Category: Pauline Dispensationalism / Dispensational Bible Study

God’s Hidden Face #5

Saturday, July 9, 2022

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?

There is no way around it, dear friends: today’s Scripture says just what it means, and it means just what it says. God is hiding His face from sinners because they are out of fellowship with Him. They call to Him, but He pays no attention to them! Other Bible verses convey that same idea. For example, Micah 3:4: “Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.” Just who are these people anyway? What could they have possibly done to receive such stern treatment from God? Why would the LORD resort to this severity when dealing with them?

Doubtless, billions of unfortunate souls struggle with that ever-vexing problem of “unanswered prayer.” (Dear friends, you do know all about that, right?!) They have repeatedly begged the Lord for this or that, but Heaven has been silent for weeks, months, years, or even decades. Was there ever a God there to care and listen to their prayers? To their disappointment, their churches, pastors, and “spiritual counselors” have no meaningful solutions for them. In fact, how many of these poor people begin wondering if they are the doomed individuals of today’s Scripture? Victims of Satan’s evil world system, Bible (!) verses (!) are serving as weapons against them!!! These countless souls consider themselves hopelessly trapped in that predicament. Eventually, due to escalating bitterness, their spiritual life (if they ever had one) collapses, they become more disgusted with and even oppose the notion of God, they drift away from the Scriptures until they outright detest them, they cease church attendance, and they finally transfer into world religions, agnosticism, or atheism. (Thank you, denominationalism!)

If we and those we love are to be spared the aforementioned disastrous outcomes, we had better—and quickly—find some answers so we can solve this enigma of God’s hidden face….

God’s Hidden Face #4

Friday, July 8, 2022

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?

I spent 13 years in public (government-run) schools. For the next nine years, I attended a public university to earn two advanced degrees in Earth science. By the time of my 27th birthday, graduating college for the last time on that very day, the world’s classrooms had educated me for 22 full years. During those two decades, enormous amounts of secular propaganda and humanistic indoctrination were drilled into me. Yet, only by the Lord’s grace, my soul was filled with enough sound Bible doctrine to ward off the error and protect my Christian life. Honestly, it was easier for me to mark the lies told in the science classrooms and science textbooks than it was to identify the false doctrine my family and I were learning during that same period at local “Christian” (!) churches.

People have quite a warped understanding of the God of the Bible—particularly church members. Why? They have heard priests, preachers, teachers, and professors speak about the Bible, but did anyone (speaker or listener) actually read the Scriptures alone and personally? Unfortunately, no. What they really heard was notes the preacher picked up from a commentary writer or denominational handout, or an outline of theological principles a priest learned from a volume a church father penned many centuries ago, or a chopped-up Bible the seminary professor created using the rules of textual criticism he learned from his teachers. If anyone in this chain lacks the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry, the entire system is doomed and the resultant doctrine useless. Bible critics and haters, having assumed or presumed the Scriptures to teach something they do not, or having heard verses ripped from contexts but never researching for themselves, then take their distorted views to found lifelong anti-Christian and anti-Bible crusades. They are angry at religion—and all its confusion, hypocrisy, and silliness!

If we do not use God’s Word God’s way, today’s Scripture and other verses like it will indeed destroy us….

God’s Hidden Face #3

Thursday, July 7, 2022

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?

If someone ordered us to throw away the Holy Scriptures because they were “unnecessary,” we would definitely know that person is untruthful and disregard such “advice.” Yet, Satan’s deception is much more complicated than simply “do not use Bible verses.” It is an alarming fact, but more damnable lies have been told among those who use the Bible, quote the Bible, and say they “love the Bible.” Although there are good Bible teachers and preachers, far too many people use the Scriptures to teach error than truth. Whether purposely or unintentionally, they promote falsehoods the public generally accepts as literal “Gospel truth.”

Picture a young man who really wants to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. A sincere, Christian female family member gives him a “Christian bestseller” book that a celebrity preacher wrote. This young man carefully read and believed the preacher’s words. One day, the young man dealt with that same Christian relative who was now suffering major health problems. His “suggestion” to her was what he had learned from the “Christian bestseller” she bought him: God was hiding His face from her because of some sin she had committed, and now there was no deliverance (see today’s Scripture)! Understandably, that news made the poor lady feel even worse—more overwhelmed, more hopeless, more depressed!!

Unfortunately, dear friends, the above account is true. That young man was I! All those years ago, I was a novice in Scripture and still in my denominational mindset. Not only had Satan’s errors reached me through a Christian lady who inadvertently gave me a “Christian” pastor’s false teaching (who was using Bible verses!!), his wicked lies got to her through me when I unintentionally relayed the bad information to her in counselling (and I was using Bible verses too)! Some 20 years later, that pastor’s “bestseller” has misled several hundreds of millions of unsuspecting “Christian” church members. Verily, verily, the Scriptures can be (have been) used to teach doctrines of devils….

God’s Hidden Face #2

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?

