Category: spiritual warfare

Shunned!

Friday, March 16, 2018

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be joyful when people shun us for our Christian testimony.

A dear brother in Christ once shared some very insightful comments about us separating from the world. If we have a Christian testimony—a life “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11)—the world will actually separate from us! That is, our sound Bible doctrine will drive them away from us. At that point, they will not care to hear or see us (they will have already discovered our affection and forcefully announced to us, “No thanks!!”).

“Stop talking about God so much! Only weirdoes study Scripture to that extent! Close that Bible and go away! You have a social/mental/developmental disorder!” We are outcasts: they want nothing to do with us. They see us as “fanatics,” “kooks,” “crazies” who need to be locked away forever in some institution. This is to be expected; marvel not, dear brethren. They said of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:20: “And many… said, He hath a devil, and is mad [crazy!!]; why hear ye him?” Festus said: “Paul, thou art beside thyself [a raving maniac!!]; much learning doth make thee mad [insane!!]” (Acts 26:24).

Since we who have trusted Christ Jesus have the indwelling Holy Spirit, He gives us desires natural (lost) people lack. They thus consider our behavior unconventional and farcical. First Peter 4:3-4 speaks of the Little Flock that will experience a similar “sticking out” in the evil world system: “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:….”

If this is what we must endure, saints, then let us endure it with joy unspeakable. The world avoids us, but (most importantly) we have eternal fellowship with God.

Bible Q&A #475: “What did Jesus mean, ‘Take up your cross?’”

Separate!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be separate from the religious system.

It is often lamented, “Doctrine divides. Let us rather gather around the love of Jesus Christ.” The Holy Spirit disagrees: sound Bible doctrine matters! Romans 16:17,18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

First Timothy 6:3-5: “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.”

Second Timothy 3:1-5: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Beloved, if there is no sound Bible doctrine—King James Bible, Pauline dispensationalism—we have no reason to get involved with it!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How can God be ‘jealous’ and not be guilty of sin?”

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! 🙂

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?’”

Sagacious!

Saturday, March 3, 2018

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,…” (Ephesians 3:9,10 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to manifest the wisdom of God.

With the mystery revealed to Paul, and now given us through his epistles, Romans through Philemon, we know “the wisdom of God.” God wisely kept a secret, showing it to man only once He saved and commissioned Paul in Acts chapter 9. First Corinthians chapter 2 says: “[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: 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.”

Part of the mystery program is the formation of the Church the Body of Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles reconciled in one body by Calvary’s cross. In those Christians—their mortal bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10,11; 1 Timothy 3:16)—God would show His wisdom to all people and angels (cf. today’s Scripture). Even today, as these believers live and function on a daily basis, they literally are God’s life on display. Sagacious means, “having or exhibiting wisdom and calm judgment.” With the Dispensation of Grace given to us through Paul’s ministry (Ephesians 3:1,2), we can show the world God’s wisdom, how He Himself lives (especially how to view and handle troubles and tragedies).

We have God’s life outlined in the grace principles Jesus Christ first committed to Paul. Obviously, though, there is no wisdom of God manifested if there is no wisdom of God internalized. Christians, if ignorant of the rightly divided Word of God, will exhibit ignorance before the world. Instead of glorifying God, they will be a reproach to the name of Christ. Never forget, Bible scoffers will then have all the more reason to mock.

Sufficient!

Friday, March 2, 2018

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to recognize God’s grace as sufficient.

Two men in human history suffered far beyond the norm. Obviously, the first is the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered the most. Never will we fathom the torment He endured physically and spiritually as He faced the wrath of a righteous God and sinful men. The second is the Apostle Paul, laboring so diligently to preach to wretched sinners in all nations that Christ was crucified for them.

As Paul conducted his ministry, Satan caused him such hardship and grief. Unbelieving Jews constantly plotted to kill him; the Roman government eagerly helped those Jews suppress that “illegal religion;” many of Paul’s Christian friends betrayed and abandoned him; evil spirits mocked him; he was whipped, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, robbed; and so on. Friend, whenever you think you have it rough, cancel your “pity party” by reading Paul’s afflictions recorded in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33!

In addition to the aforementioned trials and tribulations, some mysterious “thorn in the flesh” troubled Paul (today’s Scripture). While Satan attempted to hinder Paul, God utilized it to keep Paul from being worshipped. Paul begged the Lord in prayer three times to have that problem depart, but it did not. The Lord Jesus Christ replied to Paul’s prayer, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul took that revealed Word and concluded, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace is enough for you too!

Second Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;….”

Stabilized!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15,16 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be stabilized by sound Bible doctrine.

Today’s Scripture mentions those who are “unlearned.” It here represents the Greek word amathes, literally “without understanding.” The adjective “unstable” also describes them: the Greek term is asteriktos, or “not fixed.” Ephesians 4:14 strikingly illustrates: “…children, 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.” Think of a ship rocking back and forth as each breeze and wave push it here and there, zigzagging, with no certain course. Imagine a tower swaying in the wind, leaning, ready to topple. Destruction is approaching!

The Holy Spirit spoke through the Apostle Peter about individuals “wresting” the Bible. They distort the meaning of verses to force the Scriptures to agree with their theological system. There is particular emphasis on these “Bible butchers” attacking the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. Destruction is imminent!

Notice the example in 2 Timothy chapter 2, particularly verses 16 and 18: “[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. [17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; [18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” Those who refuse to “rightly divide the word of truth” are in fact those condemned in today’s Scripture.

Unless we understand the Bible dispensationally, dear friends, we will lack internal (spiritual) stability. Our Christian lives will not function properly. When tragedy strikes, we will be unstable… unable to handle it as Father God intended. Right division is not an option!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Does God see us Christians as sinners?”

Superstitious!

Sunday, February 25, 2018

“That we henceforth be no more children, 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:14,15 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to guard against superstition.

When tragedy strikes, people plead for God to stop it. They pray for the criminal’s apprehension, a miraculous recovery from an illness or mortal injury, floodwaters to recede, earthquakes to cease, poverty and war to disappear. When these things continue, it is supposed that God does not love them, was not listening, or could not care less. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Dear friends, what masquerades as “Christianity” is usually nothing but vain superstition. Most church members have not a clue as to what God is doing today—not a clue! How skilled they are in what God did in time past—miracles, signs, wonders, Sabbath days, water baptism, tithing, et cetera. They are naïve as to what He is doing in the but now. Dispensational Bible study is completely foreign to them; hence, they cannot find where they fit in God’s timeline for the ages. They are totally unable to locate their information in Scripture. They just grab whatever verses fit their agenda/denomination; context means nothing.

The most inconspicuous place for superstition in a Christian’s life is prayer. Doubtless, superstition abounds in most prayer lives. Church members are asking or demanding God do things He is not doing today. He has already declared in His Word to us, the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon, what He is doing today. However, they go to the rest of Scripture—what God did long ago and what He will do yet future—and try to make Him do that now. We cannot make God do something He is not doing. Just because the Bible says it, that does not mean that it is God’s Word to us. Do we build a boat as Genesis chapter 6 says? Do we bring a trespass offering for touching an unclean animal as Leviticus chapter 5 commands? See, stop grabbing things haphazardly from the Bible and start respecting contexts.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “But what if they read the Bible at my church…?!”