Category: counsel

The Greater Condemnation #2

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:1,2 KJV).

While many want to lead in local assemblies, today’s Scripture issues a stern warning. They had better reconsider!

A dear sister in Christ recently explained to me how her pastor has gotten into the habit of delivering “conspiracy theory” sermons. She and her family have to deliberately skip fellowshipping there at times in order to avoid hearing that nonsense. When the brother could be talking about valuable material, he wastes time on speculations and schemes. They are prudent in shunning such services!

“For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19). The Holy Spirit through Paul said He preferred us to be “wise” (knowledgeable) concerning good, and “simple” (inexperienced) regarding evil. Rather than focusing on erroneous thoughts and committing wicked deeds, we should be entertaining beneficial information and conducting our lives accordingly.

Every Christian—especially the minister—needs to reflect on Ephesians 4:29: “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.” Dear friends, if our message does not underscore God’s grace, Pauline doctrine, it is destructive to our listeners and readers. We had better not utter one peep or pen one letter—the best action to take is to be silent!

In the context of today’s Scripture, James is writing about the dangers of the human tongue. Read that third chapter in your own time. The Holy Spirit has quite some ghastly insight into how man’s uncontrollable tongue gets him into such major trouble! All gossipers and tabloid writers, and many reporters and news anchors, are experts here. Well, frankly, a lot of preachers and teachers are professionals in this regard as well. Rather than talking about sound Bible doctrine, they (sidetracked) can rattle on and on about everything else (and thus distract their audience). They need to take heed as James instructs….

The Greater Condemnation #1

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:1,2 KJV).

While many want to lead in local assemblies, today’s Scripture issues a stern warning. They had better reconsider!

It is no secret that there are some individuals in local churches “teaching” the Bible who should not be teaching. How dangerous to be in such a leading role with so little (to no) skill in the Word of God. They should be students for several more years before being allowed to be teachers! For example, I have heard some “grace” preachers and teachers who have been “studying” the Bible “rightly divided” (supposedly) for at least two decades. Upon listening to their messages, however, I was shocked to discover they knew as much about the Bible as I or less (!)—and I have been studying it for just over one decade! There are some people at local assemblies who can teach the Bible but are not. This is partly because those who cannot teach, or who are promoting false doctrine, are holding the “teaching” position. How sad!

Being a teacher or preacher in a local church is quite a serious responsibility. Unfortunately, I am afraid that a good number serving in such a capacity are not undertaking their duties with gravity. There is much sloppiness and flippancy. Regrettably, some “grace” ministers are guilty of this, along with most denominational leaders. How such assemblies have not guarded against false teaching, both inside and out. They have not examined doctrine enough before appointing candidates to church management. Not only do they encourage God’s condemnation on themselves, they also incite His disapproval on the individuals they have selected to (mis)lead them.

Some church members study the Bible for just a few months or a couple years. Suddenly, they write and speak prolifically about what is and what is not sound doctrine. This is problematic, especially if they are still entertaining the most basic questions they have yet to answer. As today’s Scripture says, they need to exercise much more caution before becoming leaders….

Grace Forsaken!

Monday, June 11, 2018

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 KJV).

Grace did not leave the brother or sister—the brother or sister left grace!

A man trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. He eventually discovered dispensational Bible study and left his denomination. For many years, this minister and his wife preached a pure grace message. Finally, he died and relocated to Heaven. His wife left the grace message entirely after marrying a man of her former denomination. While she did not lose her salvation, she did lose Bible understanding.

Dear friends, none of us are immune from apostatizing, willfully casting aside the truths of God for the sake of pleasing our fellow men. Galatians 3:1 says: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” The idea of “bewitched” is someone operating under a spell, like living under hypnosis. False teachers have a powerful way with words, just as a magician would manipulate objects to fool an audience. There is no grace minister on Earth—even me (!)—who can boast exemption from ever becoming such a fraud.

Satan’s evil world system is quite charming—even a saved person’s flesh gravitates toward it. First Timothy chapter 4: “[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;….” These “seducing spirits” are preacher’s voices (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8—“the spirit of his mouth”). To “seduce” literally means “to lead away.” A “reward” or “delight” motivates someone to abandon his or her position or duty. In order to “depart from the faith” they had to first be in it!!!! Religion feels good, dear friends, for it provides grounds for boasting (see Galatians 6:12-14).

Whether the sins of the flesh (humanism/worldliness) or the sins of the spirit (asceticism/religion), may we do our best to gently recover, if possible, our ensnared brethren (2 Timothy 2:24-26)!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why did Naaman want some of Israel’s soil?”

