Category: The Nation Israel

Fret Not! #2

Monday, November 9, 2020

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7 KJV).

Election Day 2020 is passed, but its drama continues.

Consider the words of 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 6 and 7: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Here, “casting” is throwing. It is the same idea as Luke 19:35, “And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.” The Apostle Peter’s admonition will impart immeasurable strength to Israel’s believing remnant suffering persecution under the Antichrist. Likewise, it is an insightful cross-reference to today’s Scripture, that we may benefit.

Read Luke 10:38-42 again, noting the words “not care” of verse 40: “[38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” When the Bible says God “careth” for us, this would be in stark contrast to Jesus not being concerned with Mary leaving Martha (most insignificant!).

We are bound to time and space, so it is natural for us to see things from a “here-and-now perspective.” Unless we are using renewed spiritual minds, we will place great emphasis on temporary matters. Yet, if we take the position of faith, we will throw our minor worries onto the Lord. Released from those burdens, we are free to worry about something—yea, some things—of eternal worth. Let us see what they are….

Fret Not! #1

Sunday, November 8, 2020

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7 KJV).

Election Day 2020 is passed, but its drama continues.

Anxiety and uncertainty remain concerning the outcome of the United States presidential election. Sleep has been lost. Fears are mounting. Tempers are raging. Results are being contested. Accusations of election fraud abound. Litigations and investigations have ensued. “News” organizations have already declared a winner—and, according to them, the incumbent lost. However, not all the votes have been counted and certified. Allegedly, some ballots were illegally cast, and should be discarded. The legitimate ones would need to be recounted. What is the truth, and what is simply propaganda? In the weeks ahead, all will become clearer. Unfortunately, though, we will never fully grasp what happened because of the matter’s complexity. Yet, as Bible believers, we can remain calm.

One classic example of fretting in Scripture is Martha, Lazarus’ sister (cf. John 11:1,2). Let us consider the Bible in chapter 10 of Luke: “[38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he [Jesus] entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Martha was hypervigilant or excessively worried. Chiefly, her sister Mary had left her to serve (food?) by herself. Mary was busy listening to Jesus teach, but Martha was preoccupied. Jesus reassured her in verse 41: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.” She was being unreasonable, allowing numerous things to distract and trouble her. With her eyes off God’s Word, she was “careful,” agonizing about what ultimately did not matter….

Three Requests #4

Saturday, November 7, 2020

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not” (Luke 8:27,28 KJV).

There are three pleadings in this context. With which one should we align ourselves?

We read the concluding verses: “[38] Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, [39] Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” Here is the third and final pleading. Formerly possessed with devils (one of his numerous problems), he asks the Lord Jesus if he can accompany Him back to Galilee. This is in stark contrast to his neighbors who have requested Jesus leave their area (cf. verse 37).

Those Jews living east of the Sea of Galilee were reckless in rejecting Christ. However, there was a believer who saw great value in God’s Son. It was the very man who had been delivered from a most pathetic existence. He knew firsthand there was complete victory in Jesus. “Lord, if they are sending You away, please let me come too!” Christ forbids him. Instead, he is advised to stay: “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.” He is to remain there to share his testimony with others—and he does. “And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” To wit, “Listen to what the Son of God in His grace did for me! He saved me from a worthless life that glorified Satan!”

Brethren, while we may long to be with Christ in Heaven, still a fourth beseeching, a far greater (!) beseeching, is, “Lord, let me stay here on Earth, that I may tell others what You in Your grace did for me!” 🙂

Three Requests #3

Friday, November 6, 2020

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not” (Luke 8:27,28 KJV).

There are three pleadings in this context. With which one should we align ourselves?

Luke reports: “[33] Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. [34] When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. [35] Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. [36] They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. [37] Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.”

After Jesus permitted the unclean spirits to possess the herd of nearby pigs, the swine drowned themselves. The onlookers entered the city and relayed the news to neighbors. Instead of rejoicing that the Saviour was present, their materialism (unbelief) caused them to beg Him to leave. “Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them” (verse 37a). The Lord Jesus was a threat to their business of raising swine, an animal the Law of Moses considered “unclean” for the Jews (Leviticus 11:7,8). Verily, verily, they were foolish to prefer their “old life” as opposed to praising the Lord that He had come to deliver them from Satan and sin.

