Category: “Lord’s Prayer”

The Clever Axe #1

Thursday, November 20, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

There is no question that the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7) is extremely popular in Christendom. The “Our Father” Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)—erroneously known as “the Lord’s Prayer”—and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) are particularly appealing to church members who mindlessly quote these passages without any real meaningful understanding of their dispensational context. Had they known from these chapters what they should have known, they would be shocked beyond belief!

Part of the Sermon on the Mount is Matthew 7:15-23, today’s Scripture and its subsequent verses. Carefully read them, perhaps a few times: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Ironically, the individuals and institutions who habitually run to the Sermon on the Mount for authority and teaching are often the same whom it condemns as false (!)….

I Will Love Them Freely #7

Sunday, June 8, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

In spite of Israel’s unbelief and idolatry throughout the millennia, the LORD God who was treated so unfairly and disrespectfully still seeks the nation’s best interests (what genuine love is). Justice must be carried out first though. Once Israel’s sin problem is fully dealt with in judgment, then God’s goodness and unconditional love can be fully displayed. Man’s “goodness” got him nowhere spiritually, and Israel had to learn it. As today’s Scripture explains, God can and will love Israel “freely” because He wants to do it, not because He has to or because Israel inherently deserves it! “Freely” in today’s Scripture is “nadabah” in Hebrew, usually rendered “freewill offering” in the King James Bible (Leviticus 22:18,21,23; Leviticus 23:38; Numbers 15:3; Numbers 29:39; Deuteronomy 12:6,17; et cetera). Occasionally, it was translated “willingly” (2 Chronicles 35:8; Ezra 3:5).

Of course, when Hosea ministered, Calvary’s cross was over 700 years into the future, yet the Holy Spirit knew what was coming. Now that Christ’s work on the cross of Calvary has been accomplished, we can see what God’s love really means—its abundance and its “no cost” to us sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)…” (Ephesians 2:4,5). “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;…” (Ephesians 5:25). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

The best way we can express gratitude to God for His love toward us, is to trust the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

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. 🙂

I Will Love Them Freely #6

Saturday, June 7, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

The last verse of Hosea chapter 14—yea, of the entire Book—is: “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). What JEHOVAH God says and does is right and good. Anyone reading His words of prophecy here is either a believer or an unbeliever, someone of understanding and knowledge or someone of confusion and ignorance. They can either take Him at His Word and turn to Him in faith (walking in righteousness), or neglect Him and continue in their sin (falling in unrighteousness). It is their choice!

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land…. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children…. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. My people ask counsel at their stocks [idols], and their staff [idols] declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God” (Hosea 4:1,6,9-12).

“They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them” (Hosea 5:4,5).

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

I Will Love Them Freely #5

Friday, June 6, 2025

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 KJV).

Behold, the LORD God’s free love for the nation Israel!

Earlier in Hosea (4:17), “Ephraim is joined to idols”—and God wanted that Northern Kingdom to be left alone in that pagan idolatry they desired. They would soon face judgment under the Assyrian Captivity (as in 2 Kings 17:1-23). As Hosea’s Book draws to a close now, however, Ephraim has a believing remnant (especially in the ages to come) confessing and forsaking that foolish sin of idolatry of their forefathers. Hosea 14:8 reads: “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.” “Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23).

“And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [husband]; and shalt call me no more Baali [my lord]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [idols] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name” (Hosea 2:16,17). Ephraim’s idols could not hear, for they were dead and deaf, but the living LORD has heard and saved Ephraim (cf. Psalm 115:1-11). The evergreen fir tree (Hosea 14:8) symbolizes that living LORD as the answer to Israel’s spiritual and functional death. Again, Israel is seen prospering in God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic kingdom. Israel’s model prayer is thus, Matthew 6:9-13: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

We reach the final verse of Hosea now….

God’s Profaned Name #8

Tuesday, August 15, 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 Law of Moses cannot grant a sinner the power to keep it any more than a mirror can beautify the hideous person looking into it (check Romans 3:19,20 and 1 John 3:4). Via the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3, the LORD purposed to create a people for Himself, but that nation decided to make themselves presentable to Him and accepted the Mosaic Covenant of Exodus 19:3-8.

Indeed, grace was tossed aside and works-religion was taken up in its place. Sinners actually declared they could be as perfect as God, that they were able to produce a nation that could be just as useful to Him as a nation He Himself would make. While senseless as it sounds, it did happen at Mount Sinai. Moreover, billions today are repeating the transgression—ignoring God’s righteousness (Calvary) and going about to establish their own righteousness. “I want to work for my trip to Heaven! If I am not going there after all the ‘good’ things I have done, no one is going there!”

As touching Israel’s kingdom restoration under the New Covenant, yet future from us, see The (oft-misunderstood) “Our Father” Prayer: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13). This connects to today’s Scripture, when the LORD fills sinful Israel with His very Spirit, life, and glory, and all the nations (who saw nothing but wickedness and darkness in Israel in time past) finally witness the LORD glorified through His earthly people….