333 Turns 7!

Friday, June 1, 2018

“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).

Dear brethren, it has taken us seven years to get this far—only by God’s grace, we have made it!

Today’s Scripture says that God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is “quick” and “powerful.” The word “quick” is zao, “life” (think zoology)—it is not dead but alive. Christ Jesus said in John 6:63: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” When the Bible is said to be “powerful,” that term is energes, “effectual” (think energy)—it is operational or active. First Thessalonians 2:13 says: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Every day for the last seven years, we have gathered here to read excerpts from the Word of God rightly divided. We have been imparted the doctrine that can provide us with the life of God Himself. There is no reason for any of us to be lost, unsaved, without the life of God. Also, there is no reason for any of us to be saved and not have the life of God evident in our life. Furthermore, we have been given the doctrine that can provide us with the energy of God Himself. There is no reason for any of us to be helpless, defeated, without the power of God.

In Scripture, seven is the number of completion, and eight symbolizes new beginnings. However, that does not mean that we have ended our devotionals project. Rather, we are opening up another seven years. There is still more to learn about God’s life. There is still more energy to gain from God’s Word. Our key is to believe what we read in the Scriptures… “the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” Onward to Year 8!

Special-edition Bible Q&A #500: “How do we identify false teachers?”

A Miserable “Law-Keeper!”

Thursday, May 31, 2018

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:24,25 KJV).

As Paul closes Romans chapter 7, he is miserable and despondent. How he wants to be delivered from daily failures (religious bondage, legalism)! Suddenly, he realizes that he needs to thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chapter 8 is the key to being rescued from all his daily disappointments and faults. He is to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh! He is to mind the things of the Spirit and not the things of the flesh!

Romans 8:1-6 is the key to Paul’s dilemma at the conclusion of chapter 7: “[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” We are to think the way the Holy Spirit thinks (grace), and that is how we guard against the predicament in chapter 7.

Today, read Romans chapters 6-8 in one sitting. Watch the truths in chapter 6 be ignored in chapter 7. Then, notice how they are reaffirmed and expanded in chapter 8. We are dead to sin (chapter 6), we are dead to the Law (chapter 7), and we are alive unto God by the indwelling Holy Spirit (chapter 8). “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18).

Dear friends, we now close seven full years of “333 Words of Grace!” Only by God’s grace, onward into Year 8! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How did the Law kill Paul?”

Time Not Wasted

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:15-18 KJV).

How nice it is to have spiritual understanding and light in a world where there is so much ignorance and darkness! What a privilege it is to share the Word of God with those who want to hear it! How unfortunate it is that so many could not be happier in that awful plight! We should make every attempt possible to reach them, but we must also remember that there are other people to reach as well.

We should walk “circumspectly,” literally “looking all around.” There is to be carefulness, not carelessness. There is to be thought, not thoughtlessness. There is to be wisdom, not foolishness. Why? Satan and his cohorts have wasted so much of their lives and time doing nothing to honor the Creator God. They should have worshipped and served Jesus Christ from their first day of existence. However, they have misused their time, energy, and resources. They have been silly and unproductive. Does it make sense for us—the children of God—to be like them? Of course not! “The days are evil indeed,” but we are not obligated to participate with those evildoers!

Dear brethren, it is not wise to spend all our time on a select few who absolutely refuse to learn anything. You look elsewhere and there will be so many more to converse with. They will have an ear to hear the Word of God, they will have an eye to see the Bible, and they will have a heart to believe the Word of God. They too are walking “circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” They also are “not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” They too know, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit….” Let us use our time wisely, dear Christian friends, just as they!

Love God’s Word

Sunday, May 27, 2018

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97 KJV).

The Psalmist loves God’s Word. Friend, do you?

Many today have much to say about “tolerance”—all the while usually being quite intolerant of the truth! We are advised to be accepting of anything and everything, no matter how foolish the thought or frivolous the behavior. Let us toss aside all standards and just let people make their own decisions as to what is right and what is wrong. (If we were to steal from them, would they be fair in protesting? After all, what is “wrong” to them may in fact be “right” to us!)

Contrary to the Psalmist who “loves” the Word of God, there are multitudes upon multitudes who are “haters of God” (Romans 1:30) and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). God and His Word get in the way of what sinful man wants to do. Man has an agenda, and he will see to fulfilling it! “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). May this not be true of us Christians.

