An Inescapable Testimony #4

Monday, September 30, 2024

“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 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

Turning to Christ commissioning His 12 Apostles, we read, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matthew 10:14,15). “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Mark 6:11).

As for commissioning His 70 Preachers, we learn, “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city” (Luke 10:8-12).

What a frightening concept! As terrible as the Day of Judgment will be for the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah when they are sentenced to the eternal Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15), even their punishment will be light or easy when compared to the dreadful fate awaiting the residents of the cities of Israel whose streets the Son of God and His dozens of preachers trod as they proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom to willingly deaf ears….

An Inescapable Testimony #3

Sunday, September 29, 2024

“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 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

Matthew chapter 11: “[20] Then began he [the Lord Jesus Christ] to upbraid [scold, reproach, fuss] the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: [21] Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon [two wicked Gentile cities], they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. [23] And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. [24] But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”

Luke chapter 10: “[13] Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. [15] And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. [16] He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”

As sinful as Sodom and Gomorrah were (Genesis 13:13; Genesis 18:20-33; Genesis 19:1-25; 2 Peter 2:6-9; Jude 7), they were not as evil as the cities of Israel during Christ’s earthly ministry. How so? Sodom and Gomorrah did not have God in human flesh, the Lord Jesus, preaching to them and performing confirming miracles. Sodom and Gomorrah did not have 12 Apostles and 70 other preachers proclaiming the Word of God in them and performing confirming miracles in them….

An Inescapable Testimony #2

Saturday, September 28, 2024

“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 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

The Lord Jesus was asked various questions during His three years of earthly ministry. Many were captious or trick interrogations—to trip Him up in His words, or present a difficult issue He could not answer. Other exchanges were not actual inquiries, but seemingly “innocent” statements made to challenge, embarrass, or discredit Him in some way. Pay special attention to Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 12:12-37, and Luke 20:19-44. These questions were posed to Him in the Jerusalem Temple just a few days before His death. Notice His exceptional insight!

If you are interested, and have much free time, check this plethora of passages. See Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39. Also, Matthew 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5. Plus, read Matthew 12:24-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:15-26. In addition, Matthew 15:1-11 and Mark 7:1-13. Other references are Matthew 16:1-4, Luke 11:53-54, and Luke 10:25-37. Moreover, read Matthew 19:1-9 and Mark 10:1-9. Try Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23. See also Matthew 21:15,16. Check Matthew 21:23-46; Mark 11:27–12:11; Luke 20:1-18. Go to Matthew 26:63-68; Mark 14:60-62; Luke 22:66-71. Finally, John 6:25-71, John 7:10-53, John 8:1-59, John 10:1-42, John 11:47-57, and John 18:19-23.

On numerous occasions, Christ responded with God’s wisdom. Whatever was posed to Him, He answered using great skill and insight from the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. As those three years passed, it became more and more obvious how the hostility against Him was escalating. He knew it would culminate with His crucifixion. After all, they had already attempted to kill Him several times (Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 4:28-30; John 5:15; John 8:58,59; John 10:30,31). Eventually, He would let them get their way—but only when He was ready to lay down His life. Still, the Lord Jesus preached, preached, preached. There was more unbelief than faith, willful ignorance than receiving hearts. It was not His job to make them believe, but to tell them what to believe—the very Hebrew Bible they allegedly trusted, read, and heard every Sabbath Day in their synagogues.

We should be likewise faithful in ministry, despite our opponents….

An Inescapable Testimony #1

Friday, September 27, 2024

“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 KJV).

How can we have an inescapable testimony?

Many decades ago, two courageous Christians managed to get through a large crowd and give the Gospel of Grace (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) to their unbelieving, cruel prime minister. Instead of trusting it though, he ordered them to be thrown in prison. There, they suffered greatly. Several years later, that prime minister grew quite sick. In dire need, he remembered those words of God those Christians told him long before. He turned to Jesus Christ in faith, dying shortly thereafter!

Dear friends, though they can physically get away from us—even moving to another city or continent—they cannot escape those words of God that we shared with them. You can be sure they will remember the Bible verses at some point. Perhaps it will be when they put their head on their pillow every night, or when they undergo a severe hardship, or when they face physical death. They can never truly get away from God’s words.

Here is another example. An atheist trusted Jesus Christ alone as his personal Saviour and wanted a coworker to believe the Gospel too. This Christian constantly talked to his colleague about the Bible—over and over and over and over and over and over and over again, but the man simply showed no interest. The Christian finally decided to be quiet. After extended silence, one day, his coworker asked him, “Why do you not talk about the Bible anymore?” At this point, the Christian was shocked, but he eagerly seized the opportunity to start speaking again!

One Christian, having conversed with cult members in vain, asked me why we should witness to them if we had the answers but they still did not believe. Well, what of this? If we address their questions, if we supply them with pertinent verses, and they remain in unbelief, then what was the point of our witnessing to them? Let us see if the Scriptures comment on this scenario….