God’s Profaned Name #7

Monday, August 14, 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 Bible states “the law [of Moses]… was added because of transgressions” (Galatians 3:19). It was in force for over 1,500 years (Moses to Paul) to prove to the Jewish people that, if they were to be God’s favored nation in the Earth, it would be only (!) because of His goodness and His performance (grace)—not their goodness and their performance (law). They were not “good” and thus could not perform! Galatians 3:15-23 explains how the Law was to point them (and us) to the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our failure to meet the perfect standard of the Law indicates we are sinners: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin…. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;…” (Romans 3:19,20,23). See also 1 Timothy 1:8-10.

Learning the lesson of the Law, a believing remnant in Israel—the Messianic Church—trusted Jesus as Christ/Saviour during the time of Matthew to John. They recognized that, ultimately, the nation Israel who would serve God would result from the original covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant (grace) of Genesis 12:1-3, as opposed to the Mosaic Covenant (law) that was added later because of unbelief in the Abrahamic Covenant.

“Hallowed [Sanctified, made holy] be thy name” (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2)—one of the petitions of the so-called “Lord’s Prayer,” but better titled “The ‘Our Father’ Prayer”—is the Messianic Church praying in response to their Jewish ancestors’ profanation of the LORD’S name (see today’s Scripture). These saints are they who want God to make them His kingdom of priests in the Earth, which again loops to the LORD sanctifying His name as foretold in Ezekiel’s prophecy….

I Have Finished the Work! #4

Monday, March 13, 2023

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).

Could we say this at the end of our life, at the conclusion of our ministry?

Doubtless, today’s Scripture summarizes the best human life ever lived: it was the life of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. There was never any sin, and never any chance of sin. What Father God had sent Him to do, He did it without fail and without hesitation (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; John 8:29).

Firstly, He faithfully gave His Father’s words to a believing remnant in Israel, manifesting all that the Father is and does (see John 17:6,8,14,26). By the time of today’s Scripture, that work was finished. He had one final task to accomplish. Secondly, on Calvary’s cross, He faithfully gave up His life: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). That too was now completed, and note well Hebrews 10:4-14, recalling this as the fulfillment of Psalm 40:6-8.

Re-read today’s Scripture: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” When this earthly life is over, could we honestly say those words with our Lord? Did we glorify Father God on the Earth? Did we finish His work which He gave us to do? Were we walking by faith in His words to us, the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon? Of course, for us, it would not be 100% as it was for Christ. For a great many of us, we could say nothing more than, “I glorified thee on the earth a little here, and a little there, but it was not much.” Maybe it would be 50%, or even as low as 1%! We let religious tradition and philosophy interfere with our spiritual growth, we refused personal Bible study, and we allowed sin to master us.

In order to maximize that percentage, we need to pay attention to certain Scriptures and apply them to life by faith in the heart while we still have time to make things right….

I Have Finished the Work! #3

Sunday, March 12, 2023

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).

Could we say this at the end of our life, at the conclusion of our ministry?

In his farewell epistle, the Apostle Peter wrote to Israel’s believing remnant: “[12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. [13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle [physical body], to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; [14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. [15] Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (2 Peter chapter 1). Peter knew he was soon to leave this life, but the Holy Spirit would not let him depart until he penned this second and final Bible Book that bears his name. He still had something to teach these saints (and he did it throughout these three chapters)!

The Apostle Paul, penning his farewell epistle to the Church the Body of Christ, remarked: “[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. [7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy chapter 4). Paul was aware that his parting was near, yet the Holy Spirit would continue to use him to complete the Bible with this last Book, and then he could move on.

Both Peter and Paul left this world only when they had written their last words and preached their final sermons. They had brought saints to a place of doctrinal maturity, as the Lord Jesus Christ had taught them (these Apostles), so they trained others. We can learn much from this….

I Have Finished the Work! #2

Saturday, March 11, 2023

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).

Could we say this at the end of our life, at the conclusion of our ministry?

For three years, Christ Jesus was the Spokesman for the triune Godhead (Trinity). During that time, He manifested the life and words of Father God to the nation Israel, especially the Little Flock (believing remnant): “[7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. [8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? [10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John chapter 14).

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:16,17). “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:28,29).

At the head of that Little Flock were the 12 Apostles, whom Christ had trained in His Father’s words (check John 17:6,8,14,26 and notice verse 12). Now, those men in their own ministry were to teach the same words to others….

I Have Finished the Work! #1

Friday, March 10, 2023

“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4 KJV).

Could we say this at the end of our life, at the conclusion of our ministry?

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is not in Matthew chapter 6 or Luke chapter 11, but John chapter 17. Here, in the Gospel Record of John alone, we are afforded the privilege of peering into the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ—what He is thinking and feeling as He now talks to Father God in the hours leading up to Calvary’s cruel cross. He is reflecting on the last three years… and what is in store in the future based on that finished work.

When we reach the close of this earthly sojourn, will we be able to honestly say to Father God, “I have glorified thee on the earth?” Would we in our lifetimes have said and shown all we could have stated and displayed about Him, what He values and what He works? The perfect Son of God did just that, and He explains it as, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” To “glorify” God on the Earth is to complete the work that He gave us to do.

Continue reading in John chapter 17: “[6] I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word…. [8] For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me…. [14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world…. [26] And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The above verses prove Christ’s ministry was finished in that He had delivered to His disciples all the words intended for them….