When describing Satan, the Holy Spirit uses terms such as “subtil [sneaky, crafty, underhanded]” (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3), “wiles [tricks, schemes, subterfuges]” (Ephesians 6:11), and “devices [plans, ingenuities, creative policies]” (2 Corinthians 2:11). Obviously, the Devil’s strength lies in his intelligence—mental prowess exceeded only by Almighty God’s infinitesimal wisdom. Lucifer/Satan was described as follows: “…Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12).

If we are to truly plumb the depths of Satan’s skill, to see his most stunning works, we must look far beyond drunkenness, pornography, war, euthanasia, homosexuality, and all the other sins of the flesh that are quite easy to mark as wicked. No one using any common sense would ever confuse these activities with “God’s will.” If Satan were the wise creature the Bible presents him to be, and he is, he would use disguises. Remember, in Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4, the Devil actually encouraged Jesus to obey Psalm 91. Avoiding the general public’s infantile view of Satan, we look at churches—yes, especially alleged “Christian” churches—to see his greatest evils.

Lest we think this is an exaggeration, consider 2 Corinthians chapter 11: “[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…. [13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Indeed, Satan has “false apostles, ministers of righteousness,” those who resemble genuine spokesmen for God….

Saints, please remember us in your monthly giving—these websites do cost money to run! 🙂 You can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux, or email me at arcministries@gmail.com. Do not forget about Bible Q&A booklets for sale at https://arcgraceministries.org/in-print/booklets-bible-q-a/. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! By the way, ministry emails have really been backed up this year. I am handling them as much as humanly possible. Thanks for your patience. 🙂

God’s Hidden Face #1

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

How can dispensational Bible study deliver us from experiencing a lifetime of fear, doubt, frustration, discouragement, and even apostasy?

Dear friend, if you possess even a basic understanding of the Scriptures, you are somewhat familiar with the chief evil spirit known as Satan or the Devil. Multimillions fear him and flippantly blame him for all sorts of problems. According to them, “the Devil’s work” is confined to the nightclubs, casinos, “red-light districts,” prisons, abortion clinics, and other places of ill repute. Now, let us pose a piercing question to them. Could Satan actually work through a church, a minister, a Bible verse to accomplish his will? Have they ever considered these possibilities? The mature Bible student can survey the situation and come to one dismal conclusion: Satan, God’s archenemy, is frequently misunderstood, even among professing Christians. Therefore, his highly exceptional works are usually unnoticed or misidentified.

If we are Bible believers, let us believe the Bible’s description of Satan. “Then the devil taketh him [Jesus Christ] up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Matthew 4:5,6). “And he [Satan] brought him [Jesus Christ] to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Luke 4:9-11).

Dear friend, Satan knows the Bible and even boldly quoted Psalm 91 to God’s Son! Consequently, we should never hastily conclude someone who cites the Bible or encourages us to use it is necessarily of God. Indeed, Satan does not mind at all if we quote the Scriptures….

Liberated to Serve

Monday, July 4, 2022

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 246th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

When we proclaim Romans 6:14—“Ye are not under the law, but under grace”—people tend to assume “loose living.” Does “grace living” really mean we can now live any way we want? Lest anyone be misled in that regard, God the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in the next verse, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:15). Grace living is not Law-keeping, but it certainly is not Law-breaking either.

God still cares how we live, albeit He is not operating the “weak and beggarly” system of “bondage” (Law) that He once did with Israel (Galatians 4:9). God proved to the entire world that since Israel could not keep His commandments perfectly, no other sons of Adam (the Gentiles) could either: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them [Israel] who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [Gentiles] may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

We sinners cannot keep the Law. However, God in His grace provided us a way to escape that condemnation by sending Jesus Christ to offer Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross to pay for our sins. By simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, we can now be “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be delivered from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and the power of sin (flesh-walking).

Why are we Christians free? To selfishly live any way we want? NO! Today’s Scripture says we are liberated to now serve others, especially our Christian brethren, just as Jesus Christ selflessly served His Father and selflessly died on our behalf. That is grace living!!!!

Please see our 2011 Fourth of July Bible study “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land,” which can be watched here or read here.

Psalm 110:1 #7

Sunday, June 26, 2022

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1 KJV).

How does today’s Scripture, this Psalm of David, explain the Bible timeline for us?

During this Age of Grace, as long as this the Dispensation of the Grace of God runs its course, the Lord Jesus Christ still sits at His Father’s right hand in Heaven. No Divine wrath is currently being meted out—though this world deserves it and will reap the consequences of its sin one day. No Divine war is presently being waged—though this society deserves it and will see the terrible results of its sin eventually. Rest assured, there will come a point when today’s Scripture will be fulfilled in its entirety! But not today!

For the last 20 centuries, dear friends, the prophetic program has been in abeyance, temporarily suspended while God forms a mystery or secret entity (the Church the Body of Christ). Paul’s Gospel—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—is the only thing that keeps God’s judgment from falling on Earth (2 Peter 3:1-9,15,16). For those who have not yet come to Jesus Christ by faith in this Gospel of Grace, there is still time to do so… but that opportunity is now 2,000 years old, and, with each passing day, it is winding down, so they had better not delay any longer!

