Category: spiritual warfare

How You Finish, Not How You Start

Monday, June 6, 2016

“Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:9-11 KJV).

In these verses, we see two saints—profitable and unfaithful, and unfaithful and profitable.

Today’s Scripture is Paul beginning to conclude his farewell epistle. Guilty of preaching an “illegal religion,” the aged Apostle awaits his beheading. Sitting in a cruel dungeon in Rome, he writes to Timothy one last time, urging the young man to come to the prison as quickly as possible. Why? Paul explains that “only Luke” remains with him. His other ministry companions are travelling, possibly visiting local grace assemblies on his behalf. In today’s Scripture, two contrasting names are set in bold relief.

First appearing in Paul and Barnabas’ apostolic ministry at the very end of Acts chapter 12, John Mark is Barnabas’ nephew (Colossians 4:10). He travels with Paul and Barnabas during their first apostolic journey (Acts chapters 13-14). By the start of their second apostolic journey, Barnabas wants to take John Mark with them but Paul refuses because John Mark had previously abandoned them around Acts 14:24. Barnabas and Paul, due to this momentous disagreement, go their separate ways at Acts 15:36-41.

Just over 10 years later, in Acts chapter 28, Demas appears in Paul’s ministry. Paul greets the Colossian believers on behalf of Demas (4:14). In Philemon 24, the companion epistle, Paul calls Demas a “fellow-labourer.” Most definitely, Demas was very useful to Paul’s ministry. Oh, but what a tragedy! A few years later, Paul writes today’s Scripture: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world….” Demas’ precise motives are unknown.

Friends, just think! The actions of John Mark and Demas are written down forever in God’s Word! John Mark, once unfaithful, returned to Paul’s ministry at the very end. Demas, once faithful, abandoned Paul’s ministry at the very end. Brethren, just think! Those you expect to stay with the truth, they may not! Those you expect to never embrace the truth, they just may!

Qualifying Queries

Sunday, June 5, 2016

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Timothy 2:23 KJV).

The servant of the Lord must carefully choose questions about the Bible.

As a Bible teacher, it is exciting for me to hear from Bible students who are so engaged in Scripture that they ask questions. Some questions are so very easy they can be answered quite quickly. Others require a great deal of study—yes, months or years in some cases!

Bible questions allow me to assess where others are in their Scriptural understanding. It also enables me to see where I am in my own understanding, and where I could use improvement and enlightenment. Oftentimes, when people ask me questions, I research the answers and come away from the Bible with a greater understanding myself. However, sometimes, like them, I have more questions than answers, so I reply, “Before I comment, I will study more!”

Brethren, when it comes to Bible questions, remember the following. On one hand, it is easy to start asking various questions the Bible never definitively answers. We begin to focus too much on subjects the Scriptures rarely—if ever—mention. On the other hand, the Bible is very clear and quite dogmatic about certain issues. We need not overlook those defined ideas and facts by stressing the topics of uncertainty.

Today’s Scripture encourages us to answer Bible questions, provided they are neither “foolish” nor “unlearned.” Such inquiries generate “strife” (fighting, trouble, et cetera). Rather than actually leading to a definite point where something is learned and the inquirer is benefited, these questions are just meant to “go around in circles.” The Bible never clearly comments on them so all you are left with is idle speculations of yourself or others. People then try to prove themselves right and they start arguing with others who also may want to be right. Minds spinning, emotions running, people raise their fists and circle the room!

Before we ask Bible questions ourselves, or answer questions from others, let us be mindful of today’s Scripture. In doing so, we will spare ourselves of Satan’s “devices” meant to discourage Bible discussion altogether!

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Put the Brethren in Remembrance

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

“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” (1 Timothy 4:6 KJV).

Never forget to remind the brethren!

