Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Brother’s Keeper? #8

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9 KJV).

Let us learn the import of Cain’s reply….

Dear brethren, we never, ever want to forget that the first homicide in the Bible was in the context of works-religion, an unbeliever (Cain) who was too arrogant to admit his sin problem and ready and willing to do anything and everything (even kill his believing brother, Abel) to make sure he did not have God’s messenger around to bother him with any “inconvenient” or “offensive” words from the LORD!

Only God knows how many millions of His people have lost their lives because of the work of the ministry throughout human history. Abel was the first martyr in that ancient battle, and this bitter religious war is still being waged today between God’s people (saints) and Satan’s people (sinners). Of course, there is still much more of this to come! “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (Revelation 17:6). This is the culmination of the false religious system that started with Adam, Eve, and Cain. It links to Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, gives rise to apostate Judaism during Matthew to Acts, continues even now in world religions and denominations, and will go all the way through Daniel’s 70th Week up until Christ’s Second Coming when the Lord of Glory makes all things right.

Brethren, never, ever should it surprise or discourage us when people—even professing believers and lifelong church members—are uninterested in listening to us share Bible verses with them. Perhaps they will become so belligerent that violence against us will transpire. If we do happen to lose our physical lives along the way, so what, for we are indeed willing “to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). Until they do away with us as Cain did Abel, though, let us be our brother’s keeper—looking out for them who lack spiritual sense to know just how dire their situation is.

Brother’s Keeper? #5

Saturday, September 7, 2024

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9 KJV).

Let us learn the import of Cain’s reply….

Abel was a prophet, a messenger of the LORD God (Luke 11:50,51). Doubtless, he preached to his brother Cain how Cain’s “good works” were not enough to please the LORD. Of course, self-righteous Cain hated to hear that, for he had absolutely no interest in obeying God or believing anything He said. Cain therefore silenced Abel—just as Zacharias, Jesus, and members of the Little Flock throughout Matthew through John and Acts (namely, Stephen) all died at the hands of their works-religionist brethren.

By preaching the Word of God, Abel was looking out for his brother Cain. Cain’s spiritual wellbeing was at stake, and while he had no concern, his brother did. When God asked Cain regarding Abel’s whereabouts (today’s Scripture), Cain lied by stating he did not know—but not only that. Cain was actually callous enough to ask God a question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This was nothing more than a mockery of what family is supposed to be about. Essentially, Cain argued he was not his brother’s guardian or protector. “How am I responsible for knowing my brother’s location? I am not his babysitter!”

In the ages to come, we recognize how false religion will divide families and cause unbelievers to persecute the saints—even turning these their believing brethren over to the Antichrist’s government to face execution! Matthew chapter 10: “[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. [22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another…. [35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” See also John 15:17-25, James 2:14-26, 1 John 2:9-11, and 1 John 3:10-17.

We can gather even more data….

A Father’s Gift #10

Saturday, August 24, 2024

“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?” (Romans 8:32 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

“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. 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” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4). This is yet another cautioning regarding how Satan’s evil world system insidiously seduces us from God’s current revelation to man. The Devil, most cunningly in Genesis 3:1-6, encouraged Adam and Eve to move from what the LORD God had told them. They were in unbelief, not content with their God-given identity.

See 1 Corinthians 10:1-15. There, we are reminded of ancient Israel’s failure to walk in the national identity and provisions the LORD had granted them when He brought them out of Egypt. Actually, in their unbelief, they remembered their Egyptian “comforts” (Numbers 11:4-9) and wished to return to them instead of live in God’s land (Numbers 14:1-10)! Again, we should learn how Satan works and not render ourselves vulnerable to his stratagems by being ignorant of them. The Devil knows how to use our sin nature to his advantage, but it is only our fault when we give in to him because we failed to know and/or trust God’s words to us.