Saints, we who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, the God-Man is still seated for this reason: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:31-34). “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Psalm 110:1 #6

Saturday, June 25, 2022

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1 KJV).

How does today’s Scripture, this Psalm of David, explain the Bible timeline for us?

One key incident in the prophetic program concerns God the Father directing God the Son to sit at His right hand in Heaven. The Son would remain seated there until it was time for His enemies to be made His footstool. A “footstool,” as the name implies, is furniture on which someone’s feet rests. Therefore, to be made a “footstool” meant utterly defeated, the victor placing his foot on the loser’s neck. Such imagery is violent and indicative of war.

As we now know, Psalm 110:1 was partially fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry ended and He returned to His Heavenly Father in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and Acts 1:9-12. “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). The next event on the prophetic calendar, according to today’s Scripture, was for Jesus Christ to rise from His seated position. Peter proclaimed that in Acts 2:34-36, and Stephen witnessed it unfolding in Acts 7:55,56. Yet, the Lord paused prophecy so it was not completely fulfilled. He initiated that drastic dispensational change with Saul of Tarsus.

“Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee” (Numbers 10:35). Psalms repeats the vocative, “Arise, O LORD” (Psalm 3:7; Psalm 7:6; Psalm 9:19; Psalm 10:12; Psalm 17:13; Psalm 44:23; Psalm 132:8); here is believing Israel in the ages to come, pleading for JEHOVAH God to return and save them from the Antichrist. Isaiah 2:19-21 depicts the LORD arising to “shake terribly the earth.” Also, Isaiah 3:13: “The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.” Finally, “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence [return, Second Coming!!!] of God” (Psalm 68:1,2).

Today, Christ is once again sitting… for now….

Psalm 110:1 #5

Friday, June 24, 2022

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1 KJV).

How does today’s Scripture, this Psalm of David, explain the Bible timeline for us?

The most infamous Bible character present at Stephen’s murder was Saul of Tarsus: “And they cast [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul” (Acts 7:58). Saul eventually got saved and become the Apostle Paul (see Acts 13:9). Years later, Paul (no longer lost) gave his testimony to lost Israel: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting [agreeing, approving] unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him” (Acts 22:19,20). As an unbelieving religious leader, (Pharisee) Saul had led Israel’s rebellion against the Holy Spirit’s ministry during early Acts (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1-14; Acts 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13,14,23; Philippians 3:5,6; et al.)!

Decades pass. In 1 Timothy 1:12-16, and late in his ministry, Paul reflected on his former life: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 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 [leader]. 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.”

Indeed, Jesus Christ did return in early Acts—but not in the wrath and war of prophecy. Rather, with the introduction of the un-prophesied, unexpected mystery program commencing in Acts chapter 9, the Lord came back in grace, mercy, and peace to meet and save first and foremost Saul of Tarsus. Grace and peace have been offered to all the world ever since….

Bible Q&A articles #964 and #965: “Did Nebuchadnezzar appoint his own uncle or brother as King of Judah?” and “Why are the genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3 different?”

Father: A Godly Man

Sunday, June 19, 2022

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 KJV).

Since today is Father’s Day, we dedicate today’s devotional to the godly (Christian) fathers.

What is a godly father? Oftentimes, fathers are either too authoritative (very strict) or too carefree (little to no concern for their children). According to the Bible (today’s Scripture in particular), fathers must have a balance between setting boundaries and enforcing them, and refraining from being a heartless tyrant.

  • On one hand, the Christian father is to “bring [his children] up in the nurture of the Lord.” “Nurture” is simply defined as “caring for and encouraging their growth or development.” All too often, fathers (sadly) ignore this, usually being too rough, or even, apathetic (unconcerned).
  • On the other hand, the Christian father is to “bring [his children] up in the admonition of the Lord.” “Admonition” is simply defined as “authoritative counsel or warning.” He is to lovingly guide them in life, instructing them from God’s Word rightly divided.

A father is not simply one who procreates. God’s Word makes it very clear that they should serve a lifelong, active role in their children’s lives. A Christian man, especially a father, should be a godly man in beliefs as well as in deed. He needs to set an example for his children (especially his sons): it is his duty as an older Christian man to set an example for younger men.

He should be a hard worker, he should meditate on the things of God (the Bible), his speech should conform to sound Bible doctrine, he should be hospitable and caring, kind and loving, he should respect and love his wife, he should love his children, and he should be reserved and cautious in his actions.

Are you a Christian man or Christian father who desires to be the man God intends you to be in Christ Jesus? Place your faith in this sound Bible doctrine, and God will take care of the rest! Then, you will become the godly man described on the pages of Scripture.

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

ARCHIVED: “What does the Bible say about fatherhood?”