Category: spiritual growth and maturity

333’s 1500th – Renewed Minds

Thursday, July 9, 2015

“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 KJV).

Praise our Lord Jesus Christ! We have reached yet another ministry milestone!

For 1500 consecutive days now, God’s Word has renewed our minds daily. (Today’s Scripture was the text for our 100th study. Since then, we have had 1400 Bible studies.) It has been quite a learning experience, has it not? The Holy Spirit Himself has taught us His Holy Word. Scholarship, denominational doctrines, and all the rest were not the issue. Hence, we have had God’s Word work in our lives for His glory. Remember, there is no power of God apart from the rightly divided Word of God. We cannot make God do something He is not doing today, but we can learn and rejoice in what He is doing today.

These past 1500 days, faithful Father God has saved us from a wide range of doctrinal errors. We allowed Him to teach us through the Apostle Paul what He wants us to do. Also, we allowed Him to use the rest of the Bible to teach us how He has used the nation Israel and will use Israel yet future.

Dear readers, it has been our privilege to share with you what “little” we have learned, that you may share with others what you have learned. As we are witnessing great social changes and an unprecedented moral deterioration, we need to remember that we are not here to change the culture. This world is headed toward the seven-year Tribulation. It will not get better until Jesus Christ returns. Until He does, we need to be faithful in teaching and preaching these precious truths to others, that they may be rescued from this evil culture as well.

Now, to the glory of God’s grace, we open our fourth 500-study unit…. 🙂

Noteworthy Ninth

Sunday, June 28, 2015

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

To God’s glory alone, it was nine years ago today that I entered the writing ministry!

Dear friends, it has been quite an exciting journey these last nine years in the Holy Bible. Long before we had these daily devotionals, decuple-monthly Bible Q&A articles, weekly newspaper columns, scores of tweets, and thousands of Facebook posts, there were brief notes and reflections on Bible passages. (Those writings have never been released.) Drafting them for many months “primed” me to get to where we are today. I had no idea what I was getting into!

When I entered the writing (teaching) ministry, I thought I had some Bible knowledge. Looking back on it all these years later, I now realize that I knew nothing! My writing style was crude, my theology was denominational, but in time that all straightened out. Over 2,000 completed written Bible studies later, and over 2,000 incomplete written Bible studies later, only by God’s grace we have come quite a long way. A handful of you have been with us from the very beginning. You have grown with us all these years. With each passing day, the Holy Bible is becoming more and more thrilling, is it not? What glorious Bible truths we have uncovered in these last nine years overall!

Being a Bible teacher, one learns more while teaching than those he teaches. Teaching the Bible is a constant reminder of what it says, and being taught the Bible is a constant reminder of what it says. We can delight in God’s Word because we are mindful of it and we understand it (today’s Scripture). It is not the burden or the mess that religion makes it out to be. The Holy Bible is the world’s most marvelous Book. Yes, our King James Bible is the greatest Book, and may we continue to read, study, believe, delight in, and teach it. There is still much more growing to be accomplished. There is still much more treasure to mine from God’s precious Word. It is with great delight that we thus begin our tenth year in the writing ministry! 🙂

Five Minutes Versus Life Sentence

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

Imagine. Five minutes in the Word could have spared many from life in prison!

I recently watched a documentary about the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Also known as “Angola,” Louisiana State Penitentiary is about two-hours’ drive from here. Over 6,000 prisoners live at Angola—three-fourths are serving life sentences and 85 percent die there! Several prisoners were interviewed in the heart-wrenching documentary. Having been incarcerated there for 30 or 40 years, they were “reformed.” One prisoner, on death row, was executed shortly after his interview. Another prisoner, an elderly man stricken with cancer, died before filming was completed.

Watching that documentary, the viewer cannot help but wonder where were the parents, especially the fathers, when these prisoners were growing up. Did any parent of any prisoner ever care enough or love enough to sit down five minutes with those children and teach them about Jesus Christ? Evidently not! How many of those 6,000 inmates could have never wound up there had someone—anyone, anywhere—reached them with the Gospel of the Grace of God before the world reached them with their ideologies? Think of the loss. There could have been 6,000 profitable citizens who improved society, trophies of God’s grace, had they each just had someone share Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork with them! Had they just had one adult point them in the right direction with sound Bible doctrine during their childhood years!