Philippians chapter 1 admonishes: “[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; [10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. [11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Our Apostle Paul would pray thus for us. We are to love according to “knowledge” and “all judgment”—valuing and esteeming things the way God Himself does. We know not what God values and esteems if His Word does not “dwell in [us] richly” (Colossians 3:16). His Word will not dwell in us richly if we do not study and meditate (think) upon it.

Not only should we love God and His Word, we should let it equip us with the capacity to love the way God Himself loves. Grab a King James Bible, study and believe it rightly divided, and you will be well on your way! 🙂

A Right Choice

Saturday, May 26, 2018

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalm 119:30 KJV).

Friend, have you made the right choice?

True, we did not have a choice in being born—that was our parents’ decision. However, now alive, we have a choice. On one hand, there is the path associated with the truth; on the other, trails rife with error. If we have some comprehension of right and wrong, God has given us the responsibility of making appropriate decisions concerning these routes. Never can we blame-shift—“God made me do it,” “This person caused me to be thus,” “I could not help what I became….” No, dear friend, we must be accountable.

Friend, wherever you are right now in life, you made the choices to get there. Good or bad, you and you alone decided. Are you where you had planned to be? Better off? Worse off? Way off? We all make mistakes, so we should not pretend to be sinless. The quicker we admit our poor decisions, the sooner we can replace them with better ones. Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Reading Ephesians chapter 4: “[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] 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: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. [20] But ye have not so learned Christ; [21] If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: [22] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

What are some right choices? Try Ephesians 4:25-32, Romans 12:1-21, Colossians 3:1-25, and Galatians 5:13-26! 🙂

A Higher Education: It Is Up to You!

Friday, May 19, 2018

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV).

Twelve years ago today, I graduated high school. Consequently, we dedicate this devotional to high school students who are nearing graduation.

Are you about to graduate high school? What would God have you do afterward? Go to college? Trade school? Something else? What career should you pursue? If you do plan on education after high school, where should you attend school? These are tough questions, and while God’s Word does not answer them, you can make decisions that conform to sound Bible doctrine—that is God’s will.

In today’s Scripture, Paul encourages downcast Timothy. Timothy was considerably younger than the Apostle Paul. Older people who are teaching false doctrine are intimidating young Timothy: “Tim, you are too young to teach God’s Word. Let us handle it.” Young Timothy conceded, became silent, and allowed the (“older and wiser”) false teachers to continue teaching their damnable heresies (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 1:5-8). Paul replied, “Timothy, Speak up! Let no man despise thy youth!”

Christian youth can be just as effectual in their station in life as Christian adults. The lost world is watching us Christians, and we need to be sure that our actions are in accordance with the sound Bible doctrine we claim to believe (lest we be guilty of confusing the already-puzzled unbelievers). Whether “young or old,” our speech, our lifestyle, our acts of love, our determination, our belief in sound Bible doctrine, and our separation from that which God hates, is the way we communicate to the lost world God’s Word and its preeminence in our lives and hearts (today’s Scripture).

Above all, dear graduates, whatever you do post-graduation, “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). After all, it really is not your life—it is Christ’s life in you (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4), so He alone deserves the glory! 🙂

*Based on a Bible study by the same name, which can be read here. Also, see the study “The Spirit-Filled Student.”

By the way, you may also be interested in reading this archived special-edition study about my own college experience.

The Price of Heaven

Friday, May 18, 2018

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5 KJV).

Heaven has an entrance fee—and, friend, you CANNOT pay it!

Our flesh loves to perform. You would think that 10 rules would get someone discouraged, but no! If so much as one rule is kept 90 percent of the time, or all are kept 10 percent of the time, there is boasting. “No, I did not keep it perfectly, but ‘I did the best I could!’ I will try even harder next time!” A performance-based acceptance system, unfortunately for sinners, is an “all-or-nothing” procedure. Even though a sentence may be 99 percent true, one wrong word renders the whole statement false. Likewise, one failure nullifies the “performance” to become (something quite easy to guess)—“non-performance!!”

King David, in today’s Scripture, is confessing to God. David has recently become a coveter, an adulterer, a liar, a conspirer, and a murderer: “[1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

Today’s Scripture follows: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Just yesterday, a woman told me that she believed a man went to Heaven because he had given so much money to his church. Like so many, she fails to see the truths from the pen of King David. David knew his problem was sin: he was born a sinner! No matter his “good” works, his sin nature would remain.

Having received a complete revelation from God, we see what David could not. Jesus Christ died on Calvary to be the “propitiation”—the fully-satisfying payment—for our sins (Romans 3:25). Friend, you place before God something other than faith in Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for your sins, and you will be indubitably disappointed when you realize your “method of payment” is permanently denied!