Father God has much to say. He was so generous to give us a written record of what He wanted to tell us. May we be so thankful to Him that, when we have a King James Bible, we hold His inspired words preserved in English. No need for us to get lost in a maze of Hebrew and Greek, looking for hidden “nuggets” in a mine abounding with fools’ gold. It is unnecessary to enter a “prayer closet” and beg God to reveal His will to us. Rather, we need to get into His Bible and read it for ourselves!

Since the creation of Adam and Eve some 6,000 years ago, human life has become increasingly complicated and busier. In this age of entertainment, it is extremely easy for Christians to become sidetracked. They sit in front of their televisions, computers, and personal devices (including smartphones), and often go hours, days, weeks, months… even years!… without giving God’s Word even the slightest consideration. May they wake up!

Paul the Apostle exhorted young Pastor Timothy to remind his Christian brethren of the instructions laid out in the first epistle that bears his name. He was to especially bring to their attention Satan’s schemes and scams. In the verses preceding today’s Scripture, the Holy Spirit warned of Christians who would abandon sound Bible doctrine. They would embrace religion—“forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (verses 1-5).

However, Timothy could reduce Satan’s work by reminding his brethren of sound Bible doctrine (today’s Scripture). Those grace doctrines, constantly affirmed, would encourage the members of the Body of Christ to hold fast to God’s truth. As long as they held on to God’s Word rightly divided, being daily reminded of it, they would survive the apostasy.

Brethren, we trust we have fulfilled today’s Scripture here on a daily basis. Now, to our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, we close five full years of “333 Words of Grace!” 🙂

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 30, 2016

“For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV).

In the United States, today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their time and lives to provide our physical freedom. Likewise, as Christians, we have spiritual freedom, which was more costly. Someone had to die to give us the eternal life we now enjoy….

Scripture describes a spiritual warfare between good and evil, God’s truth program versus Satan’s lie program: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11,12; see also verses 13-20).

Satan distracts mankind from God’s pure Word, the Bible, keeping unbelievers lost (dead in their sins), and preventing unbelievers and Christians from knowing God’s will. The devil draws them away (seduces them) from God’s Word by using religious tradition and human “wisdom” (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 3:1-3).

God loves us, so at Calvary’s cross, Christ fought for us sinners, died in battle (today’s Scripture), shed His divine sinless blood, and eternally rescued us from Satan and sin: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15).

Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.”

If we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Now, God can use us for His glory for all eternity.

Beloved, let us rejoice in our victory over sin, death, and hell that Jesus Christ secured for us by going to Calvary’s rugged cross! Jesus Christ is now alive forevermore—He is our Hero, the Greatest Hero!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study “The Greatest Hero,” which can be read here or watched here.

Malnourished Saints

Saturday, May 21, 2016

“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” (Hebrews 5:12 KJV).

Regrettably, today’s Scripture could be written to today’s average “Christian.”

It is rather sad to see someone in an adult body with a child’s mentality. Normally, this person should behave and make decisions like a mature person. However, due to various reasons, he or she cannot function like an adult. It is no exaggeration to claim that 90 to 95 percent of Christians (whether professing or legitimate) fit this category in the spiritual realm. They have such a shallow—or even no (!)—understanding of the Holy Bible.

In my short decade of ministry, speaking to and hearing from various people, I have grown more and more aware of the fact that many of the people who read the Bible have an extremely limited understanding of it. Even people who trusted Jesus Christ decades ago, who should have matured in God’s Word years back, know little Bible teaching.

Years ago, I sat with a Christian on his deathbed. He was so burdened about his lost friends. He told me that he did not know what to tell them about soul salvation. Another elderly Christian brother sought my help in understanding the Scriptures (and he had been studying the Bible two decades before me!). Or the Christian couple who went to an “evangelical” church for a decade and, in their words, “learned nothing.” What about the woman who learned more about the Bible in a few hours using dispensational Bible study, than what she learned 90 years in her denominational church?!

