see Acts 24:27). The trial dragged on and on for two years, unresolved by the time Felix was removed from office (Roman Emperor Nero called him back to Rome on corruption charges!). Governor Porcius Festus, Felix’ successor, had to wrestle with the case, ultimately keeping Paul in bonds to appease lost Israel too (see Acts 25:9). If “good words” and “fair speeches” could and did pervert political/legal matters, it is no wonder today’s Scripture points to such errors as being utterly destructive in religious/spiritual cases.

Think of the term “spellbound.” Someone is figuratively bound (chained, shackled, trapped) by means of a dominating or irresistible influence. Another way of stating it is “fascinated,” “captivated,” or “charmed.” One prime example of this unfortunate state is found in Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, saints who started off in God’s grace but then listened to and believed the “convincing” legalists (Judaizers, denominationalists, works-religionists): “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

Such “bewitching” flourishes in Christendom even to this present moment, and most church members are totally ignorant of the warning God the Holy Spirit issued in today’s Scripture….

Spellbound! #4

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

When lost Israel persecuted the Apostle Paul in latter Acts, these unsaved Jewish religious leaders hired a professional speechmaker, Tertullus, to represent them and misrepresent Paul in a Roman court of law! Observe Acts chapter 24: “[1] And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. [2] And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, [3] We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. [4] Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.”

Tertullus’ oration or speech before the Roman Governor of Judaea, Antonius Felix, was designed to flatter this politician, to make him feel good about himself. With lost Israel’s representative praising the judge, the judge would be more inclined to conduct Paul’s trial in lost Israel’s favor. Tertullus’ opening argument was not against Paul but rather in support of Felix. Basically, Felix was commended for the peace and prosperity he gave Israel in the land of Palestine, how Israel was so appreciative of his efforts, and how they did not want to waste his precious time with trivial matters (what irony!!!). Tertullus declared how he could go on and on and on worshipping Felix, but he would not try his patience and rather asked for just a few more moments so he could blame Paul (see verses 5-8).

It is significant, however, that historians report that Felix was cruel, oppressive, and corrupt (cf. the bribe he wanted from Paul in verse 26). Tertullus’ compliments of Felix were overwhelmingly baseless—utter fabrications or downright lies (not including his extensive false testimony against Paul!). These “good words” and this “fair speech” manipulated Felix to mistreat Paul….

Spellbound! #3

Monday, August 21, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Dear friends, we must come to terms with a dreadful fact. False teachers do not announce how their ministries lead to destruction. Not one of them will preface their remarks with, “I am about to lie to you,” or “I am soon to lead you to eternal ruin,” or “I will ensure you stay in spiritual kindergarten,” or anything close to that effect. No, rather, they sound lovely, pleasant, or wonderful. In fact, four common elements forming the heart of their message are peace, prosperity, healing, and knowledge. Admirers by the millions—seeking tranquility, wealth, health, and “wisdom”—come to sit at their feet, shake their hands, fall to their knees, and kiss their toes!

Look at today’s Scripture. The two techniques false teachers employ are “good words” and “fair speeches.” In our Greek New Testament, “good words” is “chrestologia.” The term “chrestos” was translated in our King James Bible as follows: “easy” (Matthew 11:30), “better” (Luke 5:39), “kind” (Luke 6:35; Ephesians 4:32), “goodness” (Romans 2:4), “good” (1 Corinthians 15:33), and “gracious” (1 Peter 2:3). Believe it or not, a false teacher’s communications can be described as any or all of these!

“Fair speeches” is “eulogia” (literally, “good thoughts/words”), from which we get “eulogy.” A eulogy is a message intended to praise someone, particularly at the person’s funeral. Admirable traits, inspiring accomplishments, and other enjoyable comments are expressed before a crowd. “Fair” means “beautiful, soothing, reassuring, or complimentary.” As someone once put it, “Fair speeches are language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer.” The “good words” are the substance, but the “fair speeches” are the means whereby the orator influences the audience to believe those words.

This does not mean everyone who speaks kindly or beautifully is automatically a false teacher. Nonetheless, we do need to realize threats to our spiritual wellbeing typically lurk in the most unexpected places….

Spellbound! #2

Sunday, August 20, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

A Christian lady once related to me her innumerable ridiculous experiences in religion. One such particular disappointment involved her bedridden husband who had a terminal illness. This dear woman hated seeing him suffer, so she desperately sought the “services” of someone who took advantage of her. She asked a certain local preacher to come and minister to him. Standing by the dying man, the pastor pronounced that God would heal him, that he would recover and leave his sickbed. It took her some time before she finally realized just what a charlatan this so-called “man of God” really was. Her husband’s condition worsened, and he soon died and moved to Heaven!

Many years later, I talked with that “healing” pastor (he works at a nearby funeral home!), and though he was friendly, he had no interest in sound Bible doctrine. After being a professional denominationalist for several decades, he was too comfortable with his delusions and staunchly refused to forsake his traditions! Our only conclusion is that this man in ministry is one of countless people who have no business being in ministry at all. False religious hope leads to wallets, purses, and souls taken!

Re-read today’s Scripture: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Paul the Apostle here describes individuals who split up believers (local grace churches) by introducing false teaching. Instead of all Christians united around the truth, they now go their separate ways because each has found someone who promotes a special view that appeals to them but not to others. The result is just another cult, sect, or denomination. It all starts with something that sounds pleasant, lovely, wonderful….

