Comatose! #1

Thursday, February 23, 2023

“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14 KJV).

“Wake up!,” screams the Holy Spirit to today’s comatose professing church!

Indeed, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. Review, for example, these three medical cases. Back in 1941, a six-year-old girl was anesthetized for a routine surgery, but she never regained consciousness. Amazingly, her coma lasted 37 years, when she ultimately expired. Due to a traumatic assault, one lady went into a coma—and died after remaining 41 years in that persistent vegetative state. In 1969, a woman entered a diabetic coma and never woke up, dying 42 years later. A coma is a state of deep, prolonged unconsciousness, resulting from various factors. How truly sad it is to see physical bodies lying helpless in bed, wasting away, unable to respond to their environment. Yet, there is something equally disturbing, but far deadlier, in the spiritual realm.

Throughout my 17 years in ministry, I have encountered a great diversity of lost and saved people alike. Who has concerned me the most is not the people without or unaware of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the people who allegedly have or know of Him. We would naturally expect the latter to be the most informed, spiritually enlightened people in this world, those who had exemplary lives and morals. After all, they “read” the Bible, and they sing about “Jesus,” “grace,” and “the Spirit.” Yet, when I personally interacted with them—meeting and conversing with them—I realized they were in a spiritual comatose state. Their conduct, speech, and values were not Christian. Sin that should have bothered them did not trouble them at all. They had no real interest in spiritual matters or serious Bible study. If I were a non-Christian, nothing they had or said would have ever convinced me to become a Christian. Honestly, this hypocrisy is likely the main reason why “Christianity” is detested so often.

Dearly beloved, before we condemn the world’s people for their evils, we the “Christians” (?) need to address our own sins. Our main transgression is our persistent spiritual coma as referenced in today’s Scripture….

Something in Which to Glory!

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV).

Today, especially here in southern Louisiana, the Catholic festival of Mardi Gras takes advantage of God’s grace. God’s grace abounds even when drunkenness, lasciviousness, and gluttony are committed overtly on our streets for religion. Because we live in the Dispensation of the Grace of God, they can flaunt their sin without being consumed by fire from heaven!

“Mardi Gras,” French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a day when religious people—professing “Christians”—lose self-control (excess alcohol, food, and partying). The following day, Ash Wednesday, they promise to live “holy” for the next 40 days (Lent). A priest will then place ashes on their foreheads proving that God forgave them for that riotous living. Blasphemy!

Regardless of all its biblical allusions (illusions!), Mardi Gras is still evil and anti-God. It was never Christian, originating from pagan Roman festivals, Saturnalia and Lupercalia (interestingly known for riots, drunkenness, gluttony, and fornication, and subsequent repentance).

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostles Peter and Paul, was clearly against Mardi Gras reveling and drunkenness (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). So why do professing Christians engage in the very activities that God the Holy Spirit condemned?! As Christians, we should “deny” the activities of Mardi Gras (Romans 6:11-15; Titus 2:11-15).

If I appear offended, I am. Mardi Gras, despite its godly façade, is offensive to the great God and my Saviour Jesus Christ! God’s grace continues to tolerate such foolishness from mankind. Man parades his sin, and God parades His grace, holding back wrath.

Are you a Mardi Gras reveler? I declare unto you the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God. God did for you at Calvary what you could never do: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood and died to put away all of your sins, Mardi Gras revelry included.

If you rest in Christ Jesus alone as your Saviour, God will save you forever, make a trophy of His grace, and then YOUR life will be God’s grace on parade!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

You may also see our archived Bible study Q&A, “Should Christians celebrate Mardi Gras?”

Dearth!

Monday, February 20, 2023

“And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread” (Genesis 41:53,54 KJV).

What is a “dearth?”

Upon encountering an archaic or unfamiliar term in our King James Bible, we have three options to overcoming the obstacle. Firstly, we can throw up our hands, shedding tears and shouting, “Poor translation!,” and proceed in our arrogance to correct the text because we presume we know more about the English language than our English Bible does. This is quite tempting, for it is extremely easy to do (and, thus, done repeatedly). Secondly, we can use a dictionary to learn a new vocabulary word and its meaning. This is a little more difficult, for it requires effort to flip pages. Lastly, we can scan the surrounding Bible words or verses for “context clues.” This is the most challenging, as the Scriptures become the final authority (and our flesh will not submit without a bitter protest!).

“Dearth” is definitely not in our everyday speech, but its strangeness should not discourage us. Seven years of “dearth” are contrasted with seven years of “plenteousness” (today’s Scripture). You do know what “plenty” means, yes? “Dearth” is just the opposite. Whereas there was abundant food (“bread” being generic), there is now a scarcity of food—a famine. “Dear” is an obsolete English word meaning “difficult to obtain,” and the “–th” suffix added to the end suggests “a quality or condition.” We have therefore broadened our understanding: “dearth” (rhymes with “birth”) indicates “the state of food shortage.”

