Category: spiritual warfare

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #6

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

The verse following today’s Scripture articulates, “And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.” Eutychus is deceased, but he is not perpetually hopeless and helpless (his name actually means “fortunate!”). God’s man—His spokesman in the Dispensation of Grace—is nearby. “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). Not only is God’s Word living, it is also life-giving. There is functional life in God’s Word rightly divided—namely, Pauline doctrine.

In light of those who “shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1), we are instructed: “[6] 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. [13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine…. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Eutychus demonstrates verse 1: he was “seduced” (drawn away with the promise of delight). Satan’s evil world system tantalized him from stable (or Pauline) doctrine into fleshly (carnal), worldly doctrine. Yet, like with him, Pauline doctrine can save or restore us from functional destruction and death. It can deliver us from deception, false teaching, and restore health to our Christian thought and behavior. Verse 11 (after today’s Scripture) continues, “When he [Eutychus] therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he [Paul] departed.”

Now, we summarize and conclude….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #5

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

It is no coincidence that Eutychus sat in “the third loft” (today’s Scripture). We the Church the Body of Christ have an inheritance in the heavenly places rather than the earth (Ephesians 2:6,7). Therefore, Paul was caught up into the “third heaven” to receive Divine revelations concerning us (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

Diverted from Pauline doctrine, Eutychus sleeps, becomes unstable, falls, and dies. The Church the Body of Christ, if focused on the evil world system (darkness outside), will die functionally. Looking at today’s professing “church,” we see pervasive confusion, all-encompassing impotency, and functional death! Bible ignorance is disturbing. There is no power of God, there is no life of God, as there is no Word of God: church traditions and human opinions abound. “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9).

The Church the Body of Christ must be heavenly in thought if it is to be heavenly in conduct. Colossians 3:1-3: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection [concentration] on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Philippians 3:18-21: “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

We Christians must study and believe the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon, to save and guard ourselves from Satan’s mesmerizing doctrines….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #4

Monday, November 5, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

First John 2:15-17 is transdispensational, applicable across the Bible timeline: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Regardless of the dispensation, Satan’s evil world system continuously entices God’s people to compromise with it. Saints are tempted to change God’s message to fit the times (culture), or they are intimidated into silence if they refuse to alter the doctrine.

Physical darkness induced sleep in Eutychus (an individual), an illustration of how the Devil’s world system sways us the Church the Body of Christ (corporately) to slumber spiritually. Turn to 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,….” First Corinthians chapter 15: “[33] Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. [34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

Pauline doctrine—the Gospel of Grace for justification (eternal life in Heaven) and for practical sanctification (daily Christian living)—is meant to “open [Gentile] eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18). Yet, Eutychus, diverted from Paul’s preaching, fell asleep physically, much as the Corinthians and Ephesians fell asleep practically (in Christian thinking and conduct). Dear brethren, if we the Body of Christ are to stay awake spiritually, or revive if we do fall asleep and die functionally, Pauline doctrine is the answer….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #3

Sunday, November 4, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

Verse 8, we recall, stated (in part), “And there were many lights in the upper chamber.” The time is late—approximately midnight (verse 7). Pitch darkness outside starkly contrasts brilliant lighting inside. Today’s Scripture reports that Eutychus “sat in a window.” Seated between light and darkness, he is a compromiser, a “fence straddler.” Not entirely inside the building, he is not completely outside either. Yet, he has focused too much on the blackness without, causing him to fall into a deep sleep.

The world system has been dark ever since Adam willfully followed Satan in his rebellion against the Creator God. However, upon our believing the Gospel of the Grace of God—Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)—we are rescued (redeemed) from that spiritual nighttime. Second Corinthians 4:3-6: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Second Corinthians 6:14 thus asks, “What communion hath light with darkness?” Ephesians chapter 5 adds: “[8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; ) [10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. [11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Unlike Eutychus, the nighttime—the evil world system—should not distract and influence us….

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Distracted Eutychus Dies! #2

Saturday, November 3, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (verse 7). Paul is preaching, not only in Troas in the A.D. first century, but worldwide today and beyond—the entire Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:1,2). Today’s Scripture says he is “long preaching.” The Dispensation of Grace has operated for nearly 2,000 years now: Almighty God has been “longsuffering,” extending grace and peace to this lost, dying, and Christ-rejecting world (1 Timothy 1:15,16; 2 Peter 3:9,15,16). Paul is “ready to depart on the morrow.” At any moment, his preaching will cease. His grace message, his mystery ministry, and our dispensation will thus conclude with the Church the Body of Christ being raptured into Heaven.

“And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together” (verse 8). Christians have assembled to listen, hear, and see God’s grace exhibited. The “many lights in the upper chamber” signify abundant spiritual illumination brought by God’s Word—particularly, Pauline doctrine. Psalm 119: “[105] Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…. [130] The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Ephesians chapter 1: “[17] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,….” When the Lord Jesus Christ is preached “according to the revelation of the mystery” (Romans 16:25,26), spiritual ignorance and darkness are dispelled.

Alas, tragedy mars the cheerful Bible conference. Joy flees as sleeping Eutychus plummets to the ground and perishes….

Distracted Eutychus Dies! #1

Friday, November 2, 2018

“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead” (Acts 20:9 KJV).

What can the context of today’s Scripture teach us about the Dispensation of Grace?

