Category: spiritual growth and maturity

I Can Read!

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:4 KJV).

How can you understand Paul’s knowledge in the mystery of Christ? Read Romans through Philemon!

I have a dear pastor friend in the ministry who, while teaching the Bible, often asks the rhetorical question, “How do I know this is true? Because I can read!” There are verses in the Bible that lead him to conclusions. He is not guessing, using philosophy, or looking to church tradition for insight into spiritual matters.

There are so many people today in Christendom who are not reading the Bible at all. They go to church and let the pastor or priest speak about a few shallow verses that just about everybody knows. That is their “Bible study” for the week… or maybe even for the month or year! They assume that they have done their “Christian” duty. What mindless activity, beloved! No wonder there is so much parroting and deception in the professing church. The vast majority is just repeating what others have claimed the Bible says, and the Bible, more often than not, never said what they claimed it did. Whenever someone offers you a denominational handbook instead of a Bible, he or she is demonstrating to you exactly where his or her heart is. You will be able to see whether God’s Word is being exalted in that group or being ignored by that group.

The chief goal of our early English Bible translators—beginning with John Wycliffe in the late 1300s and culminating with the King James Bible translators in the early 1600s—was to make God’s Word available to the laypeople. For centuries, the “educated” clergy had interpreted the Bible through the lens of tradition. The common people, having little to no training, simply believed whatever the church leadership taught. How sad to learn this is still ongoing—over 400 years after the Holy Spirit gave us the final English Bible! Saints literally died to give it to us, and we often put it on a shelf to collect dust. We open it only in “difficult” times. What a travesty! (And we wonder why the Body of Christ is so pathetically ignorant!)

Dear friend, read your Bible for yourself! 🙂

Mother: A Virtuous Woman

Sunday, May 8, 2016

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10 KJV).

Today is Mother’s Day, so we dedicate this devotional to godly women (specifically mothers). I especially dedicate this to the virtuous woman who has been in my life for almost 28 years… my mom!

Today’s Scripture is the first verse of the Bible’s “Virtuous Woman” passage (Proverbs 31:10-31). King Solomon explained that the virtuous woman:

  • has a husband who safely trusts in her (verses 11,12).
  • is not lazy, but is strong because she works to feed and clothe her family and herself (verses 13-19,21,22,24,25,27).
  • pities the poor and needy (verse 20).
  • has a husband who is well-known because of her godly lifestyle (verse 23).
  • opens her mouth with wisdom, and speaks kindly and lovingly (verse 26).
  • has children and a husband who praise her (verse 28).
  • excels in what she does (verse 29).
  • has works that praise her (verse 31).

Verse 30 explains the virtuous woman is “a woman that feareth the LORD.”

The Apostle Paul wrote that godly women should: not slander/gossip, not be controlled by alcohol and emotions (sober minded), be teachers of good things, love their husbands and children, be cautious and modest, maintain the home, be “good,” and should obey (respect) their husbands… “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). A Christian woman, especially a mother, should be a virtuous woman in beliefs as well as in deed. She needs to set an example for her children (especially her daughters).

A Christian woman and/or Christian mother places her faith in this sound Bible doctrine, the indwelling Holy Spirit will then take that doctrine and transform her for God’s glory (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Her mind will be renewed by sound Bible doctrine, and that will transform her outward activity (Romans 12:1,2).

Are you a Christian woman or Christian mother who desires to be the woman God intends you to be in Christ Jesus? Place your faith in this sound Bible doctrine, and God will take care of the rest!

 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO OUR READERS WHO ARE MOTHERS!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

333’s 1800th – The Word of God, Quick and Powerful

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

Dear brethren worldwide, by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” marks devotional #1800 today!

Had God left us (mankind) to ourselves, we truly would be hopeless and helpless, spiritually blind, unable to know anything about Him or His original intention for us. While so many people are ignorant of Scripture—even with several Bibles at home—the Bible is not an impossible Book. If we truly have an eye to see, if we truly have an ear to hear, and if we truly have a heart to believe, we have God’s personal guarantee that we will know what He wants us to know. Jesus Himself said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). By the same token, if we prefer to stay “in the dark,” He will grant us that wish!