“Lord, please go away!” We should avoid this type of beseeching. The final instance of entreating in this chapter is the wisest of requests….

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Three Requests #2

Thursday, November 5, 2020

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not” (Luke 8:27,28 KJV).

There are three pleadings in this context. With which one should we align ourselves?

Continue at verse 35 for the second pleading: “[35] Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. [36] They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. [37] Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.”

Here is the third imploring: “[38] Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, [39] Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” Now, we expound what has transpired concerning this miracle.

Christ, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the area of the Gadarenes, encounters a man possessed with myriads of devils and living in tombs. The leading evil spirit begs Jesus not to punish him—that is, banish him and his fellow unclean spirits to Hell. “I beseech thee, torment me not…. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep” (verses 28,31). Here is the first pleading. While we sinners would also be wise in asking God not to punish us with eternal judgment, there is a better kind of longing than endeavoring to escape a deserved penalty….

Three Requests #1

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not” (Luke 8:27,28 KJV).

There are three pleadings in this context. With which one should we align ourselves?

Let us start reading the passage in its setting: “[26] And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. [27] And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. [28] When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. [29] (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

“[30] And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. [31] And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. [32] And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. [33] Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. [34] When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.”

Having read the first request from one party, now we get to the second request from another party….

Arrayed in Hypocrisy

Saturday, October 31, 2020

“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?”

Teach Your Children!

Sunday, October 25, 2020

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV).

 “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 11:19).

A recent study revealed only nine percent of Americans over age 55 have a biblical worldview. As touching Generation X—ages 40 to 55—it is just five percent. Finally, a mere two percent of American Millennials (Generation Y)—those aged 24 to 39 years—have a biblical worldview. Each successive generation of Americans has become less accustomed to Scripture, thus explaining the sharp decline in morals and ethics today! Likewise, although God warned Israel, they too failed to teach His words to their children.

Deuteronomy chapter 4: “[2] Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you… [5] 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. [6] 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….

“[9] Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; [10] Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.”

Saints, may we take Romans through Philemon, and teach our children the Message of Grace… before it is eternally too late!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is ‘ignominy?’”

Judicial, Legislative, and Executive

Friday, October 23, 2020

“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22 KJV).

Absolute power corrupts absolutely… except in the case of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The United States Constitution created three branches of government—legislative, judicial, and executive. Congress, the legislative branch, makes laws: the Senate and the House of Representatives are located here. The judicial branch interprets those laws: this is the Supreme Court and other courts. The executive branch enforces those laws: the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet, and most federal agencies are located here.

Although brilliant, the plan shares a problem with all other forms of government throughout the world. That weakness is sin. No matter how educated, determined, eloquent, kindhearted, popular, or successful public officials are, none are sinless. Even if they are honest and hardworking, liars and loafers ruin the entire organization. Moreover, the selfish spirit of sin usually manifests itself. Instead of seeking the benefit of their citizens, those in public office are simply paycheck-collecting, power-hungry oppressors. Governing is for their own benefit; their constituents live in decay and squalor.

Praise the Lord, however! There is coming a day when sin will be finally—and permanently!—expelled from Earth’s governments. Today’s Scripture sees the Lord Jesus Christ functioning as the wise Law-interpreter (“judge”), the righteous Law-maker (“lawgiver”), and the benevolent Law-enforcer (“king”).

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins” (Isaiah 11:1-5).

An Anchor of the Soul #10

Thursday, October 22, 2020

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:17-20 KJV).

What can we say about this “anchor of the soul?”

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me…. They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word…. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word…. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope…. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word” (Psalm 119:49,50,74,81,114,116,147).

“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope…. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:5,7). “Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever” (Psalm 131:3). “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:…” (Psalm 146:5).

As our Apostle Paul wrote, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope…. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:4,13). Indeed, no matter the dispensation, the “anchor of the soul” is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word revealed for that particular time! 🙂