Category: evil world system

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #18

Friday, June 5, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Re-read Genesis 3:1-5. Satan promised Eve that, if she heeded his advice, she and husband Adam would have a more productive, enjoyable life (thereby insinuating how God had been “villainous” in hiding knowledge from them!). Verses 6 and 7: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

While there was nothing morally wrong with eating the fruit, it was nevertheless disobedience to the LORD God’s clear command. Eve was deceived/seduced, drawn away by the lie, but Adam knew better and followed her in the rebellion simply because he loved her more than he loved God (cf. 1 Timothy 2:14)! Moving outside of the sphere of life God had established for them, Adam relinquished his God-given dominion on the Earth (Genesis 1:26-28) to Satan.

In Matthew 4:8,9 and Luke 4:5-7, bearing the title “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan owns this world’s kingdoms and the glory of them. Yet, thankfully, Galatians 1:4 proclaims, “[our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:….” Therefore, “Love [find value in, esteem] not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

That we Bible-believers may “cleanse [our] way,” God has equipped us to identify the countless facets of Satan’s lie program….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #17

Thursday, June 4, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

God’s original instructions to humans were: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28). Furthermore, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17). Adam and Eve, God’s king and queen on Earth, were to live within these particular boundaries.

Deviations from the LORD’S plan would be disastrous, of which Satan was quite aware: “Now the serpent was more subtil [clever, crafty] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1-5).

Man’s initial sin was to elevate himself to the status of a “god” (lowercase “g”), to make himself his own authority and create his own path in life….

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 25, 2026

“For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV).

In the United States, today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their time and lives to provide our physical freedom. Likewise, as Christians, we have spiritual freedom, which was more costly. Someone had to die to give us the eternal life we now enjoy….

Scripture describes a spiritual warfare between good and evil, God’s truth program versus Satan’s lie program: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11,12; see also verses 13-20).

Satan distracts mankind from God’s pure Word, the Bible, keeping unbelievers lost (dead in their sins), and preventing unbelievers and Christians from knowing God’s will. The devil draws them away (seduces them) from God’s Word by using religious tradition and human “wisdom” (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 3:1-3).

God loves us, so at Calvary’s cross, Christ fought for us sinners, died in battle (today’s Scripture), shed His divine sinless blood, and eternally rescued us from Satan and sin: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15).

Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.”

If we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Now, God can use us for His glory for all eternity.

Beloved, let us rejoice in our victory over sin, death, and hell that Jesus Christ secured for us by going to Calvary’s rugged cross! Jesus Christ is now alive forevermore—He is our Hero, the Greatest Hero!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study “The Greatest Hero,” which can be read here or watched here.

A Prayer According to God’s Will

Thursday, May 7, 2026

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 KJV).

On this United States’ National Day of Prayer, we pray you pray according to the Lord Jesus Christ’s will for today!

Today, religious people—the general public, clergy, and government officials—will assemble nationwide, like they do every year, and pray for spiritual and moral revival of the “Christian” (?) United States of America. We commend their noble efforts, but God’s Word says there will be no godly revival of any of the world’s Gentile nations until Jesus Christ returns to earth at His Second Coming (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Revelation 11:15; et cetera).

The LORD’s words to King Solomon are often quoted on this day: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Friends, this is certainly God’s Word, but has nothing to do with Gentiles in the United States in the Dispensation of Grace. This verse has a context often overlooked—the nation Israel under the Mosaic Law, praying in relation to God’s Temple in Jerusalem (verses 15,16). Actually, that Temple was destroyed over 19 centuries ago! Unlike Israel, the United States was never a divinely-founded nation. The American people as a whole are not God’s people like Israel was.

Rather than praying 2 Chronicles 7:14, remember today’s Scripture (God’s Word to us Gentiles). The verse following today’s Scripture says, “[God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Pray for those in authority, that they would trust Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour, and then grow in His Word to them so they can make wise decisions on behalf of the people they govern.

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

Excruciating Thursday

Thursday, April 2, 2026

[Reader discretion advised: Christ’s sufferings are graphically described below.]

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9 KJV).

His three years of earthly ministry have expired, but His greatest work is yet to come!

