Category: counsel

If Sinners Entice Thee, Consent Thou Not

Monday, May 14, 2012

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10 KJV).

This world is filled with temptations. Sinful individuals surround us, and they encourage us to sin with them. Today’s Scripture says, “Consent thou not!” Ignore the negative peer pressure!

Saints, even though we are members of the Church the Body of Christ, we still sin. On a daily basis, our new nature in Christ wars against our old nature we inherited from Adam: “the flesh lusteth against the [indwelling Holy] Spirit, and the Spirit lusteth against the flesh” (Galatians 5:17a). But, we have victory over sin when we walk, by faith, in our identity in Christ!

In today’s Scripture (and the verses following it), King Solomon shares God’s wisdom with us: “If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood [murder], let us lurk privily [secretly] for the innocent without cause: let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: we shall find all precious substance [loot], we shall fill our houses with spoil: cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse” (Proverbs 1:11-14).

What is God’s response? Verses 15-19: “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.”

When someone encourages you to be partaker of their “killing and stealing,” or any action that does not agree with God’s Holy Word rightly divided, “walk not thou in the way of them.” In Christ, God has saved us from that lifestyle and its resulting death: we have no need to return to them. “Walk in the Spirit [by faith in our new identity in Christ], and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh [sin]” (Galatians 5:16).

Mother: A Virtuous Woman

Sunday, May 13, 2012

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10 KJV).

Today is Mother’s Day, so we dedicate this devotional to godly women (specifically mothers). I especially dedicate this to the virtuous woman who has been in my life for almost 24 years… my mom!

Today’s Scripture is the first verse of the Bible’s “Virtuous Woman” passage (Proverbs 31:10-31). King Solomon explained that the virtuous woman:

  • has a husband who safely trusts in her (verses 11,12).
  • is not lazy, but is strong because she works to feed and clothe her family and herself (verses 13-19,21,22,24,25,27).
  • pities the poor and needy (verse 20).
  • has a husband who is well-known because of her godly lifestyle (verse 23).
  • opens her mouth with wisdom, and speaks kindly and lovingly (verse 26).
  • has children and a husband who praise her (verse 28).
  • excels in what she does (verse 29).
  • has works that praise her (verse 31).

Verse 30 explains the virtuous woman is “a woman that feareth the LORD.”

The Apostle Paul wrote that godly women should: not slander/gossip, not be controlled by alcohol or emotions (sober minded), be teachers of good things, love their husbands and children, be cautious and modest, maintain the home, be “good,” and should obey (respect) their husbands… “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5). A Christian woman, especially a mother, should be a virtuous woman in beliefs as well as in deed. She needs to set an example for her children (especially her daughters).

A Christian woman and/or Christian mother places her faith in this sound Bible doctrine, the indwelling Holy Spirit will then take that doctrine and transform her for God’s glory (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Her mind will be renewed by sound Bible doctrine, and that will transform her outward activity (Romans 12:1,2).

Are you a Christian woman or Christian mother who desires to be the woman God intends you to be in Christ Jesus? Place your faith in this sound Bible doctrine, and God will take care of the rest!

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

Be Not Blinded by ‘Bright Lights!’

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head [Christ]…” (Colossians 2:18,19a KJV).

Religious—and even nonreligious—people claim to see heavenly “visions” or angelic creatures (“Mary,” “Jesus,” “deceased relatives,” et cetera). Seeking monetary gain, some have written “Christian” books discussing how they allegedly died, visited heaven (or even hell!!!), and then returned to earth. Are these experiences of God?

“Bright lights” and “supernatural” visits do not belong in our dispensation. Look at today’s Scripture: those people are “intruding into those things which [they] have not seen….” Interestingly, modern “bibles” omit “not,” stating the opposite of the King James Bible!!!

Our sin-tainted minds and our deceptive emotions can get so hyped up about having a particular religious experience that it seems to come to pass (when it actually did not happen). We imagine we see things (“angels,” “devils,” et cetera) that are not really appearing. Beware; Satan and his “seducing spirits” use these phenomena to draw us away from the truth of God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:1).

