Category: spiritual immaturity

Weirdoes #6

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Brethren, we may be unfairly judged of other Christians and/or the world, but the final verdict will come of the Lord.

First Corinthians chapter 3 admonishes the Corinthians to immediately cease their involvement with pagan philosophy. Like most church members today, they had not been careful in their edification. Bad doctrine—non-Pauline teaching—had severely arrested their spiritual development!

“[10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me [Paul], as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed [beware!!!] how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. [14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

“[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man [false teacher!] defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. [18] Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. [19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. [21] Therefore let no man glory in men….”

Rather than “glory in men,” praising man’s “wisdom” (philosophy), we listen to God’s wisdom….

Weirdoes #5

Monday, October 28, 2019

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Brethren, we may be unfairly judged of other Christians and/or the world, but the final verdict will come of the Lord.

Satan is decidedly cunning: his evil world system is an intricate labyrinth of schemes. In the case of the Corinthian saints, he applied pagan philosophy to “reel them back in.” After infecting the children of God with vain speculations, he used them to attack the messenger of God with empty accusations. Employing the age-old military technique of “divide and conquer,” Satan proceeded to systematically destroy the Lord’s work at Corinth!

The Holy Spirit through Paul was thus prompted to issue the following in 1 Corinthians chapter 9: “[1] Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? [2] If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. [3] Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, [4] Have we not power to eat and to drink?” Notice the word “examine”—as in scrutinizing or investigating. The Corinthians have taken Paul, placed him under a microscope (figuratively), and used pagan philosophy to render a dreadful decision: after our “careful” evaluation, we declare that Paul is not an apostle!

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, the prevailing factor in the extensive spiritual confusion and chaos at Corinth was the disregarding, challenging, and denying of Paul’s apostleship. Satan had successfully divorced them from Pauline doctrine, ruined their spiritual edification, and rendered them spiritually powerless. Rather than holding Christian doctrine and criticizing heathen doctrine, the Corinthians were embracing heathen doctrine and denouncing Christian doctrine! Today’s professing church is in the exact same position. Satan is still brilliantly challenging and refuting Paul’s apostleship, and still using “Christians” (?) and “Christian” (?) doctrine to do it.

Paul was and is not the “weirdo,” and neither are we Pauline dispensationalists….

Weirdoes #4

Sunday, October 27, 2019

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Brethren, we may be unfairly judged of other Christians and/or the world, but the final verdict will come of the Lord.

First Corinthians chapter 2 began: “[1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. [4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: [5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Considering their culture, the Corinthians were accustomed to skilled orators (speakers) entering their city and employing impressive, persuasive, “scholarly” language to gain new disciples. Philosophers debated countless ideas, each promoting their unique system. When Paul showed up, he was different. He did not use man’s intellect to convince the Corinthians of anything. Instead, he was empowered by the Holy Spirit to impart Divine wisdom to these souls. They believed the Gospel of Grace and were saved unto eternal life, but had not fully renounced their past spiritual beliefs. Such heathen philosophy then influenced them to conclude Paul’s message was nothing extraordinary.

Using man’s wisdom as their guide, the Corinthian saints determined Paul was really not speaking for Jesus Christ. How could Paul be a true spiritual leader, a “Christian?” He did not sound like the typical religious leader, he did not look like one, he did not behave like one. Though highly educated, he had not employed polished, complex, theological language to amaze and flatter his audience. Paul did not want the Corinthians to depend on his words anyway. He wanted them to rest in the words of God.

In reality, it was they—not Paul—who had the problem….

Weirdoes #3

Saturday, October 26, 2019

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Brethren, we may be unfairly judged of other Christians and/or the world, but the final verdict will come of the Lord.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Miraculous demonstrations were the way whereby God dealt with the nation Israel. In contrast, the Greeks (or Gentiles) were interested in wisdom—and the Corinthians were no different. Through the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians heard true wisdom, the wisdom of God. Unfortunately, Paul could not teach them the deeper truths of God’s dealings with man. Consequently, very little dispensational truth is found in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthians could not handle it; all they could grasp was basic doctrine, namely the Gospel (where most professing Christians are even today).

First Corinthians chapter 2: “[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [spiritually mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…..”

“[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Paul cautioned his brethren in Christ at Corinth. They believed Greek philosophy was how to discover what the God of creation is doing. Beware! Unsaved pagans employing worldly wisdom did not compare with the Apostle Paul communicating Divine wisdom….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Can an atheist be moral without any influence from any ‘higher power?’”

Weirdoes #2

Friday, October 25, 2019

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Brethren, we may be unfairly judged of other Christians and/or the world, but the final verdict will come of the Lord.

