Category: The Nation Israel

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #65

Friday, July 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?

The Apostle Peter preached to Israel in chapter 3 of Acts, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (verses 19-21,25,26).

With the founding of God’s earthly kingdom (Matthew 5:5; Matthew 25:31,34; et cetera) still in view in early Acts, the “signs” of the Gospel of the Kingdom continued to be present—picking up exactly where Mark chapter 16 concluded. The healing of the lame man in the opening of Acts chapter 3 typifies Israel restored to kingdom glory (see Peter’s sermon beginning chapter 4). Chapter 5 elaborates: “[12] And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people [Israel!]; (and they were all with one accord in [king!] Solomon’s porch. [13] And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. [14] And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) [15] Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. [16] There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.”

Again, in Scripture, “signs” and Israel go together….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #64

Thursday, July 23, 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?

When JEHOVAH God brought Israel out of Egyptian slavery, He was thinking of His earthly kingdom headquartered in the Promised Land. Read this excerpt from the Song of Moses, Exodus chapter 15: “Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain [kingdom] of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever” (verses 17,18). Skip over to chapter 19, verses 5 and 6: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Gospel of the Kingdom was preached with accompanying miracles of casting out devils and healing the sick (reminiscent of Moses’ snake-handling and leprosy-healing in Exodus chapter 4!). “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick [insane], and those that had the palsy [paralytics]; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:23,24; cf. Luke 6:17-19). “And as ye [12 Apostles] go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7,8). “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:…” (Mark 3:14,15).

Observe again how these miracles are twice designated as “signs” in Mark 16:15-20, Mark’s conclusion bringing us into early Acts….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #63

Wednesday, July 22, 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?

The nation Israel began with a “sign,” a token or mark—the “sign” of physical circumcision, representing or symbolizing the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:9-14; Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11). Signs are a part of Jewish national heritage, Israel’s birthright. “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye [Israelites] see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” (John 4:48); observe how the context is the miracle of Christ healing the nobleman’s dying son (verses 46-54). Contrasting the two major nationalities (Jews and Gentiles) of his day (the latter Acts period), Paul wrote: “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:…” (1 Corinthians 1:22).

What started as a tribe of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons, finally became a nation of a few million living in Egypt roughly 400 years later. In Exodus 4:1-9, the LORD therefore commissions Moses and endues him with miracle-working power to authenticate his message. “And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice,…” (verses 8,9). Read carefully how those first two “signs” of Moses’ ministry are handling serpents and healing leprosy. These are crucial in stirring up faith in the Jewish nation captive to Satan and sin. God ordered Moses in verse 17: “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.” By chapter’s end, the Scriptures recount: “And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped” (verses 29-31). Again, “signs” attended Israel’s national birth as its people exited Egypt.

How striking it is that Moses’ ministry here previews Christ’s own ministry 1,500 years into the future….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #62

Tuesday, July 21, 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?

To begin the formidable task of sorting through the innumerable denominational arguments so we can isolate truth from error, it would do us well to remember the following: the nation Israel is God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly people, and their identity has literal, physical, visible, earthly components.

For example, the LORD God demonstrated how the nation Israel itself would spring forth from His own efforts rather than man’s. Wherefore, after Abram “did his best to help God” by producing a son in the energy of his flesh (Genesis 16:1-16)—which son (Ishmael) God rejected (!)—the LORD changed his name to “Abraham” and instituted the rite of physical circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14). After Abraham’s foreskin was cut off, there was literal and physical proof he had been permanently severed from his Adamic or sin nature. The LORD God then used Abraham to father a son (Isaac)… and there is no question that it was God’s power working in Abraham (Genesis 17:15-22; Genesis 21:1-5). As Galatians 4:21-31 affirms, what ultimately matters is what God does for Abraham (Isaac/Grace) rather than what Abraham does for God (Ishmael/Law).

Genesis 17:11 states how physical circumcision is “a token [sign] of the covenant betwixt [between] me [God] and you [Abraham and his seed].” Consequently, the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3 is titled “the covenant of circumcision” (Acts 7:8). Romans 4:11 explains: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:….” While physically uncircumcised, Abraham simply trusted God’s words to be justified (given righteousness) in God’s sight back in Genesis chapter 11 (cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrews 11:8). However, this does not enter the record of Scripture until Genesis 15:6. Moreover, years later (Genesis 17:24), Abraham is physically circumcised to prove he had already been declared righteous by faith.

Let it now be distinctly understood that signs play an integral role in God’s relations with Israel….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #61

Monday, July 20, 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?

Christendom is rather notorious for severe controversies and bitter contentions. Its tens of thousands of denominations, cults, and sects all fight over a multitude of positions, practices, and persons. Yet, these can be reduced to one simple fact: different levels of spiritual maturity result in discussions of various degrees of importance. It is usually challenging for non-Christians or new Christians, or even longtime professing Christians, to make sense of it all—and to determine if it is even worth getting into. The matters that are most serious regard anything and everything that complicates salvation from sin and/or salvation from erroneous teaching, for these two points involve God’s will for us: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4).

Remember, just because it is in the Bible does not necessarily mean it is something that pertains to us or something we should do. Whether water baptism, confession of sins, tithing, the Lord’s Supper, Sabbath-Day keeping, good works, or spiritual gifts (including tongue-talking and healing), these exemplify the areas of debate amongst church members. The extent to which we are receptive to the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry determines how successfully we navigate through such issues and arrive at correct conclusions. We are destined to wind up with wrong views once we insert the traditions, assumptions, and opinions of men.