During the all-night interrogation in the “kangaroo court,” His sentence is passed—execution by crucifixion. They have scourged, beaten, and punched Him. Covered in their spit, they laugh at Him, and strike His head with a rod to force on the crown of thorns. His back shredded, His skull possibly fractured, His beard ripped off. His massive blood loss weakens Him further. Having been stripped of His clothing, He struggles to carry His heavy cross to Mount Calvary: Simon must carry His cross for Him. The crowds watch Him, laughing and jeering. His little flock looks on in total shock.

They lay Him on the wooden cross, yanking His limbs to nail them in place. His bones unbroken, but exposed, and His limbs dislocated. They pierce His hands and feet with long spikes, severing the median nerve in the hands, causing permanent hand paralysis. They raise up that cross, and He hangs, slowly suffocating due to His own weight. Every breath becomes increasingly difficult, His lungs fill with fluid, His heart becomes progressively strained. Eventually, He cannot breathe, and thus dies.

Now imagine His spiritual suffering. Three hours into His crucifixion, His heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost have abandoned Him. For the first time ever, He is totally alone. Physical and spiritual darkness now cover the earth. The weight of all the world’s sin and sins of all time crushes His soul. God’s undiluted wrath falls upon Him, as it does on those suffering in hellfire. He cries out in agony. Hanging on that cruel cross, with His spiritual eyes, He observes Satan himself and all his evil creatures snickering and cheering. He looks out to see His disciples staring at His helpless disfigured body. Oh, if only they knew how His physical and spiritual bodies were being tormented, utterly tortured beyond imagination!

After six hours of excruciating pain, He finally lets Himself die….

Please check out our archived Bible Q&A: “Was Jesus Christ really crucified on Friday?”

The “Triumphal” Entry

Sunday, March 29, 2026

“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:4,5 KJV).

Do you ever wonder why Jesus Christ rode on a donkey the Sunday before His crucifixion?

In today’s Scripture (cf. Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), Jesus’s crucifixion on Calvary’s cross is just five days away. Leaving Bethany, He travels to Jerusalem (a mile to the northwest). Israel’s believing remnant in Jerusalem is excited to hear that Messiah is returning to “the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35); in anticipation, the great multitude throws their garments and palm branches on the ground. As Jesus enters the city, they cry out, “Hosanna [“O save!”]: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9,10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13; cf. Psalm 118:26).

While often called the “Triumphal Entry,” there really was no victory being celebrated in today’s Scripture—the victory was to come later! What we need to realize is that Jesus Christ was humble (“meek”) here: as a King riding on a donkey into Israel’s capital city, He demonstrated He desired peace with Israel (a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9). He had not come to destroy her, though He would have been just in doing so; He had come to save her from her sins, her enemies, and her satanic bondage (Matthew 1:21; Mark 2:17; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 1:68-75; Luke 9:55,56; Luke 19:9,10; Acts 3:24-26; et cetera).

Just a few days later, Jesus Christ appeared weak and defeated. He never fought back as the Roman soldiers mercilessly abused Him; He allowed Himself to be crucified on Calvary. It was His meek and lowly coming; now was not the time to pour out His wrath. He resurrected and ascended into heaven as a royal exile. Revelation 19:11 says Jesus Christ will return to Jerusalem on a white horse, a sign of war and wrath (Zechariah 14:1-4)—that will be His true triumphal entry, for He will conquer Satan’s world system forever!

Zealously Affected #35

Friday, March 27, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

In Mormonism, “burning in the bosom” is a sensation of peace and warmth regarded as confirmation that the Holy Spirit works and guides. This “burning” might simply be acid reflux, gas, or indigestion… not necessarily the Holy Spirit. Remember, every world religion has its “peace and warmth,” which means nothing if it is a system of lies!

Looking at the Bible, the final authority in all matters of faith and practice, we see it is more advantageous to have objective verses, not feelings, to verify the Holy Spirit’s influence: “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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:5-7). To “mind” the things of the Spirit is to exercise the renewed mind—entertaining thoughts that correspond to the Word of God rightly divided, and acting by faith according to these thoughts.

“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). “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:13-16).

Emotions are fickle. Take heed, lest you base your Christian life upon them!