Today’s Scripture says God’s Word is “quick” (living and life-giving). Jesus Christ said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The Word of God has the ability to impart spiritual life to its hearers. Today’s Scripture says that God’s Word is also “powerful” (mighty, potent). Paul wrote that God’s Word “effectually worketh also in you that believeth” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The Word of God has the ability to impart spiritual power to its hearers. The key is to believe/trust that divine Word!

For 1800 days straight now, just a month short of five years (!), we have daily delivered you the Word of God rightly divided. You have been exposed to more Bible doctrine these last 59 months than most will ever get in a lifetime. Friends, we have all learned much from the world’s greatest Book. Yet, there is so much more to learn! Our hope and prayer is that you have believed the thousands of verses we have discussed thus far. After all, there are thousands more to discuss and believe! 🙂 Onward and upward in Christ!

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Entertainment Versus Edification

Monday, April 18, 2016

“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162 KJV).

If a saint should rejoice at God’s Word, what does that say about someone who finds it “boring?”

When commenting on the services of a local grace church—especially the actual study of the Bible—a lady said, “Boring!” Why, of course, what do we expect from somebody who goes to church to be entertained with a concert of arm swaying and toe tapping? The professing church has plenty of entertainment and yet it is still so weak and disoriented. What does that demonstrate? Entertainment is not the answer; it is the problem. As a Christian author wrote decades ago, “I went in the world and found the church. I went in the church and found the world!” My, how much more now that actual Bible study has largely given way to “contemporary” “worship?”

Notice what the Holy Spirit instructed young church leader Timothy: “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:6-8).

Rather than indulging in the flesh with religion (whether formalism with its ceremonies, or fanaticism with its “concerts”), which is utterly useless, we are to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.” Sound Bible doctrine is spiritual nutrition; you have to actually read and study the Bible to grow. Friend, jumping, singing, dancing, rolling on the floor, et cetera, will profit nothing in eternity. In the closing chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul mentioned “wholesome [healthy; nutritional] words, even the words our Lord Jesus Christ, and… the doctrine which is according to godliness” (chapter 6, verse 3). Words! Words! WORDS! You have to get in God’s Word for yourself, friend, to find God’s words. If your local church does not encourage you to do it, find an assembly that does. Your spiritual health depends on it!

Praying for What You Already Have

Friday, April 15, 2016

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17 KJV).

Have a question about God’s will? Get in His Book!

Indeed, someone once said we peer into a person’s soul by listening to him or pray audibly. If you pay close attention, you will hear where they are in their understanding of the Scriptures. You can particularly hear their denominational biases. It is truly awful when believers ask God to reveal His will. It is worse, ever so much worse, when they pray for God’s wisdom and yet do not open the Bible!

Friends, either the Bible is complete, or it is not. We either believe it, or we do not. If we want to know what God would have us to do in any particular circumstance, we need to look into the Bible. Beloved, quit asking God to show us things He already revealed in His Word! We have 66 Bible books, 13 epistles written directly to us the Church the Body of Christ (Romans through Philemon), and we still go around wondering and asking what God would have us to believe and do. It is perhaps the silliest thing. How it so grieves the Holy Spirit to see God’s people floundering in ignorance and foolishness!

Once, God’s written Word was incomplete. Divine revelation was still coming, little by little. However, once Paul wrote his last epistle, 2 Timothy, the final book of the Bible was complete (cf. today’s Scripture). Both Israel’s Little Flock and the Body of Christ had complete revelation from God. There would be no more need for spiritual gifts and angelic messages. To say otherwise is to deny the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures for God’s people unto “all good works.” Everything that God wants us to know, and everything He wants us to do, is in His written Word, particularly the Pauline epistles. If it is not in the Bible, then you make a decision with the information you do have. If you make a mistake, fix it. Simple!