We all have a conscience—a library of acquired information that we use to determine which beliefs are right and which beliefs are wrong, and what actions are acceptable and what actions are unacceptable. Howbeit, if we do not have the right information, our conscience will be defiled, and that corrupted standard will throw off everything else. It is like a defective measuring stick that is unable to provide accurate readings.

In Acts chapter 18, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul visited Corinth. This Greek port city was only about 45 miles (72 kilometers) from Athens, the world’s intellectual capital. A key center of international trade and commerce, Corinth was materially wealthy. Many devilish ideas from foreign lands were exchanged here as well. Heathen idolatry led its citizens to be tremendously vulgar. It was to these wretched souls that Paul preached the Lord Jesus Christ. They believed, were saved unto eternal life, and delivered from sin and satanic bondage!

Paul spent at least 18 months teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians (Acts 18:11). Later, he left and penned some epistles to them—the Bible Books of 1 and 2 Corinthians. According to these treatises, the saints at Corinth were guilty of several reprehensible beliefs and deeds. No doubt it grieved the Holy Spirit and it greatly concerned Paul to see such spiritual chaos and confusion among God’s people. They had not fully abandoned their old mentalities and lifestyles. First Corinthians is the most tragic of Paul’s epistles. Erroneous doctrine—especially pagan philosophy—was still perverting the hearts and minds of the Corinthians. This is particularly evident in the first three chapters.

Spiritually disoriented, the saints at Corinth began to viciously attack Paul, the very man whom the one true God had sent to them so they would be rescued from Satan’s evil world system….

But He Has a Doctorate!

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

He may have a doctorate… but does he listen to the Holy Spirit?

Recently, I counseled with a highly confused Christian. Almost 40 years after trusting Christ, she still has not been stabilized in sound Bible doctrine! Her mind was greatly scrambled by various wild ideas. When I asked her to turn to a specific verse and read it, she replied, “Oh, I know that verse,” and then she proceeded to quote another verse! This dear soul is just one of two billion church members so thoroughly deceived in Christendom. They read books about the Bible, but do not read the Bible. If they have read Scripture, it is little snippets here and there—read while wearing denominational eyeglasses. Refusing to let the Holy Spirit teach them, they approach God’s Word with countless assumptions and misconceptions.

I was honest with that poor lady: “Your preacher is not telling you the truth, and you know it. He has hidden truths from you, concepts I just shared with you by having you read Bible verses.” Earlier, she defended her pastor by rebutting, “He has a doctorate! He has been to seminary!” After our discussion, she began to see that “seminary” is often nothing but a Bible cemetery! Here is another common fallacy worth correcting. The first qualification for a preacher is not a seminary diploma—or even a high school diploma for that matter! Any human Bible teacher must first have the real Bible Teacher: the indwelling Holy Spirit is the only ultimate Instructor in the Holy Scripture.

A man led by his flesh, a man not submitting to the Holy Spirit, has no business whatsoever teaching the Bible. It does not matter if he can speak and read Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic. It does not matter if he has been a missionary to 80 countries. It does not matter if he has water baptized 50,000 people. It does not matter if 35,000 individuals attend his church services every week. Brethren, we must stop thinking about ministry like lost people. Let us heed the warnings of 1 Corinthians chapter 2—and fast!!

Bible Q&A #660: “Who or what are the 10 ‘toes’ or ‘horns’ or ‘crowns’ associated with the Antichrist?”

A Better Baptism #10

Friday, September 27, 2019

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV).

Behold, the only baptism that counts for eternity!

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:…” (Ephesians 3:1,2). Paul added, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). Furthermore, he wrote, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:13).

If we truly are Bible believers, then we will believe these verses: Paul is God’s “sent one” (“apostle”) for us Gentiles (see Acts 26:16-18). The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write that he is God’s spokesman to us: Jesus Christ the Lord speaks to us through Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. We do not look for God’s words outside of Paul’s ministry. If we ignore Pauline theology, as Christendom has done for 20 centuries, then we overlook God’s current dealings with man, and wind up doing Satan’s will! It is that serious!

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:5, a troubling verse to religionists: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” For us Gentiles in this the Dispensation of Grace, the Holy Spirit claims there is “one baptism.” Earlier, we read Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:….” There are three “baptisms” here—John’s water baptism, the baptism with the Holy Ghost, and the baptism with fire. Which one is the “one baptism” for our dispensation? According to today’s Scripture, none of them!

To repeat: there is a special “baptism” associated with Paul’s ministry and message. It is not found anywhere else in Scripture. Therefore, if we overlook Paul, we ignore the only baptism applicable to us, the one that counts for eternity….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Should we strive to distribute the Four Gospel Records?”

