Category: Dispensation of the Grace of God

Convenient Season #7

Friday, November 7, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

Foolish Felix had a “convenient season” to believe the precise moment he heard and understood Paul’s sermon. There was no legitimate reason to seek another “convenient season.” Here was an Apostle of Jesus Christ standing right before him to answer any questions, but the Governor “lingered in Adam” and dismissed that preacher from the meeting until they could rendezvous at some later date. Such is reminiscent of Paul’s visit to “intellectual” Athens years prior.

The Athenians at first listened to this “itinerant speechmaker” or “amateur philosopher,” but these lovers of man’s wisdom could tolerate God’s wisdom for only so long. Hearing about bodily resurrection—which Greek philosophy denied—some proceeded to “mock” while others told Paul, “We will hear thee again of this matter” (Acts 17:32). In contrast to the ridiculers (“no, thanks!”) as well as the procrastinators (“maybe later!”), praise the Lord there were some immediate believers in verse 34 (“we believe now!”)!

Earthly life is fragile, as there are myriads of ways to end it. It is “wind,” fleeting away (Job 7:7). “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Psalm 39:5). “For my days are consumed like smoke…” (Psalm 102:3). “Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away” (Psalm 144:4). “Go to [James challenges them to ‘come’] now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).

To have life as the Dispensation of Grace is in effect, is truly our “convenient season” to believe God’s words to and about us….

Convenient Season #6

Thursday, November 6, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

One religious teenager, a member of a “Christian” denomination, heard the Gospel of Grace—but did not believe it. For six months, he tarried… worrying about dying and going to Hell (fearing he would “fry like a sausage,” he later recounted). Finally, he trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. He later became a pastor, whom I met!

A 21-year-old lady once heard a few words of spiritual value from a mostly-ignorant preacher: he warned about God’s judgment coming on this evil world. Yet, he never actually gave her a clear Gospel message she could trust. She was left to dread the future! Recently, she told me how it took four more years before a Christian soul-winner would lead her to put her faith exclusively in the Lord Jesus’ finished crosswork (and stop depending on her water baptism!).

Only age six, a schoolboy asked a works-religion leader of the community (and clergyman of his denomination) what he had to do to go to Heaven. “Keep the commandments!,” that priest thundered. The young man spent another 27 years unsaved and confused in denominationalism until he heard a pure Gospel message (salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, without works). Speaking to me now as an 88-year-old man (55 years in Christ), he expressed concern as to how risky his life was, how close to Hell he came—nearly going the way his relatives had for centuries in the “family religion.”

True, as the old saying states, “Better late than never.” However, when dealing with soul salvation, we never really know precisely when “late” will turn into “too late!” Unfortunately, the vast majority of church members worldwide are still not hearing a clear Gospel message from the pulpits. They are leaving this world by as many as 100,000 to 150,000 every single day—religious, but as lost as lost can be. Where death finds them (in Adam), eternity shall keep them (in Adam); Hell and the Lake of Fire are their only fate, but it did not have to be this way. That was their choice….

Convenient Season #5

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

God and man never agree on definitions. Felix assumed his “convenient season” to believe the Gospel would come once he dawdled some more in his fellowshipping with this present evil world system. The Governor had no spiritual insight into the fact physical death might come upon him at any moment—and he as a lost man most definitely would face an holy, offended, angry God unprepared. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:…” (Hebrews 9:27).

We can be certain countless people have put off trusting Christ as their personal Saviour. They hung on to their sin a bit more, promising, “I will believe the Gospel tomorrow.” For some, tomorrow never came—they died in an accident, lost in their sins, and now, “tomorrow” will never come. For others, they delayed to trust Christ on multiple occasions. Life became busier and busier, and they were distracted by this or that for years and years until it was too late. Time passed by faster than they ever anticipated.

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:1,2). Originally, Isaiah (49:8) was writing about how God the Father had heard Messiah Jesus (God the Son), particularly how Messiah would send salvation and blessing to the world through redeemed Israel rising to kingdom glory. The “accepted time” and “the day of salvation” of Isaiah point to the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth.

However, Paul sees a parallel in our mystery program. With his ministry in effect, now is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time for Gentiles; the Age of Grace is the “convenient [suitable] season.” Furthermore, the exact moment we realize this, we should believe the Gospel of Grace valid during that Age of Grace….

Possessed with Devils #25

Thursday, October 30, 2025

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What does the Bible say about devil possession?

In prophecy, Satan uses evil spirits to corrupt Israel’s people and Israel’s Promised Land. Thus, these are “unclean spirits,” “foul spirits,” or “devils.” Remember, “the Jews require a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22; cf. John 4:48). In God’s Word, healing the sick and casting out devils are two signs or indications the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly kingdom is approaching (see Matthew 4:17,23,24—today’s Scripture; cf. Zechariah 13:2). In mystery (Paul’s epistles), however, God’s current relations with man, the battle has moved from Earth to Heaven, with emphasis on “spiritual wickedness in high [heavenly] places” (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, no devil possession is possible today, rendering exorcism unnecessary in our Dispensation of Grace. Still, unless we teach and believe sound Bible doctrine, works-religion and denominationalism will be Satan’s instruments to blind and pollute our minds and hearts (2 Corinthians 4:3,4; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 2:26).

