Category: The Nation Israel

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #161

Wednesday, November 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?

Under the Law of Moses, hardships (sickness, drought/famine, pestilence, military defeat, exile, and so on) were signs of Divine displeasure, the LORD God unhappy with sinful Israel and punishing her. These various curses are meticulously itemized in Leviticus 26:14-46 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68. (Conversely, blessings were received for obedience, exactly as promised in Leviticus 26:1-13 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14.) Again, this is the agreement the Jewish people willingly made with God at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:1-8.

As Saul of Tarsus, being a rabbinical scholar and religious fanatic, the Apostle Paul had grown up in Judaism and under the Law (Philippians 3:4-6). Watch how he suffers an enigmatic “thorn in the flesh” and repeatedly prays for deliverance from it—and be sure to note the Lord’s reply and Paul’s response. Second Corinthians 12:7-10 reads: “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. [Paul reacts] Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Paul indeed received an answer to his prayer… just not what he expected. The Lord would not deliver him from that suffering. Prayer did not change Paul’s circumstances, but it did change Paul in his circumstances. The Apostle embraced a new outlook on suffering, for God showed how He had switched the program from Law to Grace. Behold! Contrary to what we learn in works-religion, prayer is not about manipulating God to do whatever we want. As mature people, we conclude that it is far better for us to pray in line with what God is doing, rather than assuming He is doing something else and praying in ignorance….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #160

Tuesday, November 3, 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?

Elijah the Prophet lived during great apostasy, Israel departing from the LORD. In 1 Kings 16:29-34, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel declared Baal worship to be the official state religion. This was an egregious violation of the Law of Moses! “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1). The duration of this drought and famine was three years and six months (Luke 4:25; James 5:17; cf. 1 Kings 18:1,2).

When James 5:16-18 indicates how Elijah “prayed earnestly that it might not rain” (and how “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”), it recalls that the Prophet had simply asked God to do what God had already promised to do in response to such idolatry! “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you” (Deuteronomy 11:13-17).

As the LORD’S preacher, Elijah knew the contract national Israel had made with JEHOVAH God at Mount Sinai. Disobedience meant wrath and judgment, so Elijah prayed to God what God had written centuries prior in the Law….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #159

Monday, November 2, 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?

Our initial step in growing up with regards to prayer is to read and believe this: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should never stop praying. If this is true, and it is, that means prayer is more than simply kneeling, folding hands, closing eyes, and bowing heads—otherwise, we would spend our entire lives on our knees, with hands folded, eyes closed, and heads bowed! Prayer is defined in the Scriptures as “pouring out our heart before the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:12,13,15; Psalm 62:8). Moreover, it does not necessarily have to be audible; we can pray quietly, inside, for God still hears us, as in the aforementioned case of Hannah (Samuel’s mother).

Mark it well. No matter the place on the Bible timeline, God speaks first and then His people talk to Him according to what He told them. Complications develop when souls either have no idea what God said (unawareness of the Bible altogether), or they believe they can apply to themselves what He told someone else (usage of the Bible, but no right division). Prayer must be done in faith, taking God at His Word. Therefore, we have to first know His Word to and about us before we can believe it and pray in light of it.

To see how prayer works, ponder the example of the Old Testament Prophet Elijah. James relates to us in chapter 5, verses 16-18: “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias [Greek version of his Hebrew name] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” What caused Elijah to pray these specific words? Of all the things that he could have asked, why did he articulate this? The only way to answer such inquiries is to search the Scriptures for cross-references, precisely what we will do now….

ARCHIVED: “Should Christians observe All Souls’ Day?”

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #158

Sunday, November 1, 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?

Prayer is an additional realm that is truly most perilous, for Christians and non-Christians alike. Seldom is anything known about it other than two instances of mindlessness. Firstly, there is the vain repetition of The Our Father Prayer of Matthew 6:9-13, recited over and over and over again today no matter the circumstances (church, athletic events, concerts, and especially medical emergencies, fires, and police investigations). Secondly, there is the taking up of a book of manmade prayers, endless chanting which can be reduced to nothing more than, “Gimme, gimme, gimme.” Save for these two cases, prayer is unfamiliar to most.