Recalling Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13, we will recognize how Satan could not motivate the Lord Jesus Christ to question Father God’s words to Him. Jesus was not deceived, for He remembered Father’s words: no matter what Satan said or did, Jesus would not be drawn from them. Likewise, when we remember God’s words to and about us, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, we recognize our identity in Christ. Satan therefore cannot master or fool us. Remember the pitiful story with which we opened this devotionals arc—the father, the son, and the sports car. We ought to be thankful of what Father God has given us in Christ, and not throw tantrums because we are too childish to recognize His generosity!

No Wedding Garment! #9

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

If Israel will fellowship with JEHOVAH God under the New Covenant, it must be imputed righteousness instead of self-righteousness (The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Matthew 22:1-14). God is calling all Jews in the prophetic program via the Gospel of the Kingdom, but those chosen for service are they who will believe and thus possess His righteousness not self-righteousness (verse 14). Only believing Israel, justified in the Lord because of His righteousness, will be Christ’s wife because they alone have the wedding garment. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [lost Israel, especially religious leaders], and given to a nation [believing remnant, Little Flock of Luke 12:32] bringing forth the fruits [righteousness] thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

Isaiah 64:6: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” The Hebrew word rendered “filthy” means “menstruation,” the monthly bleeding of a woman’s reproductive organs. According to the Holy Bible, man’s “very best” is but a soiled sanitary napkin in God’s sight! (How flattering!) Billions upon billions are still struggling in vain to obtain a right standing in God’s court (justification) by offering their “filthy rags.”

Like Adam and Eve, they wear their “fig leaves” hoping to cover their spiritual nakedness—but God is not fooled (Genesis 3:7-11). Following apostate Israel’s example, they use the Law of Moses to prove their supposed “goodness” and “worthiness of Heaven.” Unfortunately for them, God is not impressed… save (except) in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)! Like self-righteous Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) had to learn in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….” May we learn this too!

No Wedding Garment! #8

Monday, July 29, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

The “wedding” is in Revelation 19:7-9, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” The “supper” itself is Revelation 19:11-21.

As for the proper wedding garment, see Revelation 7:9-14—God’s righteousness, not man’s self-righteousness (recall Isaiah 61:10; cf. Genesis 3:1-13,21). Only Israel’s believing remnant, the Little Flock, will have it. National Israel will be without the wedding garment, having only works-religion. As for the wedding, Jesus Christ marries Israel under the New Covenant. Hosea 2:16,19,20: “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [‘Husband’]; and shalt call me no more Baali [‘Lord’]…. And I will betroth [engage] thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.”

Also see Isaiah 62:4,5: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [‘Delight’], and thy land Beulah [‘Married’]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” God marries (joins) Israel to the Promised Land, and then Jesus Christ marries Israel.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

No Wedding Garment! #7

Sunday, July 28, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

Today’s Scripture in context again: “[11] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. [13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” What is this “outer darkness,” where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth?” It is the eternal punishment of lost Israel just prior to the Millennial Kingdom of Revelation chapter 20.

Christ already spoke of this terrible fate in the Sermon on the Mount: “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). He mentioned it again in His second Sermon on the Mount, the Olivet Discourse: “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). As Moses declared in Deuteronomy 32:22, concerning Christ’s Second Coming: “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.”

When Jesus returns in flaming fire (Matthew 13:40-43; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9; cf. Isaiah 30:27-33; Isaiah 31:8,9), a shaft will be opened south of the Dead Sea (“Idumea”) and Earth’s interior, Hell itself, will be exposed. Unbelieving souls will be thrown into this spiritual place of judgment at His return as well as throughout His Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 5:29,30; Matthew 18:8,9; Mark 9:42-50; cf. Isaiah 66:24). Jude 13 speaks of lost people “to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

Having discussed the punishment of those without a wedding garment, let us go back to describing the wedding garment and the wedding themselves….