Finally, as for the terminology, we must set the record straight. Due to the influence of modern English versions (products of unbelief), “demon possession” and “demons” are used as supposedly “better alternatives” to “devil possession” and “devils.” This allegedly distinguishes between Satan (Devil) and his angelic employees (demons). However, our King James translators knew the difference between being possessed of devils (evil spirits) and being possessed of the Devil (Satan, the chief evil spirit). See Luke 22:3 and John 13:27, for example; though, differentiating between Satan and other evil spirits is generally immaterial because they all labor to oppose God’s works.

While “demon” is indeed a transliteration of the Greek “daimonion,” it poses two challenges for English readers. Firstly, “demon” does not contain the built-in clue as to its connection to “evil” (“devil” includes the very word “evil,” but “demon” is unclear). Secondly, the ancient Greeks used “demon” in both bad and good senses, evil spirits and good spirits—but “devil” is always bad. Modern English versions are ambiguous and therefore weak here. The Authorized Version King James Bible is superior, being more precise and, consequently, easier to read!

-FINIS!-

Possessed with Devils #22

Monday, October 27, 2025

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What does the Bible say about devil possession?

A minister—one of Christendom’s “blind leaders of the blind”—shared online a prayer to recite to drive out evil spirits. This little manmade petition, unfortunately, has no Divine authority whatsoever because it is not the Bible rightly divided. Ironically, this “exorcist” gives Satan more influence by spreading his denominational error and spiritual ignorance. Paul’s epistles delineate what God is doing today, but that pastor never cited a single verse from Romans through Philemon. Unsurprisingly, he appealed to Matthew through John!

The resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ sent our Apostle Paul to us Gentiles to “open [our] eyes, and to turn [us] from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:16-18). If we do not walk according to that Dispensation of Grace given to Paul and given through Paul to us (Romans to Philemon; Ephesians 3:2), we lose the battle with Satan and fall prey to the “spiritual wickedness in high [heavenly] places” (see Ephesians 6:11-19). Indeed, Satan has ministers of righteousness—denominational preachers and teachers—who have led billions (!) astray in works-religion (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). These deceived souls are in “the snare [trap] of the devil… taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Grace, all that God can do for us through Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, has been ignored; man’s religious efforts (Law) and man’s “wisdom” (philosophy) are glorified in its place.

As per Pauline doctrine, no one today can be possessed of the Devil or devils, but we can be oppressed of the Devil and devils through the ministry of false teachers promoting bad conduct and bad doctrine (see 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21; 1 Timothy 1:19,20; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:11-15; cf. Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 4:27). Satan will even use corrupt governmental leaders to hinder God’s work (see 1 Thessalonians 2:18; cf. Acts 17:5-9). Pride is of the Devil (1 Timothy 3:6), as is bitterness and unforgiveness (2 Corinthians 2:7-11). Indeed, Christendom is woefully (!) ignorant (!) of Satan’s activities….

Possessed with Devils #20

Saturday, October 25, 2025

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What does the Bible say about devil possession?

A prevailing myth undergirding Christendom is the inherent notion that whatever God did before, He must still be doing today. This is but a child’s view of the Holy Scriptures. For nearly two millennia, religious tradition and emotions have clouded the judgment of hundreds upon hundreds of millions of churchgoers. Despite their fervor to “get busy for God,” they have virtually no understanding of what He is doing or has called them to do!

Remember, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, detail God’s current dealings with man. We are living in “but now,” in contrast to “time past” and “the ages to come” (see Ephesians 2:7,11-13). These unique titles demarcate the changes in the way God relates to mankind. If we fail to “rightly divide” them, and most do, we have neither a hope nor a prayer in the world of ever understanding or enjoying the Bible!

Since “the Jews require a sign” (John 4:48; 1 Corinthians 1:22), signs accompanied the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Mark 16:20; Luke 8:1). Jesus healed the sick and cast out devils during Matthew to John; the 12 Apostles did likewise in early Acts. To prove to Israel how Paul’s ministry had replaced Peter’s ministry, God also enabled Paul to heal the sick and cast out devils during his Acts provoking ministry. However, when writing to and about us (the Church the Body of Christ), Paul never once issued any instructions to perform exorcisms. This is truly significant, for a drastic dispensational change has occurred! Exorcism has no place in this the Dispensation of Grace: there is absolutely nothing about casting out devils in the Pauline epistles of Romans to Philemon. Why? Brethren, there is one primary reason, and we would do well to recognize it….

Possessed with Devils #15

Monday, October 20, 2025

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What does the Bible say about devil possession?