It is through prayer—yea rather, through a gross misunderstanding of it—that so many heresies and apostasies have overcome (thoroughly defeated) hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of millions. Adhering to their denominational suppositions, people expect God to prove Himself to them when they pray. In fact, they will even utilize prayer to “threaten” Him… for, if He does not give them their way, they warn that they will no longer believe in Him, or stop going to church, or no longer read the Bible, et cetera. Frankly, these are but little children, exactly like those sitting on Santa Claus’ lap and demanding he follow the wish list they have so meticulously laid out for him!

Brethren, until our dying day, or until the day the Lord returns for us, it would do us well to pray upon every remembrance, “Father God, deliver me from Bible ignorance!” This is far more important than most of the prayers Christians have offered for 20 centuries. If prayed sincerely, it would have spared us an incredible amount of headache, heartache, and heartbreak. Of course, in our sinfulness and willfulness, we have formed our own versions of prayer, utterly failing to align ourselves with a scriptural and dispensational view of it. This negligence has been quite costly, but, again, it is our fault rather than God’s. So as to remedy the situation, we have to start mastering the fundamentals of prayer, learning what our denominational leaders should have taught us but did not….

ARCHIVED: “Should Christians observe All Saints’ Day?”

Arrayed in Hypocrisy

Saturday, October 31, 2026

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27,28 KJV).

“Looks can be deceiving” is not only true during Halloweentime, but confirmed year-round within Christendom.

Today is Halloween, when children dress up and feign themselves to be creatures they are not. Likewise, many church leaders today wear “Christian” garbs, but their ministries do not bring the Lord Jesus Christ glory and honor. They promote their denomination, and seek to perpetuate it, rather than serve and exalt the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible manifests these who appear to be good, as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

In today’s Scripture, Jesus Christ exposed Israel’s corrupt religious leaders who misled the nation in His day. In His Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30,37-43, Christ explained how just as He had sown good seed (wheat, believing Jews) in Israel, Satan had also sown tares/weeds (unbelieving Jews). Tares resemble wheat; unbelieving Jews resemble believing Jews. The unbelieving Pharisees and scribes, for instance, looked like God’s people (believing Israel). Judas Iscariot was another example of Satan’s tares—the apostles never realized who Judas really was until it was too late!

But Satan’s counterfeit believers are not confined to Israel’s program. Today, within local assemblies of the Body of Christ, there are people feigning themselves to be Christians: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Beloved, beware of the church leaders who are arrayed in hypocrisy, “and avoid them” (Romans 16:17b). If their teaching does not agree with the rightly divided King James Bible, you have no business as a child of God to be listening to them.

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

You may also see our special study, “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” In addition, “What does the Bible say about ghosts?”

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #157

Friday, October 30, 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?

Brethren, whether false doctrine or worldly music, let us be sure we are neither “foolish” (senseless, thoughtless) nor “bewitched” (captivated, charmed, hypnotized, enchanted, fascinated) by the flesh (Galatians 3:1-3). Long ago, I was horrorstruck when browsing one church’s website. Its “worship leader” had named his “role models:” his musical inspiration came from three vulgar celebrity musicians (who will forever remain anonymous here)!

May we make sure the world does not influence us Christians to think about music contrary to God’s assessment. In some religious circles (which esteem [worship!] secular education), one needs to be a professional singer or trained musician before being seriously considered worthy of going up before their congregation. Yet, true worship of God is not learned in man’s classrooms. Just because sinners approve one’s exams and research—meeting an institution’s academic requirements—does not necessarily mean a person qualifies to serve in God’s ministry. No assortment of diplomas or degrees can ever fill anyone, or has ever filled anyone, with the Holy Spirit. Remember well certain “unlearned and ignorant men” who “had been with Jesus,” fishermen Peter and John being God’s mighty vessels in spite of their lack of schooling (Acts 4:13).