Corn in The King James Bible #3

Thursday, September 26, 2024

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat (Matthew 12:1 KJV).

Is “corn” a “mistranslation” here, as is frequently assumed?

We believers will give account to God, the Lord Jesus, at the Judgment Seat of Christ. “…[F]or we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12). “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9,10).

Christian friend, if at His Judgment Seat the Lord asked you why you believed what you believed and/or why you did what you did, what would be your answer? “My church, my preacher, my professor told me to believe this and do this?” If He inquired why you re-translated your Bible instead of re-reading it, how would you reply? “My church, my preacher, my professor told me the ‘oldest and best manuscripts’ were preferred?” These lame excuses pacify people on Earth today, yet the Lord will not be satisfied to hear them in Heaven.

As the Lord Jesus Christ inspects our soul, doctrine, and work; it will be far better for Him to recognize how we gave it everything we had to learn the truth from His Word rightly divided. We went through so much trouble to give His Bible the benefit of the doubt—despite what skeptics repeatedly told us as they griped about alleged “errors in translation.” The position of faith, trusting God, is always more desirable than trusting fallible men. Far better to believe the Bible than books about the Bible (commentaries, dictionaries, grammars, et cetera). Faith leads us to believe God’s inspired, preserved, infallible Book in English is the King James Bible. It has a lot to teach us about God’s plan for the ages (and our language), but are we too proud to be taught since we are sitting in God’s seat?
















































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Corn in The King James Bible #2

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat (Matthew 12:1 KJV).

Is “corn” a “mistranslation” here, as is frequently assumed?

In addition to the eight times “corn” appears in its New Testament, the Authorized Version has “corn” some 86 times in its Old Testament (for example, Genesis 27:28,37; Genesis 41:5,35,49,57; Genesis 42:1-3,5,19,25,26; Genesis 43:2; Genesis 44:2; Genesis 45:23; Genesis 47:14; Exodus 22:6; Leviticus 2:14,16; Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 11:14; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 33:28; Joshua 5:11,12; Judges 15:5; Ruth 2:2,14; 1 Samuel 17:17; 1 Samuel 25:18; 2 Samuel 17:19,28; 2 Kings 4:42; 2 Kings 18:32; et cetera).

Again, we remind ourselves of one of the plethora of complaints the whiners and disparagers of the King James Bible utter: “How can those translators suggest the Bible characters of northern Africa and the Middle East were familiar with ‘corn,’ a North American crop? Their choice of words is most unfortunate! The term should be rendered ‘grain!’” At this point, the scoffers seemed to have proved our Authorized Version is most inferior, and our translators but country bumpkins who could not distinguish between their continents and foods.

Yet, we must remember that English is a living language—its words and definitions change through time. However, older or classic English is static: it is dead, its terms and meanings fixed, thus far purer than what the Anglophone (English-speaking) world has today. To be sure we keep God’s timeless words intact, far better it would be for us to utilize a so-called “outdated,” “old-fashioned,” “archaic” system. We dare not change our Bible simply because some “scholars,” with limited linguistic capabilities, demand we should.

If we were to take The Oxford English Dictionary, for instance, and look into this authority on the English language, we would find the following entry for “corn:” “the grain of any cereal (edible) crop.” In other words, “corn” is general—though we use it almost exclusively for “maize” (a North American crop also known as “Indian corn”). Technically, wheat, rye, and barley are all types of corn (but they are not maize). See, we do not adjust the Bible to reflect our ignorance; we simply increase our meager understanding of our language….
















































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Corn in The King James Bible #1

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat (Matthew 12:1 KJV).

Is “corn” a “mistranslation” here, as is frequently assumed?

Our King James Bible has come under such heavy criticism for using the word “corn”—literally on more than one occasion. For instance, look at the New Testament cases.

“At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat” (Matthew 12:1). “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn (Mark 2:23). “For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28). “And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands” (Luke 6:1).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). “But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first” (Acts 7:12). “For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” (1 Corinthians 9:9). “For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy 5:18).

The “scholar” points out loudly and clearly, “How could the ancient Jews in the Middle East know of corn?! That is a North American crop that was discovered later! What a King James error!” Is this a valid argument, a mark of spirituality on the critic’s part? Or, is it just another petty, false accusation based on limited information? Dear friends, let us weigh the evidence….
















































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Corn in The King James Bible #1 At
that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples
were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat

(Matthew 12:1 KJV). Is “corn” a “mistranslation”
here, as is frequently assumed? Our King James Bible has come under such
heavy criticism for using the word “corn”—literally on more than one
occasion. For instance, look at the New Testament cases. 
“At that time Jesus went on the sabbath
day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and
began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat”