-FINIS!-

Zealously Affected #34

Thursday, March 26, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

An objection to ponder: “Are not emotions (fear) useful in fleeing danger?” Yet, is it emotions that benefit us most—or really emotions subjugated by logic? Fear tends to exaggerate reality, leading us to move away indefinitely. Mental processes restrain the distance we cover. For example, if emotions were in complete control, we might run from a burning building for an hour before stopping to look back to see if flames were still threatening!

Moreover, fear is not necessarily advantageous to the Christian. Spiritual bullies (false teachers) intimidated Timothy into silence when he should have been preaching the Word! “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;…” (2 Timothy 1:7,8). No Bible student can ever forget how Peter being terrified of potential persecution contributed to his thrice denial of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18,25-27). It was this very fear Paul was facing when he requested prayer to overcome it in Ephesians 6:18-20. Regardless of the satanic distress seeking to destroy him and his ministry, he wished to be a bold preacher of Christ under Roman house-arrest!

In this world, anger is frequently nothing more than people reacting irresponsibly when they do not get their way (cf. Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8). Scripture, however, speaks of righteous anger—being angry because sin devastates lives. This anger is not sinful, as there is logic and just cause for it (Matthew 5:22). “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26,27). “And when he [Jesus] had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness [callousness, apathy, unbelief] of their hearts,…” (Mark 3:5). More could be said, but that should suffice.

Let us (finally!) summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Zealously Affected #33

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Dear friend, share dispensational Bible study with others. I have done it for nearly two decades now. Typical responses are silence, astonishment, or puzzled facial expressions. Others are franker, such as issuing aggressive outbursts of, “You remind me of a know-it-all!” or “Our denomination may be manmade, but you need to be in church here anyway!”

Long ago, I had a Christian relative scream in my face when he realized he was using a corrupt Bible version; his emotions had become uncontrollable, and no logic was present. Also in my early ministry, I was escorted out of one church building because I was sharing verses contradictory to the theological system promoted there. Four Bible teachers debated me outside the door, their arguments being more ignorance and sarcasm than substantial. Studying at college, I saw and heard a professor (an “educated” man) act and speak in a most thoughtless way. His emotions were dominant as he rattled (ranted) on and on about how he hated Christianity and Christians because of his terrible experiences with “church.” That tantrum is still quite vivid in my mind 19 years later.

We can give a hearty “Amen!” to the words of a stranger who said it best on an online forum I was scanning not too long ago: “Most are ignorant and just want to stay that way. [It] lets their hatred and emotions override logic and actual research efforts.” Here is an individual who is not fooled. Ignorance, especially deliberate ignorance, is excused because emotionalism is incapable of evaluating ideas, policies, or conduct. As long as we are comfortable suffering emotional revolt and emotional tyranny, we have neither a hope nor a prayer in the world of escaping the fantasy world of “feelings.”

How essential it is that we—without delay—turn from darkness to light, from blindness to sight, from wrong to right….

Zealously Affected #32

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

I have seen it in my own life, and I am certain you have experienced it too. A solitary emotional episode can ruin a well-thought-out plan. The result is utterly disastrous! Ruminate on this, dear friend. Father God devised the local church to be a place where His people fellowship around each other as they are filled with the life of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, but the flesh controlled the reckless Galatian assemblies of today’s Scripture! Adam alive and well in and through them, they were spiritual cannibals gobbling up each other in their selfishness, childishness, and pettiness! “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:15). If they were disposed to attack themselves, Paul doubtless expected they would easily consider him a rival too (Galatians 4:16)!

“You are not going to tell us who we can invite to speak at our Bible conference!” A group of professing “grace” Christians told me those words when I informed them of how their favorite teacher was false. By the way, this was the very assembly to which I had ministered for the prior five years. They wanted the lie, and, following God’s example, I decisively handed them over to it (Romans 1:24,26,28). That was their own fault, neither my fault nor God’s. Unfortunately, they not only lacked spiritual sense but also refused it, and would therefore threaten my own spiritual health if I did not get away from them. “Be not deceived: evil communications [friendships, companionships, associates] corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Since they were more emotional than they were scriptural and dispensational, I promptly cut off fellowship with them. Last I heard of them, they were further from the truth than ever… and their false teacher was still there, teaching worse doctrine.

If our doctrine is not that which demonstrates the life of Jesus Christ, we have no reason to assemble—no matter how good it “feels” or how emotionally attached we are to the teacher or pastor….