Parents, especially fathers, (if you are not a parent, you have an influence on younger generations regardless), please do not neglect your divinely-ordained position as role models in word and in deed. Barring exceptions, many wayward souls had extremely shallow to nothing in their spiritual lives growing up, and all of society suffers because of it. Please make sure that the children in your life are hearing chiefly from you the message of God’s grace and His Word rightly divided. If you must be taught first, get your whole family to someone who can teach. Think—even five minutes in Scripture will outweigh a life sentence in prison! 🙂

When Reality Catches Up

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

“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 KJV).

Paul reaffirms that the Christian is not promised good health in this the Dispensation of Grace!

Scanning a newspaper sometime ago, I read the “obituaries” page and noticed a rather peculiar item—the death notice of the wife of a local “faith healing” pastor! (Her cause of death unknown.) Or, consider the well-known “faith healer” who was recently suffering cardiopulmonary issues and had to be hospitalized. More lately, a “faith healer” preaching on the internet recounted the time when he experienced influenza (and there was no instant healing for him!). All the “healing” claims aside, even the “faith healers” purchase medical insurance, grow sick, seek medical help, and, yes, they eventually die, too.

Dearly beloved, we can deceive ourselves into believing “healing” testimonies and attending “healing” crusades, or we can just believe today’s Scripture. As long as our Dispensation of Grace is operating, there can be no divine intervention regarding physical healing: “The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Someone may object and say that this verse does not apply to us Christians. The next verse of today’s Scripture answers them: “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.”

Our physical bodies have not yet been redeemed. They are still subject to sin, sickness, and death (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Thankfully, by God’s grace, we have immune systems, medical professionals, and prescription drugs. Even when these are not enough, and we must succumb to physical death, in Christ, we could not be headed to a better place! Above all, no matter what type of sickness or trouble, God’s grace is truly sufficient, surely enough, for us to bear it, that it not destroy us spiritually (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Spiritual fortitude—may we have it when we have bodily illness, that misery not have us (Romans 5:1-5)! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Was Saul a pastor, a prophet, or an evangelist?”

Students, of Teachers or Scriptures

Monday, June 22, 2015

“Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his [Jesus’] disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28 KJV).

Similar pompous language is heard throughout Christendumb!

An emerging Christian writer was recently asked why he had such a strong Scriptural case for his uncommon end-times thesis. After all, most “Biblical prophecy scholars” have been teaching another position for decades, and if “Bible scholarship [?]” says so then it must be (pardon the pun) “gospel truth!” How could he—a “nobody”—be correct in quoting Scripture? Why disregard the many well-known “experts” who have preached and taught decades-old traditional eschatological ideas… without verses? How could “scholars” be wrong, much of the “Church” be wrong, and he be right by quoting verses? Did they not read those verses? “You know,” he replied, “I think we have been more students of our teachers than students of our Scriptures.” Upon hearing that, I could have leapt from my chair!

It is not uncommon to hear—“‘Dr. So-and-So’ says this verse is ‘better’ translated…”—“I go by what ‘Brother So-and-So’ teaches from that passage”—“My church’s teaching authority interprets the Bible for me”—“I will believe my study Bible’s notes long before I will believe my Bible text!”

Today’s Scripture is a case-in-point that Christendom is no different from Israel. They follow personalities and celebrities, religion and liturgy, but they do not value God’s Word and cannot see its simple truths. When convenient, conducive to church tradition, a verse is quoted. Remember, Israel studied Moses’ writings for 1,500 years and still overlooked the Messiah about whom Moses wrote. Nevertheless, they strictly followed the Mosaic Law—tithes, Sabbath day, kosher foods, et al. Similarly, Bible readers today still casually scan Holy Writ to find what they want to believe (and leave behind the divine words they prefer were not there). Why? They all are too busy following, mimicking, and believing apostate leaders!