No Wedding Garment! #6

Saturday, July 27, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

In today’s Scripture, with all guests now present, Father God the King looks them over and notices a man without a “wedding garment.” The man is totally without excuse, for the question posed to him indicates he had been offered a wedding garment but had refused it: “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?” According to the Bible, he is “speechless”—exactly as Israel’s religious leaders will be by chapter’s end (see Matthew 22:46)! He represents self-righteous, unbelieving Israelites who have (wrongly!) supposed their own efforts have secured them a position at the wedding feast.

Romans 9:31–10:3 says of lost Israel throughout Christ’s earthly ministry and even into the Acts ministry of the Apostle Paul: “[9:31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [9:32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; [9:33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [10:1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [10:2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [10:3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Here is the proper wedding garment: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). Yet, in their works-religion pride, lost Israelites are without the garment of God’s salvation….

No Wedding Garment! #5

Friday, July 26, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

When prophecy resumes one day, leading up to Christ’s return to reign on Earth, God will have messengers preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15,16). “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come” (Matthew 10:22,23). The “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-13 and the 144,000 male Jewish preachers of Revelation 7:4-8 will have this ministry.

The above is the third and final call of The Parable of the Wedding Feast of Matthew 22:1-14. Re-read verses 8-10: “Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” This is Daniel’s 70th Week, the seven-year Tribulation.

Here is today’s Scripture at last: “[11] And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.” Let us see how Father God the King responds….

No Wedding Garment! #4

Thursday, July 25, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

Thus far in The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-6), Father God the King has twice bidden national Israel to come to faith in His Son, Jesus, as Messiah/Christ. Alas, both during the Books of Matthew through John (first call) and the early part of the Book of Acts (second call), the response was unbelief. With Divine judgment on Israel looming during early Acts, God paused prophecy and inserted a secret or mystery program (our program). With our Dispensation of Grace ceased (Paul’s ministry concluded, and the Body of Christ translated into the heavenly places), the wrath meant for early Acts now comes to pass, and the remainder of The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:7-14) is fulfilled.

Read verse 7: “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” This is Daniel 9:26, Jerusalem’s destruction connected to the Antichrist, yet future from us: “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself [Christ’s death on Calvary, just two days from the time He told the parable in Matthew chapter 22!]: and the people of the prince [the Antichrist] that shall come shall destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [Jerusalem Temple]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

Continue Matthew chapter 22: “[8] Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. [9] Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. [10] So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.” During Daniel’s 70th Week (the seven-year Tribulation, the Antichrist’s reign), the third and last call goes out to Israel….

No Wedding Garment! #3

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

Re-read verses 1-6, the context of today’s Scripture. Father God the King has twice sent out messengers or preachers with invitations to Israel to repent (change their mind) and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom (Jesus is Christ/Messiah). Whether Christ’s earthly ministry, or early Acts, both biddings were overwhelmingly refused in unbelief. Furthermore, God’s preachers were mistreated and even killed during those opening chapters of the Book of Acts (see Acts 4:1-3,13-21; Acts 5:17-28,40; Acts 6:9-15; Acts 7:54-60).

We continue The Parable of the Wedding Feast, starting at Matthew 22:7: “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth:….” Father God was righteously angered that His invitation to attend His Son’s wedding was twice rejected. Apostate Israel had joined lost Gentiles to conspire to murder that Son (Jesus Christ), was still refusing that Son in His resurrection ministry, and now Father’s judgment was looming in accordance with Psalm 2.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” (Psalm 2:1-5; cf. Acts 4:25-28). Stephen foretold this wrath was moments away in Acts 7:55,56 (cf. Acts 2:34-36; cf. Psalm 110:1; cf. Psalm 68:1,2). Yet, here, God paused prophecy and initiated the mystery to save and commission unbelieving Saul of Tarsus in Acts chapter 9 with “grace and peace” (1 Timothy 1:12-16).

Due to the dispensational change introduced with the Apostle Paul, the rest of Matthew 22:7 (“and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city”) was not fulfilled and is still unfulfilled. When prophecy resumes, however, the war will start, Jerusalem will be attacked, and a third call will go forth to Israel….