Category: The Nation Israel

Must You Confess God Before Men?

Friday, July 22, 2011

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33 KJV).

Preachers use today’s Scripture to coerce people to “walk the aisle for Jesus.” Was Christ teaching that we must stand before a church congregation and “make a profession of faith?” No. These are Israel’s verses. They have nothing to do with us in this the Dispensation of Grace.

Read verses 17 and 18: “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.”

The little flock, the believing remnant of Israel, will experience great persecution during the seven-year Tribulation. During the Tribulation, the antichrist will institute the mark “666” (Revelation 13:15-18). Believers will refuse to worship the antichrist’s image and take his mark, so they will be killed. God will damn to everlasting torments those who worship the beast and his image, and those who take his mark in their right hand or in their forehead (Revelation 14:11). The believing Jews in the Tribulation will have to publicly refuse to worship the antichrist, thereby confessing Christ before men. Those (unbelieving) Jews who accept the 666 mark will be damned because they denied Christ before men. Jesus Christ in today’s Scripture is warning potential unbelievers, that they make a wise choice for Him when the time comes.

If we leave these verses where they fit on the Bible timeline, we will have no difficulty with them. In contrast, Paul tells us in the Body of Christ: “If we believe not, yet [Jesus Christ] abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Consequently, Matthew 10:32,33 cannot apply to us. We are encouraged to share our testimonies with the lost world, but Matthew 10:32,33 is Israel’s doctrine. Do not be a spiritual thief and take something that God never gave you.

Little is Much

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and behold how the people cast money into the treasury: and much that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41,42 KJV).

In today’s Scripture, Jesus watched people throw money into the Temple treasury. A poor widow cast in two mites, a farthing—only 1/64th of a laborer’s daily wages! The Lord Jesus calls over His disciples and tells them (verses 43,44): “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”

This poor widow had almost nothing, and yet she gave what little she did have. Today’s “make-a-quick-buck” religious systems demand you give large “tithes.” Give a generous donation for candle lighting and prayers. In special cases, some churches press their members to give away all their savings to the church!

In this the Dispensation of Grace, the Apostle Paul never sets a minimum (or maximum) for giving. Today, you cannot give “too much” or “too little.” Then how do you know what amount to give? We read in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” No matter how much you give, do it “cheerfully” (put your whole heart into it!).

God’s work needs to be accomplished through the ministry of the local church. It requires money. You need to consider playing a role in giving to your local grace church or ministry. Let God’s Word work in you and God’s Word working in you will cause you to give what He wants you to give. Never let someone tell you that you gave too much or too little.

If you cannot afford to give much just remember the poor widow: little is much!

The One Baptism

Sunday, July 17, 2011

“There is… one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Ephesians 4:5 KJV).

Do you need water baptism for salvation? What about for a testimony? In today’s Scripture, our Apostle Paul tells us that we only need ONE baptism today. Rather than speculating as to what that one baptism could be, why not search Paul’s epistles for the answer?

Evidently, our one baptism is not water baptism, for Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize” (1 Corinthians 1:17). In fact, Paul did not water baptize every believer in Corinth, only some of them (1 Corinthians 1:14-16)! At this point, by our forbidding water baptism today, 99.999 percent of Christendom would disagree—oh well! “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The ONLY baptism we need today is the baptism whereby the Holy Spirit—not a priest or preacher—places us in the Church the Body of Christ. This is a waterless, supernatural baptism. Paul also refers to this baptism in Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:12, and Galatians 3:27. Remember, “baptism” in Scripture does not necessarily mean water baptism.

Today’s Scripture, in its context, lists three of the seven doctrines that we share as members of the Church the Body of Christ. The one baptism that you need today is already yours in Christ! When you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you received your one baptism by the Holy Spirit placing you into a living, unbroken union with Jesus Christ. That is the one baptism necessary for salvation today in the Dispensation of Grace.

Never let some minister try to force you to be water baptized, either for salvation or for a testimony. Water baptism was for the salvation of the nation Israel in her kingdom program (Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).

Binding the Strong Man

Saturday, July 16, 2011

“Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house” (Matthew 12:29 KJV).

Do you ever wonder why the Lord Jesus Christ cast out devils during His earthly ministry? Why did Christ give His apostles the power to cast out evil spirits (Matthew 10:8; Mark 16:17)? From Genesis to Malachi, the Bible is almost silent about evil spirits. When we come to the Four Gospel Records, there is a tremendous rise in devil possession. Why?

The context of today’s Scripture is Christ has just healed a devil-possessed man, who was also blind and dumb (mute) (verses 22-30). Immediately, the Pharisees blurt: “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils” (verse 24). The Pharisees wrongly accuse Christ of using Satan’s power to cast out Satan’s evil spirits.

Today’s Scripture is part of Jesus’ response: “I am binding the strong man.” Devil-possessed Jews is Satan’s method of hindering Christ from establishing His kingdom in the earth! In Matthew 12:28, Christ explains why He cast out devils: “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”

Israel’s kingdom is near, so Satan has polluted Israel with his evil spirits. By casting out devils, Christ is cleansing Israel of her satanic possession and preparing her for her kingdom to be established. The devils indwelling the Gadarene man “besought [Jesus] much that he would not send them away out of the country” (Mark 5:10). The “country” here is Israel.

