Category: spiritual immaturity

Sound!

Thursday, March 22, 2018

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be sound in the faith.

The Greek word rendered “wholesome” in today’s Scripture is hygiano (“hygiene”). A father received his prodigal son “safe and sound” (Luke 15:27). Luke 7:10 mentioned Jesus healing the once-sick, now “whole,” servant. Christ Jesus spoke of the sick, not the “whole,” as needing a doctor (Luke 5:31). The lame man, now miraculously healed, enjoys “perfect soundness” (Acts 3:16). These “whole” or “sound” people lack physical illness and injury; they are healthy. Similarly, in Titus 1:13 and Titus 2:2, Christians are to be “sound in the faith.” How do we become spiritually healthy?

Whenever someone downplays doctrine, the equivalent phrase in the physical world is, “Consume all the junk food you want! In the end, it makes no difference what you eat!” (Oh, really?!) Unless quality physical food is consumed, your physical body will become frail, ill, and helpless. Likewise, without valuable spiritual food, your spiritual body will grow weak, sick, and impotent. The Bible rightly divided, sound Bible doctrine, is key. If the doctrine is nourishing, then obviously the spiritual body will be fed and strengthened. Hence, Scripture speaks of “sound doctrine” as essential (1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1).

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). These are “the wholesome words of Jesus Christ” of today’s Scripture: they are the words Jesus Christ spoke through the Apostle Paul. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me,….” My dear friend, if you want to be a strong, spiritually fit Christian, you must read, believe, and heed the Pauline doctrine, Romans through Philemon. Otherwise, spiritual incapacity is your fate!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Did Judas Iscariot have to betray Christ?”

Sleeping!

Monday, March 19, 2018

“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33,34 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be awake and alert.

The Corinthians were immature saints. While God’s spiritual (adult) sons, they thought and behaved like small children. First Corinthians is such a lengthy Book because it is the Holy Spirit meticulously correcting the multitude of problems in that local assembly. Today’s Scripture is one summarization of their dilemma: corrupt religious leaders have deceived them, and their Christian life is no longer functioning properly.

Before any mature saints swell up with pride and say, “I would never be like the Corinthians!,” they should consider Ephesians chapter 5: “[14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;….” Although more matured in the doctrine than the Corinthians, the Christians at Ephesus nevertheless also caved in to the pressures of Satan’s evil world system. Gripped by ignorance and silliness, they too were spiritually sleeping, unaware of their surroundings.

The Lord Jesus warned Israel’s Little Flock of their testimony being hindered as well. Matthew chapter 5: “[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Commercialism (materialism) and slothfulness (laziness) threatened the ministry of these Jewish kingdom saints.

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14). “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

Spry!

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:19,20 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be spry.

Unbelieving Jews, who pursued and persecuted Paul as he traveled throughout the Roman Empire, stoned him during his first apostolic journey. Such rocks were not meant to injure but kill! Thus, it is highly likely that Paul not only came close to dying here, but that he actually died! Considering the chronology, Paul seems to be the dead man in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.

Paul was persecuted and stoned in a city. They dragged his body out. He then rose up and… left the region? No! He reentered that city! Just think, a dead Christian is raised again and returns to the city where they had just mercilessly flattened him! What would drive a man to go to such extremes? He wanted to share God’s Word yet again. After suffering himself for God, he warned believers: “[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, [22] Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

If God’s power could raise this physically dead Christian to keep on going in life and ministry, would He not want us to be functionally alive to continue our life and ministry? How many Christians just sit around doing nothing day in and day out—no witnessing, no Bible study, no good works, no supporting ministries, nothing. “Leave me alone! I am alive in Christ, and I am comfortably dead in conduct!” Oh, dear brethren, this should not be! May it not be true of us… may it never be true of us either!

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Spiritual!

Sunday, March 11, 2018

“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 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be spiritual!

What does it mean to be “spiritual?” If you asked 100 people, you would get 100 different answers. We need not wonder as to the correct response. God’s Spirit, the Author of today’s Scripture, led the Apostle Paul to identify the standard for true spirituality in this the Dispensation of Grace. Rather than conditioned upon giving, praying, hand raising, performing miracles, singing, dancing, and speaking in tongues, spirituality is all about whether we listen to God’s spokesman to us Gentiles. “Spiritual” means that the Holy Spirit is leading you. The Holy Ghost wants you to know that His apostle of us Gentiles is Paul (Romans 11:13; cf. Acts 26:14-18). Do you believe that… or not (1 Corinthians 14:38)?

If someone is a “prophet”—speaking on God’s behalf—then he will acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking in and through the Apostle Paul. If someone is “spiritual”—controlled by God’s Spirit—then he will acknowledge that Paul is God’s spokesman to us in the Dispensation of Grace. Ephesians 3:1-5: “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: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;….”