During Christ’s earthly ministry, not only did Israel have a devil problem, the Gentiles or nations were under Satan’s power too. This “without God” status of these Gentiles in time past is found in Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30; Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 2:11,12; and Ephesians 4:17-19.

Notice Matthew 15:22-28, the Gentile lady whose daughter was possessed with an evil spirit: “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Read also Mark 7:25-30, the analogous passage.)

Jews are the “children,” Gentiles are the “dogs,” and that non-Jewish woman knew how Messiah Jesus was sent to bless the children of Israel “first” (check Mark 7:27). She recognized her unworthiness, and how Christ had a ministry to Israel only. Therefore, she humbly placed herself in a position to receive the “overflow” spilling off Israel’s table of blessing. Imagine: this Gentile woman was a believer, in stark contrast to unbelieving (“lost”) Israel! The exorcism of that non-Jewish woman’s daughter pictures the salvation and blessing of God going to the world through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20)….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #20

Monday, September 29, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

In Acts chapters 7–9, religious leader Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee who hated Jesus’ name and tirelessly hunted believing Jews. Yet, Saul gave up depending on his “goodness” and trusted Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-9). As Paul the Apostle decades later, he writes of himself: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:13-16).

The salvation or justification of Saul/Paul is a “pattern” of how God has dealt with Christ-rejecting sinners for 2,000 years now. Firstly, He has been “merciful” or compassionate, holding back the wrath we sinners deserve. Secondly, He has been “gracious” or generous, giving us the favor we sinners do not deserve. Thirdly, He has been “peaceful” or friendly, pausing the war we sinners deserve. For a moment, He has interrupted the prophetic program, “[that] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21), that He may operate the mystery program, “[that] which was kept since the world began, but now is manifest [through the Pauline epistles, Romans to Philemon]” (Romans 16:25,26).

God has caused the nation Israel to temporarily fall, concluded all Jews and all Gentiles in unbelief, that He might have mercy on all nations without distinction (see Romans 11:11-14,30-32). What we need to do is the only thing we can do without doing anything: we need to believe on Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins. Since the Lord Jesus was our substitute on Calvary so long ago, we now enjoy God’s blessings….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #12

Sunday, September 21, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Turn your attention to Romans 9:30–10:4: “[9:30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. [9:31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [9:32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone [Jesus Christ]; [9:33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

“[10:1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [10:2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [10:3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. [10:4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

The above excerpt describes unbelieving (Christ-rejecting) Israel during Matthew to John and early Acts—which lack of faith led to Calvary’s cross. Here would have been Saul of Tarsus, seeking to establish his own righteousness (recall Philippians 3:3-9). That lost Saul is now the Apostle Paul writing this very Romans passage during latter Acts, with Gentiles turning to Christ under his ministry while national Israel still languishes in unbelief. Paul at that time was visiting (Jewish) synagogues throughout the Roman Empire and preaching the Lord Jesus to them.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39). Paul’s sermon here maintained how Israel needed to have faith in Jesus Christ, true righteousness (right standing before God) being not by religious works (Judaism) but by trusting the Gospel of the Grace of God….

333’s 5200th – We Still Have Time!

Monday, August 25, 2025

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11 KJV).

Many, many years ago, as a university graduate student, I spoke with a works-religion man also attending classes there. Although he was an unbeliever, I strongly encouraged him to access our online devotionals blog, where he could find 500 daily Bible studies to read and consider. He was surprised as to how someone could have time to write so many devotionals. Well, by God’s grace, we have multiplied that over 10 times now!

There is still much, much, much to read, learn, and teach. While one particular ungrateful “believer” whined how she “could not keep up with us” (and she referred to basic topics!), mastering sound Bible doctrine is the only way to survive the deception of Satan’s evil world system. Instead of griping how “difficult” and “slow” spiritual growth is, it is important that we find the right teachers and right preachers and steadily mature with them. Even if it is so gradual it is barely perceptible, a believing heart resting in sound doctrine will assuredly develop spiritually.

Brethren, the Dispensation of the Grace of God is still in effect. For now, God’s attitude toward the world is “grace and peace.” Therefore, we need to get on with studying the Dispensation of Grace as described in Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans to Philemon. Contrary to the false accusations of the denominational preachers and “natural-man” teachers, we do not discard a single Bible verse. We study the Scriptures of Genesis through Revelation, for each and every verse is inspired of God. Howbeit, we “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15), knowing what is for our learning (outside of Pauline revelation) versus what is to and about us (Pauline revelation). If our spiritual leaders have not taught us this, they have failed us miserably. They need to do less talking and more studying themselves, lest they continue to be “blind leaders of the blind.”

We hope our daily studies here have helped and blessed you in some measure these last 14.25 years. No, we do not know everything, for we are not God, but we know a little more than we did yesterday, last year, a decade ago. Praise our Lord Jesus Christ, and onward to #5300!

Note: All our previous devotionals, going back to “day 1,” are archived chronologically here.