For 2,000 years, even though there has been so much folly and darkness, Christians have written and sung timeless or classic psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs worth memorizing and singing even now. If we are people mature in the rightly-divided Word, grounded in dispensational truth, it is quite easy to discern what is rubbish doctrine and what is rich doctrine. Let us also bear in mind that, regardless of what is being sung today for Satan’s glory, it will pass away in due time (its volume decreasing until heard no more). Simultaneously, the songs of the saints will reach their crescendo, permeating the Heaven and the Earth, as God’s eternal purpose is finally brought to fruition and Jesus Christ reigns as the Lord of glory for all ages to come.

We now shift our concentration to yet another topic worth straightening out in our minds and hearts….

ATTENTION: For more information, see our archived studies, “Which hymns are appropriate for us grace believers to sing?” and “Must I have a degree in music to sing or play an instrument at a local church?”

NOTE: In order to bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #156

Thursday, October 29, 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?

Reiteration is key, for the old maxim reminds, “Repetition is the mother of all learning.” Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)—courtesy of the 1960s–1970s Charismatic Movement—has now become the standard of nearly every church service. More weight is ascribed to sounds than sound doctrine. As walls vibrate, “Christians” (?) move their bodies indecently and foolishly. There is more entertainment than edification, as the lyrics are shallow, unscriptural, and un-dispensational. This is how Satan sabotages God’s ministry. It is not truly spiritual unless it conforms to Pauline revelation! “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38).

Decades before “Contemporary Christian Music” inundated us, a minister astutely remarked: “The prevailing character of music in the worship of God should be vocal. If instruments are employed, they should be so subordinate that the service may be characterized as singing.” To wit, if you focus more on musical instruments than singing sound doctrine, that is the Devil. If engaging in worldly amusement is given precedence over using rightly-divided Scripture to praise the Lord, then that is the Devil. Run, flee, get out of there, and never return, dear friend! However, the majority have been (intentionally) programmed to go to church for entertainment anyway, so they will unconsciously keep going there. You can warn them to no avail; if they want it, let them have it! Contemporary Christian Music is known for its musical instruments rather than its singing—and it is definitely not known for its sound Bible doctrine.

Three elements of good music are: (1) lyrics, words, Bible verses from the Word rightly divided; (2) melody or harmony; and (3) rhythm or pulsation, beat, drive. Music that God accepts must come from a heart of gratitude, must be designed to reflect His thoughts and communicate His words and will, and must harmonize with what He is doing in creation. Otherwise, frankly, we are worshipping the Devil with our music….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #155

Wednesday, October 28, 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?

Preparing to enter ministry (over 20 years ago now!), I was given a book a famous pastor wrote. In it, he asserted, “God loves all kinds of music.” To be blunt, this is Bible ignorance. God does not love false doctrine, so He would not care for any music whose lyrics contain bad information or foster spiritual immaturity. If the music’s lyrics promote Bible ignorance, how can the Lord love it? Here is what the feel-good, megachurch leader overlooked—either not knowing or pretending not to know. (I am afraid it is willful ignorance!)

There is indeed a spiritual component to music, a therapeutic effect, just as in 1 Samuel 16:23 when David played the harp to relieve King Saul of spiritual distress (cf. verses 14-17). Music can either influence us positively or negatively, bring us to spiritual truth or bring us from spiritual truth. Unfortunately, most Christians are ignorant of this—and it is not God’s fault that they are unaware of the Devil’s “worship services.”

In Ephesians 5:19, we read of “psalms” (songs praising God for His wonderful works), “hymns” (general songs praising God), and “spiritual songs” (odes of spiritual value, poems “charged with spiritual truth,” songs restricted to the things of the Holy Spirit). The description “spiritual songs” eliminates all confusion with secular/worldly songs (especially the chanting of the drunken worshippers of Bacchus [ancient Roman god of wine], familiar to the Ephesians and other citizens of the Roman Empire). Read the spiritual songs of Elisabeth (Luke 1:41-45), Mary (Luke 1:46-55), and Zacharias (Luke 1:67-79), all involving personal testimony and joy. “…Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Alas, Christians today have utilized worldly music standards to determine what is appropriate. To boost popularity and profits, separation has given way to compromise (violating 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 and Ephesians 5:1-21).