I have met all sorts of people who claim to read the Bible, and yet their beliefs match anything and everything but. The list goes on and on and on. I have seen it firsthand, and have spoken with others who have heard similar stories. Bible ignorance is the greatest within “Bible” circles. May we get into the meat of the Bible—Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon—and throw away our baby bottle!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why do people grow angry when we share right division with them?”

A Prayer According to God’s Will

Thursday, May 5, 2016

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 KJV).

On this United States’ National Day of Prayer, we pray you pray according to the Lord Jesus Christ’s will for today!

Today, religious people—the general public, clergy, and government officials—will assemble nationwide, like they do every year, and pray for spiritual and moral revival of the “Christian” (?) United States of America. We commend their noble efforts, but God’s Word says there will be no godly revival of any of the world’s Gentile nations until Jesus Christ returns to earth at His Second Coming (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Revelation 11:15; et cetera).

The LORD’s words to King Solomon are often quoted on this day: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Friends, this is certainly God’s Word, but has nothing to do with Gentiles in the United States in the Dispensation of Grace. This verse has a context often overlooked—the nation Israel under the Mosaic Law, praying in relation to God’s Temple in Jerusalem (verses 15,16). Actually, that Temple was destroyed over 19 centuries ago! Unlike Israel, the United States was never a divinely-founded nation. The American people as a whole are not God’s people like Israel was.

Rather than praying 2 Chronicles 7:14, remember today’s Scripture (God’s Word to us Gentiles). The verse following today’s Scripture says, “[God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Pray for those in authority, that they would trust Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour, and then grow in His Word to them so they can make wise decisions on behalf of the people they govern.

Two Gates, Two Ways, One Soul, and One Choice

Thursday, April 21, 2016

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13,14 KJV).

Which do you choose?

In a previous study, exactly two weeks ago today, it was mentioned we had a Christian sister trying to reach out to her unsaved friend dying of cancer. The sister was very burdened to share the Gospel of the Grace of God. However, the dying lady refused to hear that her “good” works would not get her into heaven. She cut off all contact with us.

Yesterday, less than three weeks after her diagnosis, we received news that she died. She had at least two weeks to think about God’s grace and trust Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour. What she did with Him in her final moments, only He knows. Wherever her soul is right now, heaven or hell, she certainly remembers the Gospel of Grace. If in heaven, she is so thankful she trusted it. If in hell, she will always remember that she did not have to go there had she just believed God’s Word to her.

A pastor once wisely observed, “People reject the Gospel because they do not realize they are lost.” This lady’s attitude was a case in point. She concentrated on how many “good” things she did for so many people. This is exactly why God hates religion, friends. Religion is nothing but an occasion to brag about what you have done. There is absolutely no boasting before God. Every person who gets to heaven will get there on the same basis—Jesus Christ’s shed blood. There will be no “I did more good works than you” attitude. All glory will go to the Lord Jesus Christ if someone makes it to heaven. All blame will go to the individual if the individual makes it to hell.

My brethren, let us make every effort to reach loved ones with God’s grace now. Death may come quicker for them than you think!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Could you describe Jesus’ resurrected body?”

Entertainment Versus Edification

Monday, April 18, 2016

“I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162 KJV).

If a saint should rejoice at God’s Word, what does that say about someone who finds it “boring?”

When commenting on the services of a local grace church—especially the actual study of the Bible—a lady said, “Boring!” Why, of course, what do we expect from somebody who goes to church to be entertained with a concert of arm swaying and toe tapping? The professing church has plenty of entertainment and yet it is still so weak and disoriented. What does that demonstrate? Entertainment is not the answer; it is the problem. As a Christian author wrote decades ago, “I went in the world and found the church. I went in the church and found the world!” My, how much more now that actual Bible study has largely given way to “contemporary” “worship?”

Notice what the Holy Spirit instructed young church leader Timothy: “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. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:6-8).

