Category: The Church the Body of Christ

Spiritual Calligraphy #11

Friday, May 17, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Read Titus chapter 2: “[1] But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: [2] That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. [3] The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; [4] That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

“[6] Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. [7] In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, [8] Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. [9] Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; [10] Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

“[11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [15] These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

Paul wrote how members of the Body of Christ (especially young women) should carefully guard how they live, lest unbelievers “blaspheme [speak against] the word of God” (verse 5). Similarly, servants (employees) should “adorn [decorate, make attractive/appealing] the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (verse 10). Such precautions prevent hypocrisy (thereby avoiding ancient Israel’s sins of Romans 2:21-24).

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Spiritual Calligraphy #10

Thursday, May 16, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

It is no secret the Corinthians were the worldliest, most carnal (fleshly) believers in the entire canon of Scripture. They thought and acted like people who were lost and on their merry way to Hell! What makes it all the more ridiculous is that Paul had spent some two years teaching them the Gospel of Grace and grace living (see Acts 18:11,18)! One of their primary sins was abusing spiritual gifts—especially speaking in tongues. Three chapters of 1 Corinthians are therefore devoted to spiritual gifts (read chapters 12–14).

Consider 1 Corinthians 14:21-23: “In the law it is written [Isaiah 28:11,12], With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad [crazy, insane, lunatic]?”

The Corinthian assembly of Christians met in a building that shared a wall with the Jewish synagogue of Corinth. Read Acts 18:1-8, noting that “joined hard” in verse 7 references the common wall between them. Since the Corinthian saints were abusing the spiritual gift of tongues by engaging in gibberish or ecstatic utterances (just like the pagans in their worship services!), that spiritual gift was not serving its purpose of reaching unsaved Jews next-door as the Spirit of God had intended! It was the spirit of man trying to counterfeit God’s work, and even lost Jews could see the silliness! Instead of attracting unsaved Israel to Paul’s ministry and message, such frivolity was repelling them, keeping them antagonistic toward the Lord Jesus Christ whom those spiritual gifts should have glorified.

Exalting human “wisdom,” Corinth abounded with spiritual cacography, ugly handwriting, hideous words and deeds….

Spiritual Calligraphy #9

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Read Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Moses’ speech to Israel: “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”

God intended Israel to display His wisdom for all the Gentiles to see and admire. This was especially important since we will remember these Gentiles or nations were walking in the foolishness of satanic darkness and spiritual ignorance (Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:16-31; Acts 26:17,18; Romans 1:20-32; Ephesians 2:1-3,11,12; Ephesians 4:17-19). The nation Israel, however, did not value and esteem their Hebrew Bible (our Old Testament): they joined the Gentiles in their darkness!

Notice how, some 600 years before Christ, the LORD God spoke these words through Jeremiah the Prophet: “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish [stupid!] children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Jeremiah 4:22). Also consider Jeremiah 5:21,23: “Hear now this, O foolish [same Hebrew word translated ‘sottish’] people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:…. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.”

While true of the ancient nation Israel, the Holy Spirit could also compose these Jeremiah verses to and about the professing church and even the genuine church. Spiritual folly and stupidity reign supreme in the majority of our “Christian” schools, local “Christian” assemblies, and “Christian” homes….

Spiritual Calligraphy #8

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Here is God’s grace expressed in and through members of the Church the Body of Christ: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:13-16).

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:11-15).

“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 on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19).

Here is spiritual calligraphy, beautiful writing we can apply to the details of our life….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #13

Sunday, May 5, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

As opposed to “naming and claiming” today’s Scripture (which has a context different from what denominationalism has led us to believe!), here are some pertinent references to us members of the Church the Body of Christ meeting with each other (for Bible study and fellowship).

“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. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together” (Acts 20:7,8). “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14,15). “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).

In the Pauline pastoral epistles—1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon—we find Divine counsel on how to run the local church or assembly. First Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1 list the qualifications for “bishops,” “deacons,” and “elders.” Note the brethren interacting in Titus chapters 2 and 3. Paul’s epistles of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians were all written to assemblies of saints living and meeting in their respective cities or regions (Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica). Timothy served as pastor in Ephesus, Titus was pastor on the island of Crete, and Philemon’s home in Colosse was the site of a local church.

Read of the individual local churches in Romans 16:5,10,11,14,15; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 4:19; and Philemon 2. These Christians were congregating in personal homes in the first century; it was not until the third century when organized religion took over Christianity and started stressing buildings as the “church.” No, we Christians are the church! Therefore, whenever and wherever we meet around Scripture, we are having church!

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

No Corrupt Communication #22

Saturday, March 23, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

One spiteful critic stated he rejected our position because we King James Bible users claim to have knowledge with certainty. Echoing a classic humanist (a pagan, in fact), he contended “we can know nothing for certain” (then, Luke 1:4 is untrue?). Strangely, this seminary graduate has a ministry as a “Christian apologist,” someone who allegedly defends Jesus’ teachings against cults (he knows something for certain, apparently)! He is also cognizant his “scholarly” modern-version friends would disown him in a heartbeat if he dare support the King James Bible! “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42,43). It is these kinds of people “in ministry” we had better watch out for and totally avoid!

If anyone questions your exclusive use of the King James Bible, or complains it has mistakes, then ask them to show you a Bible you can trust 100 percent. They will not present it to you. All they will offer you is another Bible they find fault with as well. This is the corrupt fruit of textual criticism, and we are certain it has poisoned almost every Bible college, minister, local church, “Christian” book, “Christian” sermon, and Christian soul through the centuries. People who have been robbed of an authoritative, perfect Bible now attempt to take it away from us, so we no longer pose a threat to their church, theological system, or seminary indoctrination.