Had those of today’s Scripture truly been Moses’ disciples, they would have let Moses’ inspired words teach them that Jesus was their fulfillment! Likewise, had all of today’s church members truly been Jesus Christ’s disciples, had they truly been Bible believers, they would have believed the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ spoken therein.

Bring Forth and Bud!

Monday, June 15, 2015

“For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10,11 KJV).

How can today’s Scripture be an encouragement when we witness to others?

Dear Christian friend, you have probably wanted to rush someone into salvation or spiritual maturity. You desired them to trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, right there on the spot. You wanted to see them immediately understand the Bible dispensationally. But, you fail to remember that there are many barriers to overcome. They have been so deceived, so confused, or so turned off to religion that much (or all) of the verses you shared with them seem to “go right over their heads.” You have tried to be as simple as possible and they just do not get it. The key is to remember the analogy in today’s Scripture.

In the physical world, we plant seeds underground, water them, and let the sunlight shine on them, but we cannot force them to grow. It takes time, something beyond our control. Likewise, we must remember that God’s Word does not show immediate results. It can take days, weeks, months, years, or even decades. Nevertheless, we are to faithfully preach and teach the Holy Bible rightly divided, that it be there to work in their lives. Once present, that “quick [living and life-giving] and powerful” Word will take care of itself (Hebrews 4:12).

Just as the little seeds cannot be seen sprouting underground, we cannot see God’s Word working in those precious people. Until they believe those verses, and bring them into their hearts (Romans 10:10), they will remain in their minds. Regardless of whether they believe or reject, God’s Word will still convict, show them where they are wrong, and it will glorify Him. One Christian “plants,” another believer “waters,” but “God giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6,7; cf. today’s Scripture)! 🙂

If Thou Be #10

Saturday, June 13, 2015

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to finding your identity in Christ!

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Once we realize the spiritual wealth we have in Christ, we can rejoice. We can be so thankful that we have the riches of God’s grace!!! Ephesians 1:7 says: “In whom [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Friends, we need to quit living and thinking like spiritual beggars, behaving like we are poor, ever asking God for things when He has given us “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We lack nothing in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Now we need to believe these Bible truths and ignore what religion says to the contrary!

There can be no thanksgiving in a worrisome life—Did I do enough to please God?, Confess enough?, Give enough?, Keep holydays enough?, Get water baptized enough?, Love God enough?, Love my neighbor enough?, Attend church enough?, Pray enough?, Stop sin enough? There is no peace in a troublesome life—Am I God’s child?, Will I make into heaven?, Does God really love me?, What is His will for me?, Has He really forgiven me? Rather than being “tossed to and fro” by the wiles (schemes) of the Devil in religion (Ephesians 4:14), wondering about contingencies and conundrums, we can be “rooted, built up, and stablished” (stabilized) in Christ, in our identity in Him (today’s Scripture). The doubt, frustration, and perplexity thus cease.

Beloved, the Body of Christ is ever so weak today because it has largely forgotten its identity in Christ! May we take an intelligent understanding of Romans through Philemon, God’s Word to us, and rest our faith in that. We can then cease from our works, and let Father God start doing His by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Where was Jesus during the three days between His death and resurrection?”

If Thou Be #9

Friday, June 12, 2015

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to finding your identity in Christ!

A dear brother in Christ often says, “Your Christian life will not operate on the basis of ignorance.” Why does the average Christian life not function properly? Ignorance concerning what God is doing today! The average Christian is not taught God’s Word rightly divided. They are not taught their identity as members of the Church the Body of Christ. Instead, they are taught from the Old Testament, the Four Gospels, early Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation—all of which describe Israel’s identity in Christ. No wonder Christians claim and follow Israel’s verses. They believe they are Israel. No wonder Christians claim to be Israel. They claim and follow Israel’s verses. In other words, the Bible has been so misconstrued that it is just one gigantic mess, and their identity is so screwed up in their minds!