The prophet predicted what the LORD would do one day: “I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land” (Zechariah 13:2). Whenever Christ sets up His earthly kingdom at His Second Coming, He will bind Satan in the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).

Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, God is not trying to reclaim the earth. Consequently, devil exorcism is unnecessary today.

A Scrawny Man Serving a BIG God

Friday, July 15, 2011

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee;” (1 Samuel 17:45,46 KJV).

Imagine seeing Goliath, whose height was “six cubits and span” (verse 4)—roughly 10 feet (3 meters)! Verse 7 says his spear’s head alone weighed about 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and verse 5 says his armor coat weighed 165 pounds (75 kilograms)!

Goliath, ready for battle, grips his gigantic weapons. Suddenly, a puny Jewish boy appears before him with only a sling and a bag of five stones. How ridiculous, right? How can little boy David overcome Goliath, the Philistines’ champion? Someone BIG is behind little David.

“…Not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are:” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

Saints, in today’s Scripture, we see God’s wisdom demonstrated. Watch little boy David sling his small stone. Gigantic Goliath chuckles, until God sinks the rock deep into his forehead, killing him (1 Samuel 17:49,50). Goliath was a BIG man who served a PUNY god. David was a SCRAWNY man who served a BIG God. David won only because God won.

Our work for the Lord is difficult. Like David, we are so weak in our own strength. Satan’s world system is so strong, like Goliath. We, as young David, boldly say, “We will not be intimidated. The power of God Almighty is behind us. We are on God’s side, so in the end, we [scrawny people] win!”

What About Unanswered Prayer?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalm 66:18 KJV).

Unanswered prayer is a popular topic. Why are some prayers “unanswered?”

Read Isaiah 59:1,2: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Using the above verses, denominationalists say that if we have unconfessed sin, God does not hear our prayers (or He refuses to answer them). Of course, these religionists are not “rightly dividing the word of truth” like 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs.

Before we claim a Bible passage as ours, we need to notice to whom is the passage written. Psalm 66:18 and Isaiah 59:1,2 are not written to us in the Dispensation of Grace. They are God’s message to the nation Israel. God made a covenant with Israel—if Israel refused to listen to Him, He judged them in chastisement (in this case, unanswered prayer). Israel had to perform and obey if they wanted God’s blessings. That was their agreement with God in the Old (Mosaic) Covenant (see Deuteronomy 28).

It would make no sense to steal Israel’s passages (like Isaiah 59:1,2 and Psalm 66:18), because God dealt with Israel under law whereas He deals with us under grace (Romans 6:14,15). We are NOT in Israel’s works-religion (performance-based acceptance) system.

God judging us for unconfessed sin? If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we have perfect righteousness. How can God impute sin to us when we are in His Son (Romans 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19)? As Christians, we can boldly come to God our Father in prayer. He hears all our prayers.

So, why do we not always get our prayers answered how we want? Evidently, we are trying to get God to do something He is not doing today (like asking Him for the promises He gave Israel and never promised us). Unanswered prayer is the result of us not praying in accordance with Paul’s epistles.

The Signs of an Apostle

Friday, July 8, 2011

“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12 KJV).

The Apostle Paul’s ministry was separate and distinct from the ministry of Israel’s twelve apostles. After all, Peter and the eleven preached the “the gospel of the circumcision” whereas Paul preached “the gospel of the uncircumcision” (Galatians 2:7). In spite of that, we find Paul performing miracles in the same manner Peter and the eleven did. Why is Paul performing miracles?

According to 1 Corinthians 1:22, “the Jews require a sign” (cf. John 4:48). To validate Paul’s ministry for the Jews’ sake, God temporarily granted Paul the gift of miracle working. To wit, by God transferring Israel’s miracles to Paul’s ministry, He demonstrated to Israel that their program was falling away. Paul’s ministry was coming to forefront and evangelizing Gentiles. Undoubtedly, this “provoked the Jews to jealousy” (Romans 11:11).

In Acts 13, we see Paul’s first miracle, when he places a temporary physical blindness on a Jewish sorcerer, Elymas (representing Israel’s temporary spiritual blindness, which will be removed when the Dispensation of Grace expires; Romans 11:25-29).

The Apostle Paul’s miracles demonstrated that, as the Apostle Peter and the eleven’s ministry began to disintegrate, God was replacing Israel’s program with a new dispensation. Notice, in the latter extent of Paul’s ministry especially, the healing miracles ceased (the transitional period of Acts had ended).