Friends, thank goodness this is not “rocket science!”

When Right Division Brings Clarity

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Timothy 2:7 KJV).

People may dislike dispensational Bible study, but they are forced to admit it brings tremendous “understanding in all things!”

For a few years now, I have dealt with a Christian lady who has been “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). She came to a few of our home Bible studies. Once, she even accompanied our group to a grace Bible conference. Completely offended by the verses she heard there, she refused to attend another one and laughed when invited again.

This woman declined to let dispensational Bible study in, for letting it in would mean tossing her denominational biases out! An ardent reader of “modern ‘Christian’ literature,” and a frequent “church-hopper,” this sweet lady’s mind has been scrambled through and through. She loves her “miraculous demonstrations,” especially her so-called “gift of healing” (although she and her friends suffer from failing health). In accordance with 1 Corinthians 14:38, I left her “ignorant” because that is what she preferred. Maybe, just maybe, she would come to her senses.

Recently, while I was visiting at a mutual friend’s house, this Christian lady unexpectedly showed up with some Bible questions. So, for an hour, we sat over open Bibles and talked about those particular matters. This time, she was very receptive to the truth. She let me teach her the Bible dispensationally for the umpteenth time. Later, she commented that she really enjoyed it. Using right division greatly helped her grasp the topics that she could not understand and caused her to respect the verses and passages when they said different things. Yea, we leave them in their proper dispensations, being especially mindful of what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul, and the Lord will give us understanding in “all things” (today’s Scripture).

In closing, I told the lady to come some other time with more questions. I would love to talk however long she wants and about whatever she wants. She still has a long way to go, but we have resumed ministries with her and we hope and pray she is willing to learn God’s Word, God’s way! 🙂

Perishing Versus Renewing #2

Sunday, April 3, 2016

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV).

As we physically “perish,” may we spiritually “renew!”

One Christian brother always aptly states, “All ‘healing’ claims aside, the death-rate is still one a piece!” We can claim Israel’s verses all we want—Exodus 15:26, Matthew 10:8, Mark 16:17, James 5:14-15, et cetera—but we will only deceive ourselves by grabbing verses that have absolutely nothing to do with us and absolutely nothing to do with God’s current operations! No matter the modern-day “miraculous healing,” that “healed” person is still going to experience the worst disease—physical death. Beloved, there is something better than temporary physical healing in a body destined to rot anyway. It is a brand-new body in which the “renewed inward man” will reside in eternity!

Romans 8:18-25: “[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, [21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] 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. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

These physical bodies will pass, but a most glorious (resurrected) body will be granted us at the Rapture. Until Christ takes care of the “outward man,” may we take care of the “inward man!” Let us spend more time in God’s Word rightly divided, renewing that which will never perish! 🙂

Perishing Versus Renewing #1

Saturday, April 2, 2016

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV).

As we physically “perish,” may we spiritually “renew!”

Some people just never appear to age, huh? Their faces look pretty much the same way they did 10, 20, 30, or more, years ago. Nevertheless, looks are deceiving. They have aged, and that much closer to death. According to the Bible, their outward man is “perishing.” The truth is, no matter how much cosmetic surgery we undergo, no matter how healthy we eat, no matter how many “pills” and “creams” we buy, no matter how much we exercise, these physical bodies will eventually wind up in a cold, dark grave. We will also be truthful concerning the spiritual reality of our condition. There is more to life than these physical bodies.

Exactly why we age is a mystery to scientists. Two prevailing theories are: (1) our genes determine how long we are to live, and (2) damage/changes in our DNA accumulate over time and eventually prevent us from living. These and other explanations tell us what Romans 5:12 already said: “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Where we find sin, we find death. Friends, it really is that plain and simple.

The Greek word translated “perish” in today’s Scripture is found four other times in the New Testament—a moth “corrupteth” material wealth (Luke 12:33), apostate men with “corrupt” minds (1 Timothy 6:5), ships being “destroyed” in God’s judgment (Revelation 8:9), and those “destroyed” who “destroyed” the earth (Revelation 11:18). For those hanging on to this physical body as though it will last forever, they will be sorely disappointed on their deathbed!