A Better Baptism #9

Thursday, September 26, 2019

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV).

Behold, the only baptism that counts for eternity!

For far too long, dear brethren, assumptions and suppositions have beset the spiritual edification or growth of the Church the Body of Christ. Centuries upon centuries have been utterly wasted because God’s plain words have been ignored. Religious tradition of all denominations has largely been used to substitute the Scriptures. We are doctrinally weak and functionally dead—and it is our own fault! For 2,000 years, we have so labored to hear the words of men… and we are obviously so devoid of God’s power and mind. We do not think like our Heavenly Father, but rather like lost people who lack the Bible!!

Christ issued a scathing rebuke to ancient Israel, especially concerning its religious leaders who possessed the Hebrew Old Testament but were overwhelmingly ignorant of its truths. Mark chapter 7: “[6] He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. [7] Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do…. [13] Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

They stressed external washings. “Clean your hands before you eat,” the religious Jews were known for saying. Meanwhile, they completely disregarded a spiritual cleansing, something only God can perform. Man has a sinful heart—they had a sinful heart—but they were too preoccupied with water ceremonies to realize their lost or fallen estate (see verses 14-23). The professing Church today is no different. Not only do we rip verses from their contexts, we largely ignore the special revelation the Lord Jesus Christ gave to the Apostle Paul to give to us. Again, we must (!) pay attention to the “baptism” of today’s Scripture….

An Ambassador Turns 31!

🎂 Wednesday, August 7, 2019 🎂 

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV).

Someone is celebrating a birthday! (Can you guess who?)

Dear brethren and friends, I am now one year into my 30s. These past 12 months have been quite a learning experience. We (hopefully) have all grown a tad wiser since we were on this date exactly one year ago. Here is a greater realization to which I have come thus far.

Recently, I read a statistic about my generation, the Millennials (born 1980–2000). A staggering 70 percent claim they suffer from depression and anxiety. We need not wonder why. As I converse with my peers, they have no idea what is really going on in the world. While there are precious exceptions, most have grown up without grounding in the Holy Bible. How they lack spiritual stability! Spoiled and egocentric, everything “offends” them. Scheming politicians and professors exploit their ignorance and emotions. Deceived and disappointed, it is obvious why miseries and worries abound in their souls!

Today’s Scripture shows us the key to having a stable, healthy life. Fretting about the here and now is profitless because what we see with our physical eyes will not last. Emphasizing the natural and ignoring the spiritual is most foolish. Living for self is silly. Through the eyes of faith, we see the purpose of God as though it has already been fully brought to pass. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). In the Scriptures, we find information of eternal worth. Therein, not we but Jesus Christ is glorified as the center of the universe. Whatever time we are given here, dear friends, may we always remember to live with eternity and the Lord Jesus Christ in mind! 🙂

P.S.: You may read the devotional I wrote for my 30th birthday here.

Waste Not Your Time!

Friday, July 5, 2019

“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. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;…” (Ephesians 5:15-18 KJV).

A brother in Christ recently informed me that he had cancelled his cable television subscription. He had grown tired of getting upset with the filthy programming and sensational news shows! Whether 20 centuries ago, or right now, today’s Scripture is sound advice….

With the various technological advancements in recent decades, the Holy Spirit is that much more likely to be ignored. All too often, the Bible is set aside. Radio, television, computer and internet, smartphones, and social media increasingly take away precious time from reading and studying God’s Word. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying electronic devices, Christians are spending far too much time concentrating on trivialities and nonsense. They are more familiar with the world’s affairs than with the Scriptures. Preoccupied about this and that and everything else but the Bible, they are exactly where Satan’s evil world system was designed to bring them. Divorced from God’s Word, they are without His power, and thus no bother to Satan!

Even during Bible days, the saints of God were falling for various distractions. This necessitated the Apostle Paul to issue today’s Scripture. Satan himself and all the actions he endorses have—his evil world system has—stolen the time that would have been used to glorify Jesus Christ. By understanding and following God’s will, we can “redeem” (buy back) that time. Saints, if we are not careful though, if we waste time, then we are just as negligent as the Devil himself. We are cooperating with his lie program.

When we are “filled with the Spirit,” thinking like God Himself thinks, that will empower us to walk according to the verses we read and believed (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Let us heed today’s Scripture, now more than ever, dear brethren. Be quite careful to make wise use of your time. Watching news programming for hours on end, is wasteful. Endlessly playing smart-phone games is not wise. These will profit us nothing in eternity!