While most inconvenient, it has to be stated. There is a great deal of blind allegiance to religious leaders in our “Christian” churches and schools. Consequently, commoners do not think beyond where their denominational officials leave them, being too fearful to venture outside of anything they are not taught in their theological system. Sometimes, this is done in innocence: people who just need to be taught the truth and want to be taught it, but few are willing to teach them. However, others need to be taught the truth but do not care to be taught it, so they turn away from those who would teach them.

Beloved, let us see if we wish to resolve these disagreements for ourselves….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #58

Friday, July 17, 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?

For centuries, denominationally-minded people have needlessly struggled with what Calvinists (“Reformed” theologians) have titled “limited atonement.” Did Jesus Christ die for all people, or only for “the elect” (chosen ones)? Look at the proof-texts. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; cf. Mark 10:45). “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28; cf. Mark 14:24).

Clearly, as the Lord Jesus Himself stated, the above verses “limit” His shed blood to “many.” Observe well that this is “many,” not “all.” Rather than defining this terminology according to our own meanings, we will be Bible students and search for cross-references. Isaiah 53:8 is one such helpful verse: “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” This is Messiah (Jesus Christ), of course, as Acts 8:30-35 applies Isaiah 53:7,8 to Him. Christ was “stricken” (wounded, experienced suffering) for the “transgression” (crossing into the forbidden area, overstepping the boundary) of Isaiah’s people—and Isaiah’s people is Israel.

Originally, Calvary was restricted to Israel because, in prophecy, Israel is first, for Israel is the recipient of those Old Testament covenants (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 3:24-26; cf. Matthew 1:21; Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; Mark 7:27; Luke 19:9,10; John 4:22; Acts 2:14,22,36; Acts 5:31; Romans 15:8). However, with Paul’s commissioning, Christ’s crosswork is “for all:” “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time [Paul’s ministry!]. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity” (1 Timothy 2:5-7). What once was true, is true no longer because of a dispensational change.

Paul is the “due-time” testifier of some news God kept secret to outwit Satan….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #57

Thursday, July 16, 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?

One superb demonstration of skill involves the art of distraction. Waving one hand so people concentrate on it, while manipulating objects with the other hand which they are not watching, is the work of a proficient magician. The LORD God did something similar when His purpose and plan for man took Satan by surprise!

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From Genesis 1:2 onward, the Bible focuses on “the earth… the earth… the earth…,” as God is forming an earthly people to use for His praise and glory. Of course, in Genesis chapter 3, after Satan initiated a rebellion against God in Heaven, Adam and Eve followed Satan to introduce a rebellion against God in Earth. Satan subsequently defiled both realms of creation, Heaven and Earth, with sin.

While God was forming that earthly people—first Adam and Eve, then of the nations, and finally of the nation Israel—He enticed Satan to pay attention to that earthly program. As Satan corrupted Adam and Eve, the nations at the Tower of Babel, and the nation Israel throughout the rest of the Old Testament (by drawing them away from the Law of Moses), the Devil was unaware that God was keeping a secret. That secret was His purpose and plan for restoring Heaven to Himself, and it was not revealed or unveiled until Paul’s ministry: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:…” (Colossians 1:24-27).

Let us see how “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) resolves many “problem” passages….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #55

Tuesday, July 14, 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?

As pleasant as the Dispensation of the Grace of God is, and as lovely as the Gospel of the Grace of God is, neither will go on forever. They are but fleeting elements of God’s relations with man. Remember, we are 2,000 years into the mystery program—20 centuries closer to Christ’s coming in flaming fire and vengeance than those who were expecting it during the Acts period!

Paul penned: “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). As prophecy gave way to mystery long ago, so mystery will give way to prophecy in the future—for the Bible becomes a lie unless prophecy returns to the forefront and is wholly fulfilled.

Why does prophecy not run without interruption? What is the significance of mystery situated between “time past” prophecy and “ages to come” prophecy? Mystery was part of God’s wise plan to outmaneuver or outsmart Satan! “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

Let us not interpret the dispensational change connected to Paul’s ministry as God abandoning His original plan. Nay, Paul’s ministry was part of God’s scheme all along….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #51

Friday, July 10, 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?

Over 20 years after his conversion in Acts chapter 9, Paul recounted in Acts 26:9-18: “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

“And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [“apostello”], To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Though apostate Israelites and heathen Romans meant Calvary for evil, God made Christ’s finished crosswork the basis for being favorable toward this sinful, hostile world. Here is what Saul learned outside of Damascus, the newly-revealed Gospel message he had just believed for his own salvation from sins. This was the “Good News” he was commissioned to preach to everyone without distinction….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #50

Thursday, July 9, 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?

After holding the clothes of Stephen’s murderers as they stoned him to death, unbelieving Saul of Tarsus kept on mercilessly abusing and torturing those members of Israel’s Little Flock (Jewish believers in Jesus Christ): “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock [turmoil] of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging] men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3). Without any compunction, Saul was committing genocide!

Heading to Damascus to continue his rampage of religious fanaticism, this self-righteous snob was totally surprised to learn how the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ had arranged an appointment with him: “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:1-6).

Saul expected to die in his sins right there, God’s flaming fire burning him alive and Divine vengeance crushing him without delay. Yet, amazingly, un-prophesied grace and peace from God allowed Saul to convert to Christ and end up being in His ministry that very day….