Ephesians 5:19 also exhorts us to sing and make melody in our heart “to the Lord.” This is not amusement, and this is not to man. Our music should worship the Lord—not self, not man, not Satan. We express our gratitude to God for what He has done for us….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #154

Tuesday, October 27, 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?

“Anointed music” (or “anointed worship”) is a trendy name habitually repeated in Christendom. While seemingly impressive, rest assured it is nothing valuable or godly. Basically, particular phrases/lyrics, musical instruments, and sounds are employed to create an atmosphere that stirs up and maintains an adrenaline rush (it happened with ancient Babylonian idolaters in Daniel chapter 3!). It is a syncretism of Judaism, heathenism, mysticism/superstition, and emotion-based religion (Corinth!!!). If ever you hear, “Come encounter God—come feel His presence—at our ‘praise and worship’ service,” permanently turn your back to it and leave as quickly as you can! Why?

The Charismatic Movement of the latter half of the 20th century was actually Pentecostalism (founded circa 1900) infiltrating mainline denominations. Excessive emphasis is still placed upon miraculous demonstrations and spiritual gifts (especially tongues), as well as various other superficial and external criteria (what looks good, feels good, et cetera). Charismatic theology and practice produced “Contemporary Christian Music” (“CCM”) in the 1960s and 1970s, and popularized it throughout the 1980s and 1990s. What people generally do not understand, or have chosen to ignore (!), is how this nonsense resulted from failing to avoid the spiritual silliness of which 1 Corinthians warned. Contemporary Christian Music is spiritually dangerous: its lyrics (underlying doctrine) are quite shallow and even heretical.

However, Contemporary Christian Music appeals to the (lost) general public. Megachurches use it to attract tens of thousands of visitors. Frankly, that strong feeling of excitement—“frisson,” adrenaline rush (!)—is exactly what drug users experience and become addicted to. “Worshippers” enjoy a concert, release their pent-up energy with “moving and grooving,” and even feel a bit religious in the process (after all, it is “church!”). Captivated, it is guaranteed they will return (and even throw in a generous contribution at collection time, similar to children paying admission into an amusement park!). Denominations and ministries affiliated with Contemporary Christian Music are not about to divest themselves of anything that brings in large crowds of people and huge sums of money—even if it is a counterfeit spirituality.

Oh, dear friends, how the professing church is in overwhelming spiritual trouble….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #151

Saturday, October 24, 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?

Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19) is the first evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God (verse 18); the other two proofs are thankfulness (verse 20) and submission (verse 21). All three are “the will of the Lord” (verse 17). We are “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) when “the word of Christ dwell[s] in [us] richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). If our Christian life is to operate as Father God planned, we must know what Christ has told us through our Apostle Paul. The Holy Spirit leads us to no other conclusion.

In “time past,” Israel’s standard was the Law (Hebrew Bible): “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19,20). Whatever we see and hear in “but now” must align with the doctrinal standard God the Holy Spirit has preserved in His rightly divided Word. Our guidelines are Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans to Philemon: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38).

Few comprehend that many of our popular “Christian” hymns came from writers whose denominational systems are combinations of superstition, heathenism, Judaism, and Christianity. They combine prophecy and mystery, confusing Israel and the Body of Christ, Law and Grace. When church members sing them, the ignorance is reinforced. The songwriters’ poor understanding of spiritual matters is transferred to everyone else. In certain cases, this process has spanned centuries—and, being so widespread, it is almost impossible to correct it. However, the damage inflicted is seldom detected, as the attendant entertainment seems to “justify” the singing (in the minds of the simple, anyway).

Dear friends, we had better grow up concerning music, and that right soon….