Category: Satan and Policy of Evil

God’s Profaned Name #4

Friday, August 11, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

After Israel’s departure from Egypt, her people chose to enter a covenant relationship with the LORD God: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel…. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD” (Exodus 19:5,6,8). Obedience would bring blessings, but disobedience would merit curses, as elaborated on later in Leviticus chapter 26 and Deuteronomy chapter 28.

True to His promise to remove the Jewish people from the Promised Land because of their habitual violation of the Law of Moses, the LORD God meted out the fifth and final course of chastisement or judgment (see Leviticus 26:27-39; Deuteronomy 28:62-65; cf. Leviticus 18:24-28; Leviticus 20:22-24). Now, as this curse took effect, the land of Palestine would be vacant, with the Israelites exiled or scattered to Assyria (north) and Babylonia (east).

Nevertheless, the LORD God states in today’s Scripture how the Jewish people continued their evil ways outside of Palestine. As they lived amongst the heathen or Gentiles, the Israelites were not reflections of the Creator’s will. When the nations observed this nonsense, they could not help but snicker and mock. Instead of, “What a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:6), it was “What a foolish and clueless people!” Israel did not walk in her identity the LORD gave her coming out of Egypt (separation from sin, Satan, and the world). She wanted to be like everyone else—and she indeed thought and acted like everyone else.

Israel “profaned” the name of the LORD in this manner….

God’s Profaned Name #3

Thursday, August 10, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

When He brought them out of Egyptian bondage, the LORD had indeed taken the nation Israel unto Himself, making them His special people in the Earth: He had “sanctified” them, “hallowed” them, or set them apart positionally. Consequently, they were to be “holy” practically—in their daily living. As He was isolated from the gods and goddesses of the Gentiles (idols), so the Jews were to be separated from the Gentiles (nations). “…I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people” (Leviticus 20:24). “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Leviticus 20:26). This is why He gave Israel “unusual” laws to obey and “strange” rules to observe.

By watching the Israelites conduct themselves according to the Creator’s will, the Gentiles (without that one true God) were to be impressed and interested. See Moses’ advice to Israel in Deuteronomy 4:5-8: “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”

Nevertheless, because of sin, there was an adverse reaction to what the LORD had spoken to Israel….

God’s Profaned Name #2

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

Read these words from the LORD through Moses to Israel: “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled; ) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you” (Leviticus 18:24-28).

Also, chapter 20: “[22] Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. [23] And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. [24] But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. [25] Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. [26] And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

This theme of separation or severance connects to today’s Scripture….

God’s Profaned Name #1

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

“And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 KJV).

How was God’s great name “profaned among the heathen?” In what way will He “sanctify” it?

The King James Bible has its own built-in system of terms and definitions. While a (manmade) dictionary can be helpful, the senses of Bible words must always be restricted to a Scriptural meaning—the context (verse, chapter, or individual Book within the Bible). For example, consider the term “profanity.” Due to common knowledge, we understand this to mean foul, disrespectful, or offensive words. Yet, this offers us little assistance in reading today’s Scripture for all its worth. In Ezekiel here, we see how someone has “profaned” God’s name, and how He reacts, but what is this matter all about anyway?

We start reading in Ezekiel chapter 36 (the context of today’s Scripture): “[20] And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. [21] But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. [22] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. [23] And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. [24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”

The above excerpt not only explains the occasion in which God’s name was “profaned,” but also how He will “sanctify” it….

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #5

Sunday, August 6, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [the Lord Jesus Christ] 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). As Paul preached in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia so long ago, God is currently offering forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ without religious works of any kind.

Through Paul’s Gospel, we can receive “forgiveness of sins” (see his grace commission of Acts 26:18). To “forgive” means “to clear the debt or send away the offense.” In fact, the Greek word translated “forgiveness” is related to that which is rendered “sent away” in Matthew 13:36 and Mark 4:36. What is Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24)? “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Dear friends, as long as we attempt to fill the God-shaped void in our heart and life with someone or something other than the God of the Bible, the blessedness of forgiveness will ever elude us. No water baptism, no tithing, no rites, no prayers, no theological studies, no ceremonies, no promises, no pilgrimages, no confessions, no rituals, no commandment-keeping, no turning over a new leaf, no traditions, no experiences, no distribution of denominational literature, no lucrative business deals, no drugs, no alcoholic beverages, no illicit sexual activities, no followers on social media, no education, no partying, no foreign trips, and no job promotions can ever replace the joy of total, permanent forgiveness of all our sins through Jesus Christ’s perfect shed blood. Please see Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13, and Colossians 3:13 for more information!

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. 🙂

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #4

Saturday, August 5, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

Deep down inside, works-religion people are miserable. They have no lasting peace, eternal security, or joy of the Holy Spirit. Instead, they “hope and pray” they will make it into Heaven. Nothing has ever been settled for them at Calvary, so their sin problem is constantly irritating them. As preposterous as it sounds, even believers in Christ—if they are not renewing their mind—will walk the same tightrope and fall to their practical death too (Romans 7:7-25). That was the case of the Galatians, struggling to manage their sin by appealing to the law system that only condemned them as sinners (see Romans 3:19,20; Galatians 3:19-27; 1 Timothy 1:7-11).