The Apostle Paul and his traveling companions are on his third apostolic journey. Having left Greece, en route to Jerusalem, they navigate southward along the shore of western Turkey (Asia, or Asia Minor). Now we turn to the Bible to pick up the account: “[6] And we sailed away from Philippi [Macedonia, northern Greece] after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas [western Turkey] in five days; where we abode seven days. [7] And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. [8] And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

“[9] And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. [10] And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. [11] When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. [12] And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.”

It is such a nice, heartwarming story, right? While listening to Paul’s lengthy sermon, a young man, Eutychus, falls asleep. Eutychus falls from a high position and actually dies, but Paul raises him from the dead. Let us stop and think. Could there be something there beyond a historical account of a Pauline miracle? If we are Bible students, and not merely Bible skimmers, the Scriptures will yield up for us an eye-opening account of the very nature of this the Dispensation of the Grace of God….

Arrayed in Hypocrisy

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27,28 KJV).

“Looks can be deceiving” is not only true during Halloweentime, but confirmed year-round within Christendom.

Today is Halloween, when children dress up and feign themselves to be creatures they are not. Likewise, many church leaders today wear “Christian” garbs, but their ministries do not bring the Lord Jesus Christ glory and honor. They promote their denomination, and seek to perpetuate it, rather than serve and exalt the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible manifests these who appear to be good, as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

In today’s Scripture, Jesus Christ exposed Israel’s corrupt religious leaders who misled the nation in His day. In His Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30,37-43, Christ explained how just as He had sown good seed (wheat, believing Jews) in Israel, Satan had also sown tares/weeds (unbelieving Jews). Tares resemble wheat; unbelieving Jews resemble believing Jews. The unbelieving Pharisees and scribes, for instance, looked like God’s people (believing Israel). Judas Iscariot was another example of Satan’s tares—the apostles never realized who Judas really was until it was too late!

But Satan’s counterfeit believers are not confined to Israel’s program. Today, within local assemblies of the Body of Christ, there are people feigning themselves to be Christians: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Beloved, beware of the church leaders who are arrayed in hypocrisy, “and avoid them” (Romans 16:17b). If their teaching does not agree with the rightly divided King James Bible, you have no business as a child of God to be listening to them.

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

You may also see our special study, “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?”

The Truth Through Time

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4 KJV).

As someone once wisely observed, “The first generation loves the truth, the second generation tolerates the truth, and the third generation snubs the truth.”

Today’s Scripture contains some of the Apostle Paul’s parting words to young Pastor Timothy. Verses 13-17 of the third chapter had said, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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.”

In light of how the Holy Bible (rightly divided) can deliver us from the doctrinal error running rampant, the Holy Spirit opens chapter 4: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (Notice today’s Scripture within.)

A culture saturated with God’s Word will gradually be weaned from it if its leaders do not faithfully transfer those truths to the next generation. “And the things that thou hast heard of me [Paul] among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). Brethren, may we be here “faithful!”

Special-edition Bible Q&A #550: “What does the Bible say about ‘ghosts?’”

Enlightening the Ethiopian Eunuch #7

Sunday, October 28, 2018

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet” (Acts 8:26-28 KJV).

Why and how can this Ethiopian eunuch be enlightened?

Friend, you will most likely agree with the next statement. There is nothing more exasperating than having a Bible, reading it and reading it and reading it, and yet getting nothing out of it. Millions upon millions upon millions of poor, precious souls find themselves in the same predicament. They faithfully attend church services weekly or even daily, they hear the Bible read or sung, and yet they gain as much insight into God’s Word as if there never was a Bible! What is the first step in understanding and enjoying Scripture?

Philip was entrusted with the ability of interpreting God’s Word whereas the Ethiopian eunuch was not. What made the difference? Acts 8:29 says that the Holy Spirit was involved: He was operating in and through Philip! In stark contrast, the eunuch was filled with nothing but religious tradition and human viewpoint. The eunuch learned firsthand that philosophy and man’s opinions are no substitute for God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)! Philip is a believer in Christ and the eunuch is not; the former has the Holy Spirit, and the latter does not. Yet, the eunuch was seeking the truth, and God honored that heart attitude.

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,” the eunuch proclaimed in verse 37. Through Philip, the Holy Spirit had personally taught him from the Isaiah scroll. He had seen truths he would have never known otherwise. Verse 39 closes with his water baptism, and when the Spirit of the Lord snatches up Philip to preach elsewhere, the eunuch goes on his way “rejoicing.” What delight the eunuch now has as he goes on home to Ethiopia! “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162).

Enlightening the Ethiopian Eunuch #6

Saturday, October 27, 2018

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet” (Acts 8:26-28 KJV).

Why and how can this Ethiopian eunuch be enlightened?

“[35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. [36] And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? [37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”

Verse 37 is key, as it is the eunuch’s profession of faith: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (This is omitted from modern English versions.) What exactly did Philip preach to him? There is no mention of Christ’s cross as good news. Did he say, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for my sins and rose again?” No. There is nothing about Calvary. All Philip told him was that Messiah was prophesied in Isaiah chapter 53, and Jesus fulfilled the passage. The eunuch saw that Jesus was Christ, the Son of God (the Gospel of the Kingdom—Matthew 16:16). In other words, he as a Gentile understood and believed what Israel by and large refused to understand and believe (John 1:11,12)! He was then water baptized, what Israel overwhelmingly rejected as well (Luke 7:29,30).

Indeed, the Scriptural record has rebuked Israel….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why does Peter start with Samuel in Acts 3:24?”