First Corinthians 3:1-3 speaks of three categories of Christians. Firstly, there are the numerous “babes,” those who can handle only Bible basics, spiritual milk instead of solid food (remember Hebrews 5:11-14?). Secondly, we have the countless “carnal” Christians, those constantly driven by the flesh’s sinful desires. Lastly, there are the “spiritual” believers, the few who are able to delve into deep Bible truths. Beloved, are we interested in doing God’s will? Do we want to be “spiritual?” Then, we had better believe today’s Scripture!

Skilled!

Saturday, March 10, 2018

“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).

Without further delay, we need to be skilled in God’s Word.

When God placed Adam on the Earth, He wanted mankind to become experts in His Word. Never to be outdone, Satan began peddling his counterfeit teachings for us to study instead (Genesis 3:1-14).

Instead of Israel reaching spiritual maturity—not only recognizing her Messiah (Jesus) but also sharing Him with the world—her people demanded His crucifixion! For 1,500 years, they had had the Law of Moses to identify their sin problem. Alas, they had watered it down with manmade doctrines (Mark 7:1-13, for example): God’s religion had become the Jews’ religion (Galatians 1:13)! Had they left the Law pure, it would have pointed them to Jesus Christ (sinners need a Saviour—Romans 3:19,20). Alas, they became captives to self-righteousness (Satan’s lie program; John 8:44 and Romans 10:1-3). Therefore, they could not recognize Jesus as Saviour (John 5:39-47).

Had Israel received Jesus as Messiah, they would have become His kingdom of priests, teaching His Word to all nations (Exodus 19:5,6; Isaiah 2:1-4; Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23). However, they could instruct no one, for they themselves first needed to learn the basics of God’s Word. Today’s Scripture scolds them: “You are too spiritually emaciated and immature!”

The Book of Hebrews, written to Jews beyond our Dispensation of Grace, will reorient them to the pure Word of God. It will bring them to spiritual perfection, where the unpolluted Law would have brought them (read Hebrews 5:11–6:3—the context of today’s Scripture). The Church the Body of Christ, finding itself in a similar situation today, should take heed and learn pure Bible doctrine too!

Studious!

Friday, March 9, 2018

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be studious concerning Holy Scripture.

Christian friend, if you attend services at the average “Christian” church, you will discover that “Bible study” is a set of “dirty words.” (You can almost hear gasps when you declare such words in their midst!) They do not care to study the Bible. They will read it and quote it, but they do not want to carefully examine and prayerfully consider it. Comparing verses is “too much work,” “too much thinking,” “too much boredom!” Why? They have been led to believe that spirituality is gauged by how many pews you jump, how quickly your feet move to the music, how loudly you sing, how large your “tithe” is, how often you visit the sick and help the poor, how many “holy books” you collect, how much you pray, how often you raise your hands in “praise and worship,” et cetera.

Usually, whatever “Christian” teaching the assembly upholds, it is basic and shallow. The average Sunday School child could stand in the pulpit and deliver the material. Not surprisingly, the everyday church member is totally destroyed in troubling times. The doctrine provides no spiritual safety, for the doctrine itself is hazardous. What Satan absolutely hates is a Bible-believing student—not a “Bible reader,” not a “Bible toter,” not a “Bible quoter,” and not a “Bible collector.” Someone estimated that the average American home has seven (!!!) Bibles. Considering today’s ignorant and depraved society, probably not even one is ever read (let alone studied and believed)!

We are living in perilous times, dear friends, dangerous times—especially regarding spiritual matters. We cannot—absolutely cannot!—afford to be lackadaisical about Bible study. There is an Adversary, a master spiritual enemy, out there. Satan will not quit until God ultimately stops him. Until then, beloved, our only hope at not being swept away in the error is to study and believe the Bible rightly divided! The Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon, are absolutely critical to our spiritual survival. Grab yourself a King James Bible and study and believe it rightly divided. This cannot be emphasized enough!

Our latest Bible Q&As: “Neither round the corners of your heads nor mar the corners of your beard?” and “Neither make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print any marks on you?”

Safe!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be spiritually and mentally safe.

Until the Rapture, Christian brethren, we are prone to worry. Anxiety—being full of care—is spiritually dangerous. We should replace our fretting with praying: we talk to God about our circumstances. His Word rightly divided has the answer, so we prayerfully study it and then apply pertinent verses to life. We thereby gain our Heavenly Father’s peace.