Notice the Bible’s description of false teachers: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13,14). Satan is the master counterfeiter: he wanted to be “like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Satan appears not as an evil-looking monster, but as “an [INNOCENT-LOOKING] angel of light!”

Paul wrote, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). Why would any “angel” “appear” to you in this the Dispensation of Grace? It would only be to deceive you! Angels have no ministry to us; their ministry and appearances belong in Israel’s program.

The Bible is the Final Authority, not emotional experiences. Let no one trick (“beguile”) you with false teaching… that includes preachers, “angels,” and “dead saints!”

The Nations That Forget God

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17 KJV).

Beloved, today’s Scripture will always hold true: those who ignore God’s Word will experience apostasy, temporal misery, and eventually, everlasting hellfire. We would do well if we considered and believed today’s Scripture.

The Apostle Paul spent a large portion of his apostolic journeys around the Mediterranean Sea (Greece, Italy, Turkey [“Asia”], et cetera). Travel to these areas today, and you will find mere remnants of the Gospel of Grace and God’s doctrines for this dispensation. What was a hotbed for sound doctrine is now a hotbed for ungodliness. Pagan religion and sins of the flesh have just engulfed those regions. You could never tell God’s Word was even preached there! (Sadly, this even applies to our beloved America.)

Overall, no nation remembers God today. You can even go to the land of Israel today, and see God’s (former) earthly people so confused and spiritually blind (Romans 11:25). They have so departed from the Bible, which God originally entrusted to them (Romans 3:1,2)!!

During the yet future seven-year Tribulation, after our dispensation closes, every nation will turn upon Israel. Our Lord Jesus warned, “And ye [Israel] shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9b). All Gentile nations will forget God (by turning on His people Israel), and they will gather in battle against Israel at the end of the seven years (Revelation 16:14-16). Because of their hatred of Israel (which at that time will be God’s people), God will be just in pouring His wrath out on every Gentile nation. Jesus Christ at His Second Coming will destroy these pagan Gentiles (Revelation 19:11-21), as well as purge out the unbelieving Jews in Israel (Matthew 24:38-41).

When Jesus Christ sets up His kingdom, He will declare to the Gentiles that hated Israel during the Tribulation: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire…” (Matthew 25:41). Indeed, “the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God….”

Those who have forgotten God need to wake up before God’s judgment comes!!!

Dispensational Doctrine on Display

Thursday, May 3, 2012

“First, I thank God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8 KJV).

Why does God not immediately take us home to heaven once we receive salvation in Christ? Today’s Scripture gives us a clue.

Firstly, God has temporarily left us Christians on earth because He wants to reach the world’s lost people with the Gospel of Grace (salvation). God reaches lost people (those outside of Christ) by using Christians, those who know His Word (the Bible) and are willing to share it with unsaved, hell-bound people.

For example, God saved the Apostle Paul in order to reach us pagan Gentiles with salvation (Paul did not go to heaven until 35-plus years after salvation). Paul was sent to us Gentiles “to open [our] eyes, and to turn [us] from [spiritual] darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that [we] might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Christ]” (Acts 26:18).

Secondly, God has temporarily left us Christians on earth because He wants us to reach other Christians with sound dispensational Bible study. God wants all Christians to experience the grace life, or Christ living in them (Galatians 2:20), and this only happens when we understand and believe God’s Word dispensationally.

For example, in today’s Scripture, Paul commended the Roman believers, whose lives communicated sound doctrine to the whole then-known world! The Romans believed the grace message, and then, by faith, they let God’s Word work in them (1 Thessalonians 2:13) to transform their minds (Romans 12:1,2) and then their lifestyles (Romans 6:1-23). The Thessalonian believers also had lifestyles that encouraged other Christians to pursue sound doctrine and acceptable Christian service (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Lost people (and sadly, even some Christians) will never read the Bible. However, when we apply sound dispensational (Pauline) Bible doctrine to our lives by faith, these individuals will see sound doctrine in practice (see Philippians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:10). The great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ will be glorified, for lost and saved will see dispensational doctrine on display.

Sacrifice Not Thy Kids

Thursday, April 26, 2012

“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 18:21 KJV).