Oh, but we who are in Jesus Christ, we Bible students, our soul and our spirit (“inward man”) are constantly being enlightened as we read God’s Holy Word (Ephesians 1:17). This “inward man” will never see a grave, never die, never corrupt or rot away. Oh, may we quickly learn to spend more time in God’s Word rightly divided, renewing that which will never perish! 🙂

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Questions to Avoid

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Timothy 2:23 KJV).

Bible questions are okay, provided they are neither “foolish” nor “unlearned.”

Sadly, in so many religious circles, Bible questions are largely forbidden. For instance, read this: “When I contacted ____ he was very nasty to me and said I was wasting his time with my questions.” Someone wrote this to me a few years ago, after a so-called “grace” Bible teacher rudely discouraged Bible questions that his teachings generated. Why was that teacher so uninterested in questions that I was glad to answer for the dear man? Call me crazy, but I think that teacher refused to be “cross-examined,” or, frankly, “challenged.”

Many years ago, a seminarian training to be a priest was curious about his church’s true teachings. Well, as he put it, “The more questions I asked, the cleaner the seminary became!” His professors, unwilling to “suffer” “tough” questions (they had no answers for him), gave him “work-detail.” He had 32 hours straight of cleaning the seminary, including scrubbing floors with toothbrushes, before having to return to class hungry and tired. Oh, I forgot. With 152 acres of trees located behind the seminary, each student was also given an acre of leaves to rake. A truck would then carry the leaves over to the same place. After the leaves were re-spread, they had to be re-raked! (With this cycle of repetitious duties, there would be no time for “wandering minds” and “silly questions” to challenge the religious institution.)

Oh, but you see, dear friends, the Bible never discouraged questions. Today’s Scripture prohibits “foolish and unlearned questions.” Questions help us to learn; God wants us to learn His Word. The Bible never says, “But questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” It says “foolish [moros, as in ‘moron’] and unlearned questions.” These are pointless, absurd questions that cause people to bicker, with more time arguing than answering. Spiritual maturity allows you to “rate” questions asked of you. You spend your time doing it long enough, and you can you most definitely identify the “foolish and unlearned questions.” Avoid them, but, by all means, use the Bible to answer the rest! 🙂

Not Looking Back But Reaching Forth

Sunday, March 13, 2016

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14 KJV).

Do not look back—look forward!

Recently, I spoke with a discouraged Christian brother. Members of his Bible study group were downcast about a certain common problem. They had discovered the truth of God’s Word rightly divided in their “latter years.” Some of these saints are in their late 70s, with failing health and little drive. They expended decades upon decades of energy jumping from one religious group to another, becoming increasingly weighed down with additional confusion. Now, although they have found the truth, have exhausted themselves. I reminded him of some simple Bible truths that I will now share with you.

My grace brethren, we have two options. Firstly, we can sulk and lament how we lost/wasted many years in frantic religious confusion. Or, we can rejoice that we have all of eternity to learn the Word of God with such astounding clarity… Our few years of gross Bible ignorance will mean nothing by then! Keep your mind focused on this. As long as you concentrate on the past, Satan has you sidetracked from preparing for the future!

Today, take some time to read the third chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. He gives his testimony, how he wasted years in empty works-religion. But, then, in today’s Scripture, he reminds all Christians everywhere to do as he did—continue maturing in the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul he himself—35 years after his conversion—was still “reaching forth” to gain a better grasp of God’s purpose for him in Jesus Christ. We all still have a long way to go, but let us start on earth. Having had a daily intake of God’s Word rightly divided many days now, we are well on our way!

Lastly, you may have taken decades to learn the Word of God rightly divided, but please pass on your knowledge to younger Christians, that they spend more time enjoying God’s truth than searching for it! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Did Adam die or did he not die in Genesis 3?”