  • Acts 14:8-11 — Paul healed crippled man in Lystra
  • Acts 19:11-12 — Paul’s healing handkerchiefs
  • Acts 16:16-18 — Paul heals devil-possessed damsel
  • Acts 20:9-12 — Paul raises Eutychus from the dead
  • Acts 28:1-10 — Paul survives snakebite, heals Publius’ father and the sick people of the island
  • Galatians 4:13-14 — Paul sick with infirmity, unable to heal himself
  • Philippians 2:26-27 — Paul cannot heal Epaphroditus
  • 1 Timothy 5:23 — Paul unable to heal Timothy
  • 2 Timothy 4:20 — Paul cannot heal Trophimus

Truly, Paul had the signs of an apostle, confirming his doctrine with the miracles! God’s salvation had indeed gone to the Gentiles through Paul.

Saints, Ye Shall Be Caught Up!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 KJV).

The words of today’s Scripture are of great hope and comfort for us as members of the Church the Body of Christ. At any moment, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself shall come and take us, His Body, home to be with Him forever in heaven’s glory. “In a moment, in the twinkling [blink] of an eye,” we will be “caught up” (raptured) into the air (1 Corinthians 15:52).

One day, at the rapture, those who have died in Christ will be resurrected bodily, and given glorified physical bodies fashioned like unto Jesus Christ’s resurrected body (Philippians 3:20,21). Immediately after, we Christians who are living will be instantly transformed bodily. Together, with the now resurrected saints, we will take the grandest of all excursions. In that brief instant, we are yanked from this wicked, filthy world and ushered into heaven’s everlasting bliss and joy!

The rapture is not to be confused with the Second Coming, which will occur seven years after the rapture. At the Second Coming, God sends angels to gather His elect (Matthew 24:31). But, at the rapture, God Himself comes for the believers, us. Wow! The rapture ensures that we will avoid the wrath of the seven-year Tribulation, which is God’s program for Israel (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9)

Paul makes some 10 references to the rapture. This one is noteworthy (Titus 2:13): “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” We should be continually vigilant, waiting for the rapture to happen at any moment. Would you be raptured out? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? If you have, ye shall be caught up!

A Three-Fold Temptation

Saturday, July 2, 2011

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world” (1 John 2:16 KJV).

Every temptation in the world fits into one of the above categories. Did you know that Eve faced all three temptations at once? Compare 1 John 2:16 to Genesis 3:6:

  • “the lust of the flesh” — the forbidden tree was “good for food” (Was Eve hungry?)
  • “the lust of the eye” — the forbidden tree was “pleasant to the eye” (An awesome sight!)
  • “the pride of life” — the forbidden tree was “desired to make one wise” (Eat from it, and you can be like God, Eve!)

Using this very cunning scheme, Satan triumphed over Eve, and later Adam. Sadly, they both ate the forbidden fruit.

In Matthew 4:1-10 and Luke 4:1-13, Satan tempts Christ using the same format. However, where Adam and Eve failed, the perfect Man, Jesus Christ, triumphed. Remember that Christ has been fasting for forty days.

  • “the lust of the flesh” — Satan tempts Christ to turn stones into bread  (Christ was hungry!)
  • “the lust of the eye” — Satan tempts Christ to cast Himself from the Temple pinnacle, and have angels rescue Him (An awesome sight!)
  • “the pride of life” — Satan tempts Christ to worship him, promising to give Him the kingdoms of the world (You can have God’s power! Little did Satan know that Christ would one day have the kingdoms of the world, without having to worship Satan; Revelation 11:15.)

How did Jesus Christ triumph over Satan? The Bible says Christ properly quoted Scripture! Eve could not triumph over Satan because she did not properly quote Scripture. Find verses in Paul’s epistles that fit your temptations and weaknesses, and memorize them. Then, whenever you are tempted with sin, bring to mind the applicable grace doctrines. Do not just quote random Bible verses, quote from Paul. Properly quoting (and believing) the Bible is your key to triumphing over the three-fold temptation!

The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5,6 KJV).

God’s intention in forming the nation Israel was to establish them as a vessel to preach His salvation to the whole world. He promised to form them into “a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5,6; Isaiah 60:1-3; et al.). When Israel’s King-Messiah Jesus finally arrived, Israel was spiritually impotent, unable to reach lost Gentiles because she too was lost! Sadly, Israel had forgotten why God formed her in the first place.

During Christ’s earthly ministry, God’s covenant people are “scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Israel, for the most part, was rebellious toward God in Christ’s day. Her Temple was corrupt, and her priesthood was apostate. There was only a remnant of believing Jews.

Christ called them “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (today’s Scripture). He explained that He came “to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10) and “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

In Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7, Christ tells the parable of a man who owned 100 sheep, one of which is lost. The man leaves the 99 sheep, and seeks out the one sheep. This parable is symbolic of God seeking the nation Israel. Unfortunately, the vast number of Israelites could not care less about God seeking them and rescuing them from their corrupt and poor spiritual state. The one sheep represents the believing remnant in Israel.

Today, in this the Dispensation of Grace, Israel is still lost, spiritually blinded (Romans 11:11,15,25). The day is coming, however, when God will reconcile national Israel unto Himself. At Christ’s Second Coming, Israel will be saved, God will forgive Israel, and God will blot out her national sins (Acts 3:19-21; Romans 11:26-29).

The Jews have a hope! They will not always be “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”