If you back up even further in Genesis chapter 41, you will see seven years of “great plenty” are to be followed by seven years of “famine” (verses 29-31). Having confirmed our deduction as being sound, we now have a key to interpreting related verses—2 Kings 4:38, 2 Chronicles 6:28, Nehemiah 5:3, Jeremiah 14:1, Acts 7:11 (Stephen quoting Genesis above), and Acts 11:28. Indeed, what a rewarding course we have taken by using the Bible’s built-in dictionary we have been given.

Firmer in Their Murmur #4

Sunday, February 19, 2023

“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves…. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:41,43,61 KJV).

Behold, they have become firmer in their murmur!

“I do not follow Paul. Paul is just a man. I follow Jesus.” Whenever someone says this, they are advertising Bible ignorance: they need to do more biblical studying and less spiritual murmuring. For example, is it not interesting that Jesus Himself ordered the healed leper to “offer the gift that Moses commanded” (Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14)? Adopting the pattern described earlier, can you just imagine the idiotic reply? “But, Lord, I follow God. Moses was just a man. I obey God’s command.”

Of course, the Lord Jesus knew Moses was only a human, but Moses was God’s spokesman to Israel. To reject Moses meant refusing Almighty God’s messenger. Advising His Apostles, Christ stated in John 13:20: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” To receive Christ’s messenger or apostle to us is to accept Jesus Christ Himself, and to receive Jesus Christ is to accept Father God who sent Jesus Christ as the Spokesman for the Godhead. Christ commissioned the Apostle Paul to reach us, “Delivering thee from the people [Israel], and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [‘apostello’],….” (Acts 26:17). The Holy Spirit thus moved Paul to pen Romans 11:13: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office….”

Instead of spending all our time reading Christ’s earthly ministry (to Israel! Matthew 15:24), we should consider His heavenly ministry to us through Paul. The Corinthians were negligent here (1 Corinthians chapter 10), as is much of the professing church now. Let us not be firmer in our murmur—or even murmur at all—concerning “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Paul’s ministry]” (Romans 16:25,26). Let us be appreciative of the Lord speaking through our Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 14:37)! “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (verse 38).

Firmer in Their Murmur #3

Saturday, February 18, 2023

“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves…. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:41,43,61 KJV).

Behold, they have become firmer in their murmur!

When addressing the Corinthian church’s abundant problems, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul prompted these saints to recall the Hebrew Bible (after all, some Corinthians had been synagogue-attending Jews; see Acts 18:7,8). Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-14. These members of the Body of Christ were repeating the sins of ancient Israel. As Israel abandoned Moses, so Corinth had forsaken Paul. Neither group was grateful for their God-given identity. Both dabbled in devil worship, sexual transgressions, and various other iniquitous deeds.

Observe verse 10 of 1 Corinthians chapter 10: “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” This is the same activity in today’s Scripture—the Jewish unbelievers were doing it in Christ’s earthly ministry, as Israel complained centuries back (in the days of Moses). “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!” (Numbers 14:2). God pronounced judgment: “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured against me” (verse 29). As Corinthians stated, they “were destroyed of the destroyer:” “Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD” (verse 37). See also Numbers 26:63-65.

When Korah incited a revolt to challenge Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1-3), God smote these unbelievers by causing the ground to open and swallow them alive (verses 31-35). “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD [Could they get more confused than this?!]” (verse 41). The LORD inflicts another plague, killing over 14,000 people (verse 49).

Let us not be “firmer in our murmur” either….

Firmer in Their Murmur #2

Friday, February 17, 2023

“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves…. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:41,43,61 KJV).

Behold, they have become firmer in their murmur!

To “murmur” means to grumble or complain, especially in a low tone. The Greek word translated “murmur” in today’s Scripture is “egonggudzon.” Its etymology is uncertain, but it may in fact be onomatopoeic—that is, imitating the very sound of the grumbling itself. The ancient Greeks also used the term to describe a dove’s cooing. Close your mouth and talk, perhaps sounding out the Greek word if you can. That incoherent mumbling you produced would be similar to the worthless chatter directed toward the Lord and His sermon here in John chapter 6. It was also the unwarranted, harsh criticism in Luke 5:30, “But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”