Today’s Scripture says we need God’s peace to “keep [protect] [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Why? Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), is the master deceiver: he assiduously seeks to use error to distract us from the truth. Two particular schemes, religion and circumstances, greatly advance his cause. Unfavorable situations cause us to assume God is displeased with us and is now chastening us. We then struggle in works-religion to “get back on His good side.” Absolutely, we are not living in reality; Satan has tricked us! Reality says God loves us—look at Calvary (Romans 5:8)—and accepts us in Christ the Beloved—look at Calvary (Ephesians 1:6,7)!

Romans 8:35-39 begins with “who,” for Satan exploits these various situations to mislead us into thinking God does not love us: “[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In all these circumstances, brethren, “we are more than conquerors.” Not only do we overcome them (remember 1 Corinthians 10:13?), we make them occasions to rely on Christ more (remember 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and Philippians 4:11-13?). Strength having replaced helplessness, security having replaced vulnerability, we now replace our anxiety with God’s peace! 🙂

Satisfied!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

“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 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be satisfied wherever we are.

Christian friend, are you content while facing hardship? Probably not. We often grumble and wallow in self-pity. Our Apostle Paul, equally human, was no different. Howbeit, he eventually began to look at his problems differently (remember 2 Corinthians 12:9?). The Bible says in today’s Scripture that he “learned” to be content: it was a process, not something automatic. A new believer does not suddenly become skilled in God’s Word. It takes time—some more than others. Additionally, rarely do believers become trained in God’s life. It takes time before you start looking at difficulties in a new light. Sadly, very, VERY few believers ever become able to adopt God’s view of their situations.

Our circumstances change over time (and how quickly they can change, for good or bad!!). Regardless, we can be content. Firstly, today’s Scripture says Jesus Christ has given us the grace, or capacity, to endure all extremes that life will throw at us—great wealth, abject poverty, exceptional health, terminal illness, many “friends” to few if any “friends,” and so on. Secondly, whatever does happen in this life, there will be a limit. It will not transpire everlastingly. This decaying and dying world will pass away, never to be seen again. Sin will be defeated; Satan will be removed. A glorious new world system is coming, one in which dwells righteousness. Through the eyes of faith, we already see it (remember 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:8 and Romans 8:18-25?).

Having acquired this renewed mind—God’s view—we can now come alongside our Apostle Paul, and declare with him, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)!

Saints, please remember us in your monthly giving. 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! 🙂

See!

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

“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).

Without further delay, we need to see that which is not seen.

Since we are flesh-and-blood creatures, we quite naturally focus on—and unhealthily emphasize—everything we can see, taste, smell, hear, and touch. Basically, we adopt the (secular/unsaved) worldview of, “Empirical evidence is the only reality!” “If it cannot be seen, it cannot be real” is an extremely shallow understanding of reality in and of itself. For example, can we smell love? Do we see air? Can we touch a thought? Do we hear the color green? Can we taste light? Certainly not! These are all fallacious premises. Those concepts must be approached in special ways, or they will not be perceived. Green is not heard but seen. Thoughts are not touched but heard.

Similarly, to experience what God tells and offers us, we do not exercise our five senses. There is something beyond our physical eyes, physical ears, physical noses, physical hands, and physical tongues. This is where the spiritual world lies. Now, just as we understand every creature in the physical world is not benevolent, so we understand that malevolent creatures exist in the spirit world. Whatever they are though, good and bad, we can perceive them if we exercise our spiritual senses.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Through the eyes of faith, we see that there is more to our existence than this life. Whatever we are facing, good or bad, this world is “temporal” (today’s Scripture). Our “light affliction,” our “minor difficulty,” is limited; it is subject to time constraints, temporary. If you keep reading into chapter 5, the verses immediately following today’s Scripture, you will see through the eyes of faith a small glimpse of the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” awaiting us!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the ‘Apocalypse?’”

Salient!

Monday, March 5, 2018

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:14-16 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be striking in our handling of suffering.

The Holy Spirit wrote today’s Scripture concerning end-times persecution: Israel’s believing remnant will suffer immensely under the Antichrist. The Lord Jesus commented in Matthew chapter 24: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (verses 9,10). Verse 21 is worse: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since [!!!!] the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be [!!!!].”

In the midst of such dreadful torment and slaughter, God the Holy Spirit wants the Little Flock to be “ready always” to have an “answer” (Greek, apologia—a defense, as in apologetics) when someone will ask them for a reason of the hope in them. They are to be salient, prominent, for their endurance. Just what enables them to bear unparalleled pressure from the Adversary (Satan, embodied in the Antichrist)? How can they tolerate all the opposition, resist the majority, challenge this seemingly omnipotent tyrant, and not be crushed internally by hopelessness?

The answer was already provided in chapter 1: “[5] Who are kept [protected] by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing [Second Coming] of Jesus Christ:….”

Paul’s epistles provide us our defense!