Thankfully, in heaven, such confusion will be absent. There will be no denominations, and no hijacking Israel’s verses. God will clear that all up with one verse—2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It is in Paul’s epistles alone that we find our identity, doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ.

We received Jesus Christ by faith in His finished crosswork (Colossians 2:5), and everything in our lives is dependent on that crosswork (today’s Scripture). As we were saved unto eternal life, so we walk in Him—by grace through faith, apart from works, rites, rituals, ceremonies, and so on! We are to be taught that, stabilized in these grace doctrines, remembering we are alive with His life, built up in Him to be in full cooperation with Him as He accomplishes what He wants done in and through us! That is how we remember our identity in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Now, we can conclude this devotionals arc….

If Thou Be #4

Sunday, June 7, 2015

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV).

Beware, Satan’s main goal is to draw God’s servants away from God’s Word!

Part of the first dispensation, or set of divine instructions given to man to believe and obey, was Genesis 2:16,17. In this very simple dispensation, there was no sin to complicate life and no suffering to spoil it. Adam and Eve lived peaceably together with their Creator God. They had an entire garden of paradise and provision—and daily Bible study with Jesus Christ Himself! Adam, the federal head, deliberately threw away all that abundance for temporary pleasure and long-lasting inferiority. They lost their Creator, their spiritual lives, their home, their perfect marriage, their two sons, and eventually their earthly lives. Such is the destiny of all who spurn God’s Word and trample His grace under foot!

When the Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself human nature, He never forgot His original (divine) identity. He continually had His mind set on God’s Word to Him. Satan defeated Adam, for Adam willingly succumbed to sin. However, he would not, could not, and did not defeat Jesus. The Lord Jesus never gave in to sin. He always operated in absolute tandem with Father God. Therein was Jesus Christ’s complete and final victory of over sin and Satan!

Considering Adam and Eve’s misery in departing from their identity, recognizing Jesus Christ’s victory in remembering His identity, now we understand the enormous division within the Church the Body of Christ. Genuine Christians are often too focused on someone else’s (that is, Israel’s) identity that they forget their identity in Christ found in Paul’s epistles. We need not wonder why many are confused, weak, discouraged, ignorant, deceived, defeated, and miserable concerning the Bible and Christian living. They are following Adam instead of Jesus Christ! Satan has “corrupted their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ” (today’s Scripture)! They have disregarded their provisions in Christ to embrace inferiority—ceremonies, rites, rituals, scholarship, creeds, philosophy, denominational dogmas, et cetera. Sound Bible doctrine is how they need to recover themselves out of Satan’s snare (2 Timothy 2:24-26)!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How do God’s foreknowledge and our free will work together?”

I Have Not Sent Them!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:8,9 KJV).

Satan is a master counterfeiter, dear friend. He is still deceiving the masses today!

A pastor friend noticed a certain lady attending his church. After Sunday services, she said she had learned a great deal. She understood the Bible dispensationally, Paul as her apostle, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,” and the Body of Christ. The next Sunday, however, she was thoroughly confused. He taught her again, and she was straightened out doctrinally. Next Sunday, she was all confused about the Scriptures yet again! Finally, he asked her why she continuously vacillated between good Bible teaching and bad Bible teaching. She replied, “I watch various television preachers all week long!” “…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” (Ephesians 4:14).

Satellite television is both a blessing and a curse to Christianity. Good, solid, sound Bible teaching can be found. Unfortunately, it has to be greatly sought. A worthwhile Bible program can be found after searching dozens of channels and programs. “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). If many people were corrupting the Bible 20 centuries ago, it is no surprise to find few faithful ministers and few sound Bible programs on television today.

Having recently “Christian-channel surfed,” I can say that much of what is masquerading as “Christianity” today is quite laughable. Schemes, scams, shallowness, and shams are most of what you find parading as “Jesus ministries.” Likewise, in today’s Scripture, many were deceiving Israel using the LORD’S name, too! Let us take Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, in the King James Bible, and avoid anyone and everyone who does not conform thereto!