Dear friends, here is the subtlest form of “corrupt communication,” the deadliest type of misinformation, and the costliest kind of education—stunting the growth of billions of church members, producing more heresy and apostasy than atheism, agnosticism, and free-thinking combined. The position of faith is to believe God’s perfectly preserved Word and words in English are the King James Bible. Any other conclusion is doubtful, subject to change, and rank unbelief. Mark it well, and never forget it!

-FINIS!-

No Corrupt Communication #21

Friday, March 22, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Our 400-year-old King James Bible’s “archaic” (old-fashioned) terminology is criticized ad nauseam. English is indeed a living language: words and definitions are being added and deleted as time passes. It is also a diverse language, borrowing from various other tongues. Hence, English is deteriorating, especially as slang becomes more commonplace. The King James Bible’s English is quite precise, far more representative of the original Bible languages than today’s English, and thus vastly superior to modern English.

Not only was the King James Bible translated when English was at its purest (seventeenth century), study of the original Bible languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek) was exploding like never before. The Protestant Reformation a century prior had generated much spiritual enlightenment (which the Roman Catholic Church hithertofore had stifled via superstitions and blind reliance on literate priests who misled the illiterate masses). Yea, no man or group of men assembled today could ever come close to producing another King James Bible. What we need to do is be thankful for what those 1611 scholars left us, and stop the petulant whining and juvenile emendations (“poor translation,” “mistranslation,” “the original Greek or Hebrew says…”—such baseless grievances equating to “corrupt communication”).

The professing church, and even the genuine church, finds itself in an unenviable position. Having been so brainwashed to question the King James Bible, it does not give a second thought to retranslation or replacement with a modern version. The Authorized Version is so distrusted in countless minds that they are now vulnerable to teachers, preachers, and professors who have been educated (willingly or inadvertently) by Roman Catholic scholarship that wishes to reverse the Reformation. With Protestants lacking firm faith in their Bible, the traditionalists who worship “scholarship” or manmade systems can then “help.” Allegedly, “Holy Mother Church” and her “informed” servants will give us the real Word of God—not only what it means, but what it is (Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus!). This is what Protestant leaders have stimulated by relentlessly attacking their King James Bible, so we dare not dismiss the Bible versions issue as unimportant!

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

No Corrupt Communication #20

Thursday, March 21, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Counselling the elders (church leaders) of Ephesus, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul advised: “Take heed [watch out, be careful!] therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:28-32).

Not only would the threat be outside the church—it would be inside it too. People in ministry, who once held to the truth, would fall away from it. These are the false teachers of whom we should be especially vigilant. What better way to infiltrate, divide, and thoroughly destroy Christians with heresies than by “Christian” (HA!) leaders adjusting their Bible (what they trust!)?

Some years back, I followed a Bible teacher who habitually corrected the King James Bible. Eventually, I wrote a letter to him explaining his inconsistency: he always said, “Follow the Bible, not what I say,” but he constantly offered a “better translation” when he disliked what the Bible said. He agreed with me that “modern versions were of the Devil,” but he had the right to change Bible verses for the purposes of teaching. Wow! (The modern versions are of the Devil for the same reason his treatment of the King James Bible was of the Devil: both positions take the authority from God’s words and place it on people’s opinions, thus fracturing what the unadulterated truth would have united.)

“Perverse things”—corrupt communication—were spoken and written….

No Corrupt Communication #19

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

As Bible believers, we recognize a chief malevolent (evil) spirit exists: Satan is not merely an idea, but a spirit-being just as real as God is. “Satan” (Hebrew) means “adversary.” (See it translated “adversary/adversaries” in Numbers 22:22; 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Kings 11:14,23,25. It is rendered “withstand” in Numbers 22:32.)

The first time Satan appears in Scripture is Genesis chapter 3: “[1] Now the serpent was more subtil [sneaky, underhanded] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

In Genesis 3:1, Satan opened by questioning God’s words—“Did God really say this…?” Eve was too confused to know the truth, so she accepted his “enlightenment!” Read God’s original words in Genesis 2:16,17: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” However, in Genesis chapter 3, Eve omitted “freely” from God’s words, added “neither shall ye touch it” to God’s words, and watered down “thou shalt surely die” to become “lest ye die.” Only then did Satan finally deny God’s words altogether: “Ye shall not surely die….”

Satan’s evil world system and its participants, boasting “scholarship” and “expertise,” still incite us to treat God’s words so shamefully, disrespectfully, corruptly….

No Corrupt Communication #18

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Read Daniel 7:25: “And he shall speak great words against the most High,….” Go back to Daniel 11:36: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods,….” Re-read Revelation 13:5,6: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”

As indicated above, the Antichrist (counterfeit Christ or false Messiah) in the ages to come will use his tongue to utter lies. Basically, he will claim to be God in human flesh—and he will command people to worship him as God or face the death penalty (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4; Revelation 13:7-18). The creature is now being worshipped and served as the Creator, the climax of Satan’s policy of evil (Romans 1:25).

People respond to the Antichrist (“the beast”) in Revelation 13:3,4: “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” So thoroughly deceived, they praise the Antichrist, loving and adoring this satanic man who embodies all the Devil purposed (“I will be like the most High;” Isaiah 14:14). Doubtless, as James chapter 3 elucidated, here is man utilizing his tongue most wickedly. An imitation is assumed to be the genuine, and the phony is esteemed in place of the legitimate.

If there will be a counterfeit living Word of God (Antichrist mimicking Jesus Christ), with that sham (Antichrist) receiving Jesus’ rightful glory, it is not inconceivable the written Word of God (Holy Bible) has been imitated and forgeries have been exalted in its place….