Is not grace a “license to sin?” This objection arises either because someone seeks an excuse to hold to the Law system (as if the Law ever empowered sinners to stop sin!), or they lack a real understanding of what grace is and what it teaches. They should grasp Titus 2:11-14! “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [God protest!]” (Romans 6:14,15). Unless we think in terms of Romans chapter 6 (we are dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord), we will go the way of chapter 7 (misery). The key to recovering ourselves out of this snare of the Devil is Romans chapter 8.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #3

Friday, August 4, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

The Galatians had originally received the Gospel of Grace when the Apostle Paul came into central Turkey in Acts chapters 13 and 14. These pagan idolaters learned about the Lord Jesus Christ dying for their sins, being buried, and being raised again for their justification (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Nonetheless, they did not stay with this Good News; they therefore drifted away to a works-religion message.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain…. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:8-11,15,16).

Once joyful saints thankful for Paul’s ministry and God’s grace (God’s riches at Christ’s expense), they chose to return to works-religion (perform to obtain the blessings). In so doing, they became miserable (losing their “blessedness”) and made Paul their opponent….

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #2

Thursday, August 3, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

After explaining how Abraham believed God’s words to him (verses 1-5)—and how Abraham was justified (declared righteous in God’s sight) by faith without works (see Genesis 15:6)—Paul takes up a second example (David as presented in today’s Scripture). Neither Abraham nor David knew all what our completed Bible would teach, but God expected them to believe what He had revealed to them in their respective points on the timeline of His plan for the ages.

David “also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” This “blessedness” is the joy of justification, the gladness of applied righteousness. David did not understand how Calvary would take care of his sin problem—the cross was 1,000 years into the future—but he knew God had cleared the debt (forgiveness) and given him righteousness (justification).

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Paul here reaches back to David’s words in Psalm 32:1,2. Since David was imperfect, his sin haunted him and made him miserable (see verses 3,4). Furthermore, because Israel was under the Law of Moses, David had to confess that sin and offer the appropriate animal sacrifice (see verses 5,6). Notice well how that concerned one sin: “Blessed is he whose transgression [singular] is forgiven, whose sin [singular] is covered” (Psalm 32:1).

Now, with us on this side of the cross, God has dealt with all our sins at Calvary. Observe how Paul made the nouns plural—“iniquities” and “sins”—in Romans 4:7. What David knew in part (forgiveness of one sin), we know in totality (forgiveness of all sins). Paul’s argument is thus: if David could rejoice in the little spiritual light he had, then we can and should rejoice even more because we have all revelation from God on the subject….

A Lost Love #10

Saturday, July 29, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Undoubtedly, dear friends, we should share with everyone the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). It is needful that we attempt to tell as many people as we can. However, we must be blunt here. As it was in Bible days, so it is now: a great many people will never come to Christ. This is true of at least some of our lost loved ones. Though we wish we could believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in their behalf, this is not how God has designed the plan of salvation to work. It is personal faith, not “by proxy” faith. If people do not want to hear and believe the Gospel of Grace, we need to move on to those who do. The more time and energy we waste on those who refuse to believe, the fewer people we are able to reach.

May I be direct once again? Nine years ago this month, I delivered the eulogy of one of my relatives. Some 30 unsaved family members were present at that funeral home—and it was for this express reason I made certain to preach a clear Gospel message. It was undoubtedly the plainest presentation of the Gospel they had ever heard in their lives. (In fact, I was told later, it was so explicit that the works-religion cult leader standing beside me began blushing!) Those hearts were quite convicted and shocked so that the room become deathly silent. After I finished speaking, a single family member came up and voiced approval of the message. The rest of these my relatives have never heard the Gospel or any Bible verse from me in more than nine years now because I respect their free will. If they do go to Hell, I can rightfully say with Paul, “I am clean [of their blood]” (Acts 18:6). May we be able to declare this concerning all our lost loves.

A Lost Love #9

Friday, July 28, 2023

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1 KJV).

Just the other day, an aged friend in ministry for several years now, shared with me the news of one of his recent undertakings. Let us see how his sentiments and efforts match those of Paul in today’s Scripture.

Though Paul attempted to preach the Lord Jesus Christ to every lost Jew in the synagogues of the Mediterranean world, he knew he could not force any of them to believe. In fact, when apostate Israel opposed him and his message, instead of lingering to quarrel with them, he respected their free will and departed to minister to others.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles…. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium” (Acts 13:46,51). “They were ware of it [Jewish plot against them], and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:…” (Acts 14:6).

“…Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue” (Acts 18:5-7).

“And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:8,9). As far as the record of Acts is concerned, because of this exceptionally adverse reaction, Paul never again preached in a synagogue! He valued free will, and so should we.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….