Human life is often postulated to be the latest “innovation” of random, mindless biological evolutionary processes—which is nothing more than an attempt to make our lives meaningless. However, the Bible explains that God sees human life as something to be respected, something never to be downplayed.

God’s Word makes nearly a dozen references to Israel “passing [her] seed through the fire to Molech” (today’s Scripture; Deuteronomy 18:10; 2 Kings 16:3; 2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 32:35; Ezekiel 16:20,21; Ezekiel 20:26,31) and one reference to Israel “burning their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal” (Jeremiah 19:4,5).

Molech was a pagan god of Israel’s neighbors, the Ammonites (Lot’s children; Genesis 19:38). The Ammonites offered human sacrifices to Molech, and sadly, God’s people Israel did too! God strictly warned Israel not to burn their children, but they did it anyway to worship some silly idol. Imagine—sinful Israel worshipping a meaningless idol, deliberately forgetting that they already had the living Creator God (Almighty JEHOVAH) meeting their every need!

In Deuteronomy 18:10 the LORD commanded Israel, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire.” From the common Jews to kings, priests, and prophets, Israel sacrificed their own kids (2 Kings 16:3; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 32:32-35). Jewish babies and children were literally grilled on pagan altars… alive! How horrible, but equally atrocious as modern-day abortion procedures!

Unfortunately, many parents today still have little to no regard for their children’s wellbeing (especially preparing them for eternity!). When parents fail to grow up their children using proper (dispensational) Bible study, they are sacrificing their kids on the world’s pagan altar (the depraved moral society and the apostate religious society). May we never relinquish our kids to anyone but the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and His Word rightly divided! 🙂

Are We Bibliolators? #8

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2 KJV).

The Christian life is already difficult, for most of the world is against you. Being a King James-only Pauline dispensationalist maketh it more difficult, for most of Christendom is against you. Be not weary, saints. We would rather please God than man!

Counterfeit Bibles is Satan’s most effective tool in dividing and confusing the Body of Christ: by quoting numerous opposing Bible versions, God’s people have lost their common voice. Oftentimes, “King James-only” believers are called “church splitters” and “heretics.” Oh, what irony! Heretics, unlike “King James-only” people, do not hold firm to God’s Word; heretics criticize God’s Word, which is exactly what anti-King James people do!!! The real church splitters are those who teach, “All 200 modern ‘bible’ versions are good.” If congregants reading 200 opposing “bibles” does not split churches, what does?! Why not everyone use only the King James; that is unity!

Our critics call us “fanatics” for using and believing the King James Bible; SO BE IT! We are privileged to join our Apostle Paul and our Saviour Jesus Christ in being “reviled, persecuted, defamed, made the filth of the world, and [made] the offscouring [scum!] of all things” (1 Corinthians 4:12,13).

As King James Bible users, let us suffer “hardness,” let us “endure [it] as good soldiers of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). Compromise not. Never let go of your King James Bible. It will never let you down, for God’s Word will never let you down.

If we claim to be people of faith, let us also act like people of faith. What is God’s attitude toward the Bible? He hath “magnified [his] word above all [his] name” (today’s Scripture). If we are people of faith, we will share that attitude. Criticizing the King James Bible is not an act of faith; it is an act of doubting God’s Word (unbelief). Wilt thou “magnify” the King James Bible “above all [God’s] name?” The evidence doth indicate that thou shouldst!

These past eight devotionals have been combined and expanded to form the larger study, “Are We Bibliolaters?,” which can be read here or watched here.

Are We Bibliolators? #7

Monday, April 23, 2012

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2 KJV).

For the past 130 years, Christendom hath been under the impression that biblical scholarship is improving. The Bible saith otherwise.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). If you hold to God’s pure and preserved Word (the King James Bible), expect the criticism. Paul continueth, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” (verses 13,14).

Paul warned Timothy, nearly 2000 years ago, that false teaching would grow worse and worse. More and more individuals would be “seduced” (drawn away) from God’s Word: this has happened in the past 130 years regarding English “bibles.”

The Apostle also encouraged Timothy to “continue” in God’s Word. By faith, we do the same, holding firm to the King James Bible as more are deceived by modern (corrupt) “bibles.” Overall, Christendom’s “scholarship” is “deceived” regarding Bible versions and manuscripts: these “educated fools” then “deceive” the unsuspecting “peons in the pew.” Sad, sad, SAD!!!