John chapter 6 highlights the spiritual battle raging in the hearts of Christ’s audience. As the narrative unfolds, these people become increasingly quarrelsome. They desire physical food, but not spiritual food and spiritual truth (see verses 15,26,27). Also, they want to “do” (works-religion) instead of “believe on [Christ]” (verses 28,29). Having seen a miracle to confirm Jesus as Christ (verses 1-14), they ask for another one, something more impressive (verse 30). In short, they “believe not” (verse 36), for they see Him not as “the Son of God,” but simply “the son of Joseph,” a mere commoner no better than they (verse 42). Quite bluntly, Christ points out in verse 64: “But there are some of you that believe not” (verse 64). As they grow firmer in their murmur (criticism expressing ingratitude), the incident culminates with verse 66: “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

They were like their ancestors alive in Moses’ time, having access to the words of God but too hard-hearted to believe that Divine revelation. Dear friends, we also could learn a valuable lesson here….

Firmer in Their Murmur #1

Thursday, February 16, 2023

“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves…. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” (John 6:41,43,61 KJV).

Behold, they have become firmer in their murmur!

Today’s Scripture is toward the end of an exchange that started back in verse 24 and reaches all the way down to verse 65. The Lord Jesus has been reduced to a “food delivery man,” He who can satisfy worldly desires and fill empty stomachs. These carnally-minded people, lost in their ways and dead in their sins, follow Him across the Sea of Galilee (going westward), hoping to beg Him for additional bread and fish when they catch up with Him. Anticipating their arrival and reading their heart, He proceeds to correct them: “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (verses 26,27).

Verses 28-30: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?” This is utterly preposterous. If He has miraculously fed them already (verses 1-14), He has communicated a kingdom truth to them, yet they freely confess they have no idea who He is, what He is actually doing, or why they should believe Him!!

It is most unfortunate for them, but they really have not paid attention to the spiritual matters at hand. With closed hearts but open ears, they quarrel with the Lord Jesus by comparing His “trivial” miracle to Moses’ “mighty” ministry, which brings us to today’s Scripture….

Missed

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14 KJV).

Not long ago, I remembered the three-year anniversary of a dear brother and friend in Christ going to his heavenly home and finally meeting his Saviour face-to-face. By coincidence, it was three years ago this very day that I wrote a special devotional by which to remember him. We take another chance to reflect on his passing.

When I needed wise Christian counsel in dealing with personal matters (multiple doctrinal errors and betrayals), “the good doctor” was there to listen and advise during those two dark years of ministry. Actually, the Lord used him mightily to save our ministry from ruin. There are times when I could use his expertise even now, but I have since leaned on and stood on the shoulders of other Christian brothers who, despite their limited insight, have pointed me in the right direction. I could have learned much more from him, if only he had been around just a few more years. Alas, after a long period of declining health, he gave up the ghost and graduated to Heaven!

Regarding the saints who have died in Christ, we know that our separation from them is not eternal. While we mourn their absence, we are not hopeless like the unsaved world lamenting their departed loved ones. Those saints who have died in Christ will be resurrected when we are to receive our own glorified bodies, at the event we commonly call “the rapture,” or our “catching up” (see today’s Scripture and its context, verses 13-18; also, “our gathering together unto [Christ]” in 2 Thessalonians 2:1). It will be a joyful reunion, the best Bible conference ever, and we will never again part ways.

Dear saints, when we all get to Heaven one day, you will surely get to meet “Brother Charlie”—and be sure to thank the Lord, right now, for his ministry to us, that we have been enabled to serve you here for another five years.

God is Love

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

“…God is love… God is love… We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:8b,16b,19 KJV).

The word “love” is used very flippantly in today’s world. Of the many who speak about “love,” few know what it is. On this Valentine’s Day, we offer sound doctrine from God’s Word to correct the misunderstandings of what love really is. What is love, according to God’s Word?

Today’s Scripture says that “God is love”—God does not simply love, but His very nature is love. What does that mean? In 1 John 3:16, we read: “Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:” Our Apostle Paul put it this way: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s nature is love—selfless, self-sacrificing!

God’s Word defines love and charity in 2 Corinthians 12:15: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” Love is seeking the best interest of others, even if it costs you something (time, energy, resources, et cetera). Charity is love in deed (demonstrated, manifested in action). God loved us, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. It cost God the Father His Son, and it cost God the Son His life. What a selfless act!

Our nature in Adam is selfish, but our nature in Christ is not. Paul declares, “the love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). We who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, our Christian lives are driven and motivated by Christ’s love for us, not our love for Him. It is this unselfish love of Christ working in us that causes us to look on the things of others, to seek their edification and their benefit, not ours (Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:1-11). This will result in charity, our selfless actions reflecting that love of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:15).

As the lost world observes our Christian service, they will see, “God is love.”

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

You can see our archived Bible Q&A study: “Should Christians celebrate Valentine’s Day?”