(Matthew 12:1). “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn
fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the
ears of corn
(Mark 2:23). “For the earth bringeth forth
fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn
in the ear”
(Mark 4:28). “And it came to pass on the second sabbath
after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his
disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in
their hands”
(Luke 6:1).
 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except
a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone:
but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit”
(John
12:24). “But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he
sent out our fathers first”
(Acts 7:12). “For it is written in the law
of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.
Doth God take care for oxen?”
(1 Corinthians 9:9). “For the scripture
saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.
And, The labourer is worthy of his reward”
(1 Timothy 5:18).
 The “scholar” points out loudly and
clearly, “How could the ancient Jews in the Middle East know of corn?!
That is a North American crop that was discovered later! What a
King James error!” Is this a valid argument, a mark of spirituality on the critic’s
part? Or, is it just another petty, false accusation based on limited
information? Dear friends, let us weigh the evidence….

The Thing Which is Good

Monday, September 2, 2024

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28 KJV).

On this Labor Day, we talk about work, “the thing which is good.”

In this day and age of increasing “government assistance,” people are becoming less and less aware of our hard work being the Lord Jesus’ preferred method of the source of our incomes. While the physically and mentally disabled are obvious exceptions, the God of the Bible expects all of us to contribute labor in order to provide for ourselves. For children and young adults, even being a student in school is work enough!

Observe the doctrine being communicated in today’s Scripture. The grace life does not merely teach us to quit doing bad things, but it also instructs us to start doing good things (Titus 2:11,12). Once a thief trusts the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for his sins, then God expects that thief to quit stealing and find a job so he can provide for his needs!

The God of creation calls work “the thing which is good” (today’s Scripture). Work is not something to be avoided; it is something to be embraced for the Lord’s glory!

When the Lord Jesus Christ put the first man, Adam, on earth, that man had a divine commission. Adam was not to simply loaf around and do nothing: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to protect that garden, to till its ground, to prepare it for Jesus Christ to come down and dwell in with he and Eve (because of sin, that earthly kingdom over which Jesus Christ will rule is still awaiting fulfillment!).

Saints, may we work to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), and may we work to help those who truly are needy (today’s Scripture). In the words of God the Holy Spirit, that is “good!” 🙂

Living Defensively #8

Sunday, September 1, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,…” (Ephesians 5:15 KJV).

What is the sense of “walk circumspectly” here?

Dear friend, if you have operated or ridden in a motor vehicle, you will certainly recall instances of erratic drivers—speeding, sideswiping, swerving into your lane or off the road, failing to negotiate sharp curves, tailgating, rear-ending, running red lights or stop signs. Only a naïve person believes the roadway is safe for drivers and pedestrians. Unless we pay attention to what we are doing while driving and what others are doing while driving, we will collide with them and they will hit us.

We should be on the lookout especially for impaired drivers, those intoxicated with alcohol or using illegal drugs. Likewise, we ourselves had better not be inebriated with false doctrine in the Christian life: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;…” (Ephesians 5:18). Provided we are under the Holy Spirit’s influence in word and deed, we are safe from the spiritual threats of life in a fallen, sin-cursed world—including protection from those under the influence of erroneous doctrine (false teaching). “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [tricks, schemes] of the devil…. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11,13).

The average professing Christian has absolutely no idea what spiritual perils await—but he or she will find out in due time! They will get into a wreck and sustain scrapes and bruises, or a broken arm or leg, or perhaps a major head concussion or broken neck or back. For the rest of their spiritual life, they will hobble or remain paralyzed, barely getting by. Listen to them as they talk about spiritual matters or pray. They have such a distorted view of Bible doctrines. There are more questions than answers, more weakness than strength, more doubt than faith, more illness than health. If we hang around them and their denominational systems long enough, we too will find ourselves in a spiritual sickbed… or perhaps a casket!

Live defensively… “walk circumspectly!”

Living Defensively #7

Saturday, August 31, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,…” (Ephesians 5:15 KJV).

What is the sense of “walk circumspectly” here?

Ephesians 5:17 adds, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Instead of “fools,” we are “wise” (today’s Scripture). We “understand what the will of the Lord is.” What is the Lord doing today? We go to Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. If we do by faith what God Himself is doing, we are automatically doing His will. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;…” (Colossians 1:9-11).

Yet, the vast majority of church members and professing Christians do not understand the Lord’s will for their life because they are depending on man’s wisdom and are doing man’s will. “But I trust the scholars” seems to be the motto of most of our churches and schools. Those esteemed as “Bible scholars” are typically people who know little to nothing about the Bible—instead, they are Greek scholars, Hebrew scholars, Latin scholars, church history scholars, denominational scholars. Their misinformation is then taken into the hearts and minds of Christians as though it was God’s life and light… when it was not. No wonder there is no Divine wisdom or power in our churches and schools and homes, and sin and ignorance beset us time and time again. We must live defensively, vigilantly, prudently—“walk circumspectly.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….