Satan attacketh the Christian’s mind, to have God’s people think on information that distracteth them from focusing on God’s Word to them (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4; 2 Thessalonians 2:2). The Holy Bible is the only means whereby God doth communicate with us. If Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:17, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God” nearly 2,000 years ago, we would be foolish to think that “many” are not still “corrupting the word of God” (modern “bibles” “corrupt” that verse too!).

I use only the King James Bible. I refuse Satan’s counterfeit “bibles” that seek to corrupt my mind. I am overjoyed when called a “Bibliolater” (Bible worshipper). I desire to please God, not man; I join God in “magnifying [his] word above all [his] name” (today’s Scripture). Wilt thou join us?

Are We Bibliolators? #6

Sunday, April 22, 2012

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2 KJV).

Why do we “King James-only” Christians have such a zeal for this one Bible translation? Because all Bible translations are not created equal!

Those who claim all Bible translations are equal are dishonest with respect to the irrefutable evidence. These people have either never intelligently examined the evidence themselves (they are just repeating what others say), or they have examined the evidence and willingly ignore it (especially the prideful theologians who will never subject themselves to a perfect King James Bible, and the money-hungry modern “bible” translators and publishers who “revise” God’s Word every six months for “economic purposes”).

Lest we be misunderstood, the heart of the Bible versions issue is not translation, but the source texts (the texts being translated). We are not opposed to modern English “bibles” because they are translations; we reject them because they prove themselves and their source texts to be untrustworthy.

Satan knoweth that he cannot destroy God’s Word, for God’s words “shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). But, Satan hath been allowed to corrupt God’s Word, to produce counterfeit books that resemble the Bible. Sinful mankind—apostate Bible translators and publishers—is willing to help Satan achieve that purpose!

We hold to the King James Bible (that which speaketh on behalf of God) and reject counterfeit modern “bibles” (they which claimeth to be of God, but “privily” [secretly] bringeth in “damnable heresies;” 2 Peter 2:1-3). If our critics are justified in labeling us “Bibliolaters” (Bible worshippers), we must also accuse Israel AND GOD of “bibliolatry” when God told Israel to reject false teaching (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

Why did God want Israel to reject false prophets? Because of what they taught! So, why doth God want us to reject corrupt modern “bibles?” Because of what they teach!

We are people of faith, so rather than “correcting” the King James Bible, we “magnify” it as highly as God hath (today’s Scripture), and we let it correct us!

Are We Bibliolators? #5

Saturday, April 21, 2012

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2 KJV).

Before God’s written Word was completed, God communicated with mankind through various forms (theophanies/God temporarily appearing as a man, dreams/visions, angels, prophets [men through whom God would speak]). However, Satan, God’s adversary, would counteract God’s revelation by sending false prophets teaching heresy. Now that the Bible is complete, Satan is still counterfeiting God’s Word!

God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is matched by counterfeit books, Satan’s holey “bibles.” The Apostle Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 1:20–2:1).

Peter, writing to Jews beyond our present-day, remindeth them that, in time past, as God’s prophets preached His truth, Satan’s prophets “privily” (cleverly, having subtlety) brought in “damnable heresies.” In Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and Jeremiah 23:9-40 (cf. Jeremiah 6:13), God cautioned Israel about false prophets, people who claimed to have “God’s word,” but whose sole purpose was to preach Satan’s doctrines, thus distracting Israel from God’s Word. God commanded Israel to put these false prophets to death!

Satan is still “privily” (secretly) infiltrating God’s people with heresy—via corrupt “modern” “bibles.” How clever! The best way to secretly poison Christians’ spirituality is to produce corrupt “bibles.” Sadly, when someone exposeth this error, sinful man doth exclaim, “Bibliolater [Bible worshipper]!” (Should we accuse the Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, of “Bibliolatry” too?)

As God hath “magnified [his] word above all [his] name,” we magnify the King James Bible (today’s Scripture)! Just as God commanded Israel to extinguish false prophets, we “put to death” modern “bibles,” which distract us from God’s Word (the King James Bible).