Rather than indulging in the flesh with religion (whether formalism with its ceremonies, or fanaticism with its “concerts”), which is utterly useless, we are to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.” Sound Bible doctrine is spiritual nutrition; you have to actually read and study the Bible to grow. Friend, jumping, singing, dancing, rolling on the floor, et cetera, will profit nothing in eternity. In the closing chapter of 1 Timothy, Paul mentioned “wholesome [healthy; nutritional] words, even the words our Lord Jesus Christ, and… the doctrine which is according to godliness” (chapter 6, verse 3). Words! Words! WORDS! You have to get in God’s Word for yourself, friend, to find God’s words. If your local church does not encourage you to do it, find an assembly that does. Your spiritual health depends on it!

The Old Rugged Cross #2

Saturday, April 9, 2016

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV).

The second verse of George Bennard’s classic 1913 hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” highlights today’s Scripture.

“Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.”

Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary means nothing to most. The religious crowd believes they can “be nice” and “do good” and score points to “make God happy with them” as much as He was happy with Christ on Calvary. Salvation by grace through faith without works, us relying on Someone else to get us to Heaven, Someone who lived 2,000 years ago, and us not making an effort to “do right,” my, they think it absurdity to the extreme. (If they think their “good deeds” will make up for all their sins, that is absurdity to the extreme!)

Intellectuals—willfully ignorant, of course—may (notice I said “may!”) acknowledge the historicity of Jesus but most would never dare discuss the merits of Calvary. It would make them appear “bigoted” and “intolerant” of the world’s religions that place no emphasis (or outright deny) Calvary’s efficaciousness. Rather than becoming the laughingstock of “scholarship,” they ask, “How can a dead Jew help me?” Indeed, we agree that a “dead Jew” can help no one. But, our “dead Jew” did not remain dead!

The message of Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, the hell-bound lost world considers it “foolishness” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14). But, the flipside, we who are saved, we recognize that Gospel of the Grace of God is “the power of God.” The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the price of redemption, our rescuing from sin and Satan. Jesus Christ left the glories of Heaven, His worship and praise in Heaven, to come to this wretched world of worthless sinners, to be mistreated by them, mocked by them, and finally, murdered by them. Christ left Heaven, came to Earth, that we may one day leave Earth, and go to Heaven. Yes, Calvary “has a wondrous attraction for me!” 🙂

They Believed Not the Truth

Thursday, April 7, 2016

“That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV).

Refuse the Word of God—enjoy the wages of sin!

Someone in Christ recently attempted to share the Gospel of the Grace of God with a friend dying of cancer. Having been in a works-religion for so many years, her friend objected, “But, I have been ‘so good’ to so many people.” The dying lady, assuming that her “good” deeds would merit her heaven, refused to hear anything about those works being “filthy rags” before God (Isaiah 64:6). She wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Days later, she still refuses to answer the Christian’s phone calls. I encouraged that Christian lady that she did everything she could except pray. The only thing left to do is to “believe for her friend,” and that she cannot do. At this point, unfortunately for her, the works-religion woman has made that very clear the door is closed.

Friends, if we could believe Christ on their behalf, literally billions of loved ones would be spared the eternal wrath of God in hellfire. Yet, salvation unto eternal life is a personal choice. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). This one verse would put 99 percent of so-called “Christianity” out of business. All their “goody-goody works,” “goody-goody ceremonies,” “goody-goody rites,” “goody-goody rituals,” and “goody-goody prayers,” would pass away. Nothing but “dung” (Philippians 3:8)!

Beloved, God is looking first and foremost for faith, trust in His Word. For us to go around striving and working to get into heaven, that is the very opposite of faith, for God’s Word says He is looking for faith and not for works! If you think your righteousness will get you into heaven, you have nullified Jesus Christ, for the Bible says Jesus Christ is enough to get you into heaven! But, dear friend, if you really are determined to stand before God with “all your goodness,” go right on ahead. We will warn you but no one will stop you. Free will! Free will! Free will!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Is John 20:29 applicable to us today?”