Spellbound! #1

Saturday, August 19, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

A few years ago, a Christian friend faithfully listened to a “Christian prophetess” (?) share her “wisdom” through online sermon videos. He would tell me what she discussed, and, since I was skeptical of her, I would strongly caution him not to bother with her. However, he kept following her “ministry,” watching her videos daily. Yet, here is a startling development. Recently, he finally admitted to me that she had indeed tricked him—like so many others. He had just happened upon a website that exposed her as false. (Of course, that was no surprise to me because I already knew she was a fraud and told him so many times before!) She would set numerous dates for certain events to materialize, but nothing she said ever came to pass. Her frequent failed predictions were well-documented on the website my friend noticed. He had been fooled, but it took a stranger (rather than me, his friend) to convince him!

My dear friend told me exactly how this “Christian prophetess” (?) had manipulated him into adopting all kinds of weird views. She did it by foretelling things he really wanted to happen. For example, she habitually started off by reporting a particular negative or depressing news event. Then, she would claim “God” would intervene and correct the problem at a specific time (she would pinpoint the month and the day). This constant dose of wishful thinking kept luring my friend to tune in to her broadcasts for several months. Unfortunately, the dates would come and go, with the sinful event continuing unresolved. Where was the “God” she said would “intercede?” My friend finally admitted he had been scammed.

Today’s Scripture is the Holy Spirit giving us a firsthand glimpse of what a false teacher is really like, and what we should do when we discover one….

For Students This is Safe

Friday, August 18, 2023

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128 KJV).

As a new school year dawns, let us awake unto spiritual truth!

Although the autumnal equinox is still over a month away here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is finally beginning to wind down for most of us. Students—with long faces and deep sighs—have returned or are beginning to return to school. As students return to the classroom, they need to be particularly mindful of the following.

Firstly, learning in and of itself is not a sin. Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Luke was a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14). Daniel and his companions were skilled in science (Daniel 1:4). Adam was the first taxonomist (Genesis 2:19,20). The God of the Bible is never against learning new things—remember, He gave us His Holy Bible so we can have plenty to learn for all of eternity!

Secondly, what the God of the Bible opposes is when we believe/trust ideas that do not seek our best interests, that contradict the way He designed our lives to function. Certainly, we Christians should never go around believing anything and everything heard and seen. Just because the professor, preacher, pope, or president says it is true, that does not make it so. Scientific consensus has been wrong before, religion has been wrong before, politicians have been wrong before. Much of the ideas that permeate our world today are wrong.

Lastly, there are many wonderful, exciting ideas and concepts out there—medical advancements, technological breakthroughs, and so on—but there are equally detrimental ideas that will mess up your life—religious traditions, secular humanism, and other philosophies. Daily intake of the King James Bible rightly divided will cleanse our souls of the filth and foolishness that we hear and see day in and day out in this evil world system. We highly exalt God’s Word, we know it is right “concerning all things,” and we hate and ignore the error.

Have a wonderful school year in our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙂

God’s Profaned Name #10

Thursday, August 17, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Today’s Scripture is definitely part of the prophetic program. It involves God’s purpose and plan for Israel and the Earth. The Holy Spirit comments on how the nation Israel in time past abandoned the identity that their Creator gave them. They were not reflections of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Despite their infidelity, He, in the ages to come, will be faithful in bringing to pass His original promise to them. They are to be His vessels to reach the Gentiles when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to reign.

What about us, the Church the Body of Christ? Can we profane God’s name? Yes, we can. If we are not careful to walk in our identity in Christ, as described in Romans to Philemon, we can misrepresent Him as Israel did long ago. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).

If what we say and do is incompatible with all that the Lord Jesus would say and do (His “name”), then non-Christians will see and hear conflicting information. Our misconduct will become the scoffer’s principle: “I am not a Christian and never want to be a Christian because ‘Christians’ lead a worse life than I do as a non-Christian.” It will be similar to ancient Israel’s detractors: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (Romans 2:24). “If that nonsense is what it means to be a worshipper of JEHOVAH God, we will keep our idols and die as heathen!”

As we (the Body of Christ) seek to avoid Israel’s disasters, we bear in mind passages such as Philippians 1:9-11 and Philippians 2:13-16. “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

God’s Profaned Name #6

Sunday, August 13, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Re-read today’s Scripture. The word “profane” means “make common or ordinary.” It is the opposite of “sanctify, set apart, hallow, make holy or special.” Whereas JEHOVAH God’s name was unique, distinct from the gods and goddesses of heathenism, the nation Israel misrepresented Him amongst the Gentiles to whom belonged those idols. You can consult the Prophet Daniel’s prayer of confession in Daniel 9:3-20, which was said in obedience to Leviticus 26:40-46. Like Daniel, the Prophet Ezekiel looked forward to the day when Israel would be restored to the LORD’S service.

The context of today’s Scripture—Ezekiel chapter 36—prophesies how the LORD will take Israel from under the Old Covenant (Law of Moses) and put them under the New Covenant. Curses give way to blessings, as sin is replaced with righteousness; wrath fades and grace overflows. Read the verses that follow today’s Scripture: “[24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. [25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. [26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. [28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

Here is how God will “sanctify” His great name that the Jewish people soiled